"In response to mounting concerns about the future of the press, an outpouring of lively debate and proposals for alternative models of journalism has exploded across journals of opinion, the blogosphere, and academic publications. Despite this proliferation, a comprehensive overview of this new terrain has been noticeably missing-just what will the world look like without newspapers. Will the Last Reporter Please Turn Out the Lights offers the first roadmap to this crucially important new debate, in a concise and accessible introduction to the current schools of thought emerging in response to the journalism crisis, with contributions by the leading media analysts writing today"--

This collection of thirty-two essays on the crisis in modern journalism provides a wide variety of opinions and perspectives on the decline of mainstream journalism, the consolidations of the media marketplace, and the rise of digital technologies, exploring the implications of these trends for American society and representative democracy. The volume is divided into sections covering the development of the current crisis, American traditions of press freedom, and theories for a way forward. Individual articles address such topics as the money and media election complex, a social democratic vision of the press, and citizen journalism as civic responsibility. Contributors include academics in journalism-related fields, policy makers and practicing journalists from a variety of institutions. Annotation 2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)