Conflicting Communication Interests in America

Public broadcasting has changed dramatically since its founding in 1967. The growing equation of marketplace efficiency with the public interest has, in Tom McCourt's analysis, undermined the value of public goods and services. In addition, political and cultural discourse is increasingly beset by fragmentation. Public radio provides an exemplary site to examine the prospects and problems of contemporary public life.Beginning with a description of the events that led to the creation of National Public Radio, McCourt discusses the relationship between NPR and its affiliate stations and the ways in which struggles over funding and programming have affected public radio's agenda. He also examines how public radio incorporates the roles of public representatives into its operations and how its methods to determine the needs and interests of the public have changed across the system's history. The social, political, and economic pressures that have impacted the mission and practices of National Public Radio, McCourt asserts, are manifest in all areas of American life. Through extensive historical research, he examines whether American public broadcasters, as represented by NPR, have succeeded or failed to engender an enlightened, participatory democracy.

?[An] insightful history of the first three decades of public radio's national organization....?-Choice, ?McCourt has written a very intelligent book. Not only does he tell us everything we need to know about the twists and turns of organization and financing at NPR since its founding in 1970, but his one- or two-paragraph explications of such issues as the role of private philanthropy in American history or the impact of the Progressive movement on all subsequent reformist policies are marvels of concise summary of the key concepts involved....This book will undoubtedly remain the definitive book on NPR for some time.?-Canadian Journal of Communication, ?This is an extremely well written text, amply demonstrating literary mastery. It is refreshingly concise and tightly focused, no small achievement considering the range of elements McCourt addresses....The text is undoubtedly the best of its kind in recent years about defining social, institutional, and political realities characterizing public radio since the early 1980s....It is a must read for any consultant working for a broadcasting company.?-Journal of Radio Studies, "ÝAn¨ insightful history of the first three decades of public radio's national organization...."-Choice, "[An] insightful history of the first three decades of public radio's national organization...."-Choice

TOM McCOURT is Assistant Professor of Communications at the University of Illinois at Springfield./e His research interests include media history, communication technology, music, and cultural studies, with particular focus on the historical relationship of technology and the public sphere.