The First Amendment to the Constitution, assuring freedom of speech and freedom of the press, was ratified nearly 200 years ago. Since that time, the amendment has maintained its tradition off freedom while accomodating the introduction of technologies that the framers of the Constitution could not have envisioned, including the telephone, radio and television, and the communications satellite. Recent dramatic technological advances in communications, however, will subject the First Amendment to stresses exceeding anything in its past history. "The First Amendment--The Challenge of New Technology" is a collection of papers by leaders in the communications field examining the flexibility of the First Amendment in coping with the miracles of modern communications technology.

The outcome of the San Diego Communications Council Conference on August 30, 1987, this book includes the contributions of a broad mix of talents and experiences: practitioners in newspaper, magazines, broadcasting and cable; regulators and lawmakers, communications theorists and educators. The contributors study a wide range of First Amendment issues, including the rights of the media, national security, and the rights to privacy. Students, scholars, and practitioners of communications or constitutional law, as well as policymakers or anyone interested in the future of freedom of speech will find "The First Amendment -- The Challenge of New Technology" an invaluable resource.

Television news made meteoric progress in the 1950s. It rose from being a plaything for the rich to a major factor in informing the American public, and an aggressive rival to newspapers, radio, and news magazines. This volume is an insider's account of the arduous and frequently critical steps undertaken by inexperienced staffs in the development of television news, documentaries, and sports broadcasts. The author, the first president of CBS News, provides a treasure trove of facts and anecdotes about plotting in the corridors, the ascendancy of stars, and the retirement into oblivion of the less favored. This volume is an important contribution to the history of television journalism and will appeal both to journalism and broadcasting scholars and to those interested in the meteoric rise of television.

Sig Mickelson, former president of CBS News and pioneer in television coverage of political events, gives an eyewitness account of Television's complicated interaction with the U.S. political system. From Whistle Stop to Sound Bite explores the origins of the relationship between television and politics and offers an analysis of the factors that led to the decline of substance in the political campaign. With a fine eye for detail and many years of political coverage experience behind him, Mickelson probes four decades of TV history and defines the changes that this new media has wrought on the political scene. Television and politics would seem to have been made for each other, Sig Mickelson was there as a major figure at their first meeting. It might be said he introduced them. Here is his carefully documented account of their frequently stormy courtship--and his cogent analysis of the flaws and dangers in the unbreakable marriage. The book is fascinating, profound, and important. "Walter Cronkite"

... a superb and useful study that substantially informs our understanding of the role of television and modern politics. "Everette E. DenniS"

... an important book--filled with insight, wisdom, and value.

"Newton MinnoW"

Sig Mickelson, former president of CBS News and pioneer in television coverage of political events, gives an eyewitness account of television's complicated interation with the U.S. political system. "From Whistle Stop to Sound Bite" explores the origins of the relationship between television and politics and offers an analysis of the factors that led to the decline of substance in the political campaign. With a fine eye for detail and many years of political coverage experience behind him, Mickelson probes four decades of TV history and defines the changes that this new media has wrought on the political scene: bright hopes for debate that were dimmed as candidates took control of the media machinery; the weakening of the party structure as television, rather than the party, became the candidate's link with the public; and the decline of the convention.

Mickelson recounts events from the days of early television when the fledgling medium was testing the political waters, eventually opting for full immersion. By placing the origins of television's relationships with politics and politicians under close surveillance, writes Mickelson, we may equip ourselves with better tools to assess the merits and weaknesses of the present system and to better analyze proposed remedial measures. Professional and student journalists, communications specialists, political managers, candidates and potential candidates as well as the general reader interested in television and politics will find valuable information here about television's indelible mark on the U.S. political system.

Sig Mickelson, former president of CBS News and pioneer in television coverage of political events, gives an eyewitness account of Television's complicated interaction with the U.S. political system. From Whistle Stop to Sound Bite explores the origins of the relationship between television and politics and offers an analysis of the factors that led to the decline of substance in the political campaign. With a fine eye for detail and many years of political coverage experience behind him, Mickelson probes four decades of TV history and defines the changes that this new media has wrought on the political scene. Television and politics would seem to have been made for each other, Sig Mickelson was there as a major figure at their first meeting. It might be said he introduced them. Here is his carefully documented account of their frequently stormy courtship--and his cogent analysis of the flaws and dangers in the unbreakable marriage. The book is fascinating, profound, and important. "Walter Cronkite"

... a superb and useful study that substantially informs our understanding of the role of television and modern politics. "Everette E. DenniS"

... an important book--filled with insight, wisdom, and value.

"Newton MinnoW"

Sig Mickelson, former president of CBS News and pioneer in television coverage of political events, gives an eyewitness account of television's complicated interation with the U.S. political system. "From Whistle Stop to Sound Bite" explores the origins of the relationship between television and politics and offers an analysis of the factors that led to the decline of substance in the political campaign. With a fine eye for detail and many years of political coverage experience behind him, Mickelson probes four decades of TV history and defines the changes that this new media has wrought on the political scene: bright hopes for debate that were dimmed as candidates took control of the media machinery; the weakening of the party structure as television, rather than the party, became the candidate's link with the public; and the decline of the convention.

Mickelson recounts events from the days of early television when the fledgling medium was testing the political waters, eventually opting for full immersion. By placing the origins of television's relationships with politics and politicians under close surveillance, writes Mickelson, we may equip ourselves with better tools to assess the merits and weaknesses of the present system and to better analyze proposed remedial measures. Professional and student journalists, communications specialists, political managers, candidates and potential candidates as well as the general reader interested in television and politics will find valuable information here about television's indelible mark on the U.S. political system.