Fighting for Air

"A riveting look into every part of what is called the 'media ecosystem,' which includes the Internet as well as newspapers, radio and television. Klinenberg grounds all of his reporting in human terms and gives concrete examples of what happens when too few own too much and, worse, control what information will be disseminated to the people. He also wisely includes news of the victories being achieved by media activists."—Joanne Collings, The Examiner

"American democracy is lost unless citizen Davids do battle against the corporate media Goliaths. We have heard this rallying cry before . . . But Klinenberg has humanized and dramatized the argument by writing a book based on extensive original reporting. It is an investigative work, not a rant; it is both intellectually serious and politically passionate."—Michael Schudson, Columbia Journalism Review

"Eric Klinenberg has written an extraordinary and powerful account of the devastating elimination of localism in U.S. media and journalism, and how Americans from all walks of life are rising up to challenge the great media crisis that grips our nation today. Brilliantly written and tightly argued, Fighting for Air is the perfect book for anyone wanting to understand what is going on in this country, and why it is so important to our future."—Robert W. McChesney, author of The Problem of the Media

"Eric Klinenberg has given us a chilling report on how the American news media, increasingly concentrated, have made a mockery of the commitment to operate 'in the public interest, convenience, and necessity.' Admirably researched and lucidly written, Fighting for Air should serve as a wake-up call on the deafness of radio and television to communal needs."—Daniel Schorr, Senior News Analyst for National Public Radio

"Big media conglomerates—in radio, TV and newspapers—have taken over local outlets all over America, silencing independent local voices. Eric Klinenberg has done a masterful job of researching what has happened to America's local news media. Fighting for Air is a must-read for anyone who cares about the role of the media in a democracy."—George Lakoff, author of Don't Think of an Elephant!

"Fighting for Air is a richly detailed, compelling, and timely investigation into the problem of the U.S. media and what people are doing to take it back. Klinenberg pulls back the curtain on complex media policy issues, with stories of real people, how they have been harmed by Big Media, and follows up with inspiring tales of underdogs who are fighting back and winning. This book is a call to action to fight for a strong, vigorous, independent media."—Amy Goodman, host and executive producer of Democracy Now!

"Required reading for conscientious citizens . . . An eye-opening examination of the ever-increasing power wielded by big media conglomerates. There is a crisis going on behind the scenes of nearly every form of American media, according to Klinenberg, but it's one that average Americans aren't likely to read about in their local newspaper, see on TV or hear about on the radio. As certain members of the FCC (supported by the Bush administration) seek to further deregulate the media industry, consumers are finding themselves with fewer sources of news, particularly important local news. Canned, prerecorded DJs dominate the airwaves; newspapers owned by mega-corporations are laying off many reporters who cover local beats (and are loathe to criticize big businesses that support them with advertising revenue); and what were once local TV broadcasts are now often farmed out to other locations, and stations are being forced to use prepackaged press videos cleverly disguised as news. Even more disturbing, notes the author, is the amount of money media lobbyists have at their disposal, money that may even be powerful enough to smother the last remaining bastion of democracy: the Internet. He hypothesizes that the day is near when service providers will be able to charge website owners a fee to provide content at high speeds—and block or considerably slow access to content on sites whose owners won't pony up. Clear Channel and Tribune Company lead a cadre of mustache-twirling villains, while various grassroots activists and dissenting FCC commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein play the role of Don Quixote . . . Klinenberg's thorough reporting and cogent analysis clarify the complex ways in which media companies have become intertwined over recent years."—Kirkus Reviews

"Highly recommended . . . Klinenberg offers a scathing evaluation of media consolidation and its negative effects on American society. Using examples from popular culture and current events, particularly the recent phenomenon of massive corporate mergers throughout the entertainment world, he shows us why consolidation in various media formats—e.g., radio, television news, alternative media, and the Internet—results in a poor information stream for Americans . . . Klinenberg convincingly argues that media consolidation is limiting choices and opinions in America. His book will make readers examine today's media culture in new and critical ways."—Jenny Emanuel, Library Journal

"Klinenberg is clearly aiming to deliver the Fast Food Nation of corporate media, and his disdain for conglomerates blares from every page, constantly reminding readers that a handful of companies have a stranglehold on media outlets, subverting the public interest for the sake of profit. It's a grim world where radio stations can't inform their listeners about local disasters because all the programming is recorded at a studio in some other state, where TV newscasters don't bother covering state elections, and even the alternative press has given its pages over to advertisers . . . [E]ach section [in the book] is extensively reported, and the pieces do finally fit together in the final chapters. As Klinenberg details former FCC chairman Michael Powell's efforts to loosen restrictions on how many American television stations one corporation can own, the story becomes a perfect convergence of his issues with large corporate entities and the Bush administration, as well as his enthusiasm for grassroots civic activism. His impassioned call to restore local journalism and its role in creating informed, engaged communities is sure to strike a chord with readers."—Publishers Weekly