Gr 8 Up–This updated, full-color edition of a text first published in 1986 includes traditional high school newspapers, yearbook production, and broadcast journalism. Introductory chapters cover the history of American journalism, the rights and responsibilities of journalists, and style conventions. Chapters on writing news, sports, features, editorials, columns, headlines, and captions follow. Information on advertising, photography, and careers in journalism rounds out the coverage. A “Digital Age” chapter is new to this edition. Other updates include current events (e.g., the Don Imus controversy), emerging technologies such as RSS feeds and podcasts, and digital photography. Despite some discussion of daily newspapers’ declining numbers, the careers chapter devotes minimal attention to their uncertain future and keeps the focus strictly skills-oriented. Some advice borders on quaint: “knowledge of typing and use of computers are becoming critical.” Pages feature samples from high school publications that demonstrate concepts from the text. Two quibbles are the almost unreadable small print in some images, and images from the reverse pages that bleed through the scans of student publications. Sidebars provide more in-depth information on specific chapter topics as well as definitions and industry tips. Exercises that conclude each chapter provide many opportunities for students to practice the skills described. Some lengthy guidelines, ethics codes, and rules for various writing scenarios make for a detailed but dry reading experience. Overall, this textbook presents a popular elective topic in a visually appealing, appropriately unbiased,format, but it’s not an essential purchase for libraries that own the 2003 edition.–Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA
