No Time To Think

by Howard Rosenberg and Charles S. Feldman

Book Overview

An eviscerating look at the state of journalism in the age of the 24 hour news cycle by a Pulitzer Prize-winning television critic and a veteran news correspondent.

No Time To Think focuses on the insidious and increasing portion of the news media that, due to the dangerously extreme speed at which it is produced, is only half thought out, half true, and lazily repeated from anonymous sources interested in selling opinion and wild...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826429319
• ISBN13: 9780826429315
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Continuum
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A call to arms

Normally I tend to shy away from co-authored books, but there's a good reason why this book has two authors. Feldman spent 20 years as a TV and radio reporter as the guy in front of the camera or the mic, and Rosenberg covered the media for the LA Times (and won a Pulitzer along the way). The net effect is that you get a real feel for how our news actually gets put together from an insider and an outsider, each of whom brings a unique perspective and old school journalistic morals... and it's a real eye-opener. If you think that the Olbermans and O'Reillys and Geraldos of this world could use a healthy dose of Murrow, Cronkite, and Woodward & Berstein, you are not alone, and No Time To Think is your call to arms.

Angry, Funny, and Very Very Important

This is a subject I've been annoyed/frustrated about for ages, so its great to see a book like this published. Basically, the two authors - one who worked for CNN, the other for Los Angles Times - believe that part of the reason our society is in danger of going down the pan is that news media is no longer about "news" any more. It consists almost entirely of opinion, speculation, and ridiculous combinations of those two, presented and disguised as news. The authors chart the history and development of news media, but focus very much on two things that have changed the landscape entirely: the birth of cable news, and the creation of the internet. I should admit that most of the jokes in the chapter about "blogging" probably went over my head, but this is an incredibly readable book about journalism, truth, dignity, and how on earth our politicians are supposed to function properly when there's an endless screaming demand for opinion and instant answers to everything. Is there anyway to stop this all from spiraling out of control? The authors aren't sure, but they do have one or two suggestions at the end of the book. But do yourself a favor and read this book: its alarming, and terrifying at times, but it will make you look at news media in a whole new light.