"Spin brings to light a controversial and critical issue--how the media can shape the news instead of report it. As a PhD ... (the author) gives a unique insight into the pressures, politics, and changes in the media that lead to quickly reporting, and sensationalizing stories, based on scanty evidence all to get lots of readers. Journalistic integrity seems to be waning. Personally I got a lot of insight from the chapter about the Toyota recall debacle in which relatively small problems leading to lots of vehicles recalled were blown up into computer-controlled, unstoppable, runaway cars that can only be characterized as science fiction. This book is short and to the point and should be read by all!" --Jeffrey K. Liker, PhD, author of The Toyota Way and Toyota Under Fire Ever watched the news and felt like something was missing? Or read a news story and felt like you were being misled? This book explains why. The news industry has changed dramatically in recent years and not for the best. From Sarah Palin to Toyota, from science to environmental advocacy, the waters of truth are frequently muddied by the news media. This book reviews studies about the news media by researchers, it describes the author's personal experiences in dealing with reporters and it details a number of real-life examples that dig deep beyond headlines.
Author Biography:
Bob Conrad, Ph.D., APR, is an award-winning public relations and marketing professional. He has his doctor of philosophy from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he researched how the news media cover higher education institutions in times of crisis. He also has degrees in journalism and counseling and educational psychology. He has years of experience in managing complex and controversial issues. His crisis communications experience spans floods, fires, whistle-blowers, budget cuts, activist attacks, disease outbreaks, human-animal chimeras, media misinformation, biotechnology, natural resources, environmental issues and a number of other public relations challenges. He was once described as "a steady hand at the PR helm. (He) negotiated some of the most difficult communications challenges the (University of Nevada) has ever seen with mastery and calmness." Bob is the author and co-author of numerous research publications, magazine articles and posts about public relations, science, marketing and social media. His blog received an "Editor's Pick" from the U.K.'s Journalism.co.uk, "The essential site for journalists," and his work has been featured in Information Week, Bulldog Reporter, eSkeptic, PRSA's TACTICS and other sites and publications. He is the author of two other books. Bob is accredited in public relations through the Universal Accreditation Board. He was the founder of Bridge2Science, which connected writers and reporters with scientists and other experts. He is also co-founder of ThisisReno.com, an award-winning community-based news website, and he was recently awarded the Mark Curtis Sr. Award, by the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, for his service to the public relations profession.
