Margaret A. Blanchard's History of the Mass Media in the United States: An Encyclopedia is a comprehensive survey of mass media in the U.S. from the first newspaper in Boston in 1690 to the 1990s, when the book was published. The topics of the entries cover events, people, laws and regulations, technology, and general issues and discussions.
The book is made up of entries in alphabetical order. The articles range from less than a page to several, depending on the importance of the topic. Some entries include further reading, while others do not. There are also sometimes cross-references to other articles. The author is listed at the end of each entry.
While the book is generally concise, there are some features that make it stand out. It features not only an alphabetical listing of entries but also a topical listing. This makes finding entries of interest much easier. The general bibliography is also very helpful, providing reference sources to the following topics: General Media History, Advertising, Alternative Media, Books, Broadcasting, Magazines, Media Law, News and Newspapers, Photography, and Presidents and the Press. I could see this list as aiding collection development, and for finding more detailed sources for patrons. The contributors are all listed with their credentials in the back of the book, along with an index. The inclusion of photographs and photocopies enhances the experience of reading articles.
Unfortunately, a second edition of this book has not been issued, making it a rather dated reference source. For historical research, I can still see its utility. It seems more geared towards general reference, and would be most appropriate for undergraduates or high school students. Graduate students and faculty would most likely use it to gather other sources for their research.
Blanchard, M.A. (Ed.). (1998). History of the Mass Media in the United States: An Encyclopedia.
Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers.
It's interesting that we chose the same resource to review. It seems that we cam to the same conclusion. Even though it is somewhat outdated, I also agree that it could be a useful resource. I hope a new edition is published sometime in the not too distant future.
ReplyDeleteHa! Are we looking through the same reference collection?
ReplyDeleteI really was surprised that there hasn't been another edition issued, especially with which the frequency other books seem to get reissued.