Out of Print

September 15, 2013

The uncertain future of print journalism continues to generate a stream of titles documenting the crisis. Brock (journalism, City Univ., London), a former journalist, adds to the pile with his optimistic review of the turbulent history of newspapers. Framing his book with the recent journalist phone-hacking scandal in Britain, Brock goes back to the earliest newspapers--in 17th-century England--to trace their development and transitions over time. He includes Europe, North America, and Asia in his analysis. For each era, he shows how technical, economic, and social changes affected newspapers. In the late 19th century, the growth of the middle class, the technical innovations in printing, and the repeal of stamp taxes all contributed to an explosive growth in newspapers. Brock argues that the current disruptions are part of a long evolution and that despite the collapse of the business model, there is a future for print journalism. VERDICT Journalists and journalism professors looking for a beacon of hope in the gloomy projections about the future of newspapers will appreciate this optimistic prognosis.--Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.