High School Journalism Book

Includes a brief history of American journalism and discusses the duties of a journalist, styles of writing, the parts of a newspaper, newspaper and yearbook design, ...

VOYA

These days, high school journalism textbooks suffer a shorter shelf life than those published for advanced biology classes. Hall and Aimone's latest edition is likely to last several years, and for schools unable to afford sooner substitution, contains enough solid material to last considerably longer. The combination of hundreds of fresh images from actual student publications and dynamic page layout make this text's design its most appealing attribute. Teens will pore over its pages to see what their peers have done, be drawn into the accompanying text, and no doubt be inspired. Fine chapters on radio and television, photography, advertising, and page design are included, but the focus is clearly on print journalism. For veterans seeking an updated approach or teachers responsible for producing a yearbook or newspaper who would like to add a curriculum, this text will serve as a neat and comprehensive road map. The textbook's weaknesses lie primarily in lack of analysis of the profession. Although information is provided on several professional organizations, watchdog groups such as Free Press, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) and Media Matters for America are not covered. The chapter on journalism history recalls the controversy surrounding 1988 presidential candidate Gary Hart and makes the questionable claim that "the media overanalyzed" Anita Hill's sexual harassment accusations of 1991 U.S. Supreme Court justice nominee Clarence Thomas. Unfortunately these allusions are not discussed in further detail. Similarly the respective shrinking and growing of print and Web-based media is observed, but little analysis of the dramatic shift is included. The text would bestrengthened considerably if a chapter dealing with such pressing issues was included. Likewise the Further Reading section should offer titles that delve deeper into professional analysis. The attendant student workbook is nice but not necessary because the text already contains follow-up chapter exercises. The teacher workbook, which contains little else but the filled-in blanks of the student workbook, is even less necessary. Shortcomings aside, the dynamic freshness and comprehensive nature of this edition make it a solid selection for journalism teachers. Reviewer: Lauri J. Vaughan