Encyclopedia of American Journalism

From Robert S. Abbot, founder of The Chicago Defender, to John Peter Zenger, whose 1735 sedition and libel trial is considered a watershed in the development of the free press, this encyclopedia by Vaughn (U. of Wisconsin at Madison) contains 405 alphabetical entries (ranging in length from 500 to 5000 words) on the history of journalism in the United States. Thematically, it provides information on associations and organizations; historical overview and practice; significant individuals; journalism and American political history; laws, acts, and legislation; print, broadcast, newsgroups, and corporations; and technologies. Excluding the many entries on specific individuals and organizations, examples of topics addressed include the alternative press, archiving and presentation, baseball journalism, cameras in the courtroom, legal issues of copyright, the Espionage Act of 1917, First Amendment cases, humor, the Korean War, literary journalism, maps and the news, the op-ed page, student journalism, religion and the press, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Each entry is accompanied by a brief guide to further reading and an analytical index is included at the rear of the volume. This is the paperback reprint of the 2008 hardcover edition. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Stephen L. Vaughn has taught the history of journalism and mass communication at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, since 1981. He has been a past Vilas Associated Scholar at Wisconsin and is the recipient of two Fulbright awards. He is the author of several books and numerous scholarly articles.