Monday, March 11, 2013

Research Report: "Owning It All" by Eric Klinenberg


Eric Klinenberg, who earned his PhD at the University of California, not only wrote Fighting for Air, but he has written two popular books titled Heat Wave and Going Solo.  Among writing these three books, he also has several additional accomplishments.  He is the director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University as well as a sociology professor.  He teaches an array of college courses, and he has contributed to an abundance of popular publications, too.  In addition, he is a member of the Wagner School of Public Service and the Department of Media, Culture, and Communications alongside of him being an editor of “Public Culture”, which is a renowned journal.
Eric Klinenberg is a very motivated man.  Currently, he is the head of a project researching climate change and the future of cities in America, and he is a respected individual broadcasted on the radio and television.  When writing his books and articles, he must be precise and accurate.  Although he clearly makes his own claims and opinions, he supports them with concrete facts, especially in Fighting for Air.  He is involved and contributes to so many different projects, so motivation is key to accomplish each of his goals as a researcher, editor, director professor, and writer.  He is not strictly limited to any specific deadlines of his work, but it is safe to say he is strict on himself to get his work done on his own time.
In Fighting for Air, Klinenberg chose to talk about the corporate takeover of local news because he wanted to educate America of how they are affected.  His ideas presented in this book reflect how this takeover of local news is remaking society’s cultural and political life.  This is a topic he cares deeply about and is willing to research why and how this is happening to American society.  The examples he chose such as the Minot tragedy appeal to his audience because he discusses past occurrences that resulted with negative outcomes.  With that being said, he is not just writing about pure facts or pure opinions; rather, he is providing both to support each other.  The events and individuals he discussed in his book were chosen because that was who and what he investigated before writing.  Discussing media networks such as the New York Times and Chicago Tribune appeal to the audience because they are major leading media companies whether they are local or national. 
The publication and its history goals tell us that this book is accurate.  By exposing this book to the public, society is able to learn and understand a different side of the goals and intentions of newspapers and/or other media.  Klinenberg claims corporate newspapers only strive for power and wealth, whereas local news deems just the opposite.  When the audience, mainly adults who are interested in politics and culture, read Fighting for Air, they may have a new outlook on the intentions and credibility of news in the media, shifting their opinions closer to Klinenberg’s anchor point. 
I found many reviewers of Fighting for Air to be intrigued; yet, others found some problems.  One particular reviewer faulted Klinenberg for his “liberal bias” when he talks about how media effects liberals and conservatives.  He believes Klinenberg fails to mention that (in his opinion) corporate media bothers liberals more than conservatives.  In addition, another reviewer believes the book was a “pretty dry report” and lengthy.  In contrast, most recommended the book and claimed Klinenberg “opened their eyes to why they do the things they do”.  In my opinion, I think we should be confident in the details Klinenberg describes because he is a respectable editor, and his passion is to research the media.
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