The Net Delusion

The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom by Evgeny Morozov Public Affairs (13 January 2011) Amazon The Net Delusion is a critical and provocative book that challenges the widespread optimism about the internet's ability to promote freedom and democracy throughout the world. Written by Belarusian scholar and commentator Evgeny Morozov, the text argues … Continue reading The Net Delusion →

Public Opinion

Public Opinion by Walter Lippmann Wilder Publications (4 September 2022) Amazon First published in 1922, Public Opinion is a foundational work in media studies, politics, and sociology. Walter Lippmann examines how public opinion is formed and manipulated in democratic societies, with a particular focus on mass media and modern institutions. It has been praised as … Continue reading Public Opinion →

You Are Not a Gadget

You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto by Jaron Lanier Vintage (8 February 2011) Amazon First published in 2010, You Are Not a Gadget is not only one of the best books on media in existence, but also one of my favourite books in general. Like, if I ever had a top one-hundred, this would … Continue reading You Are Not a Gadget →

The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging

The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging by the Huffington Post Simon & Schuster (2 December 2008) Amazon Published in 2008 and edited by co-founder Arianna Huffington, The Huffington Post Guide to Blogging was published before Twitter and Instagram took off, and blogging was still the main social publishing tool. If you remember the 2000s, … Continue reading The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging →

Chapter V

"Promotion is not how things are made great – only how they're heard about." -Ryan Holiday Another act to depart from the sinking nu-metal ship in the noughts was Staind. In August of 2005, they released Chapter V through Flip and Atlantic Records. Like 2001's Break the Cycle and 2003's 14 Shades of Grey, it … Continue reading Chapter V →

Only

"Man is nothing else but what he purposes, he exists only in so far as he realises himself, he is therefore nothing else but the sum of his actions, nothing else but what his life is." -Jean Paul Sartre In July of 2005, Nine Inch Nails released "Only" as the second single from With Teeth. … Continue reading Only →

Stricken

"All this hurrying from place to place won't bring you any relief, for you're traveling in the company of your own emotions, followed by your troubles all the way." -Seneca "Stricken" was the second single from Disturbed's third album, 2005's Ten Thousand Fists. One of their most commercially successful singles, it was certified 3x platinum … Continue reading Stricken →

Making It in the Political Blogosphere

Making It in the Political Blogosphere: The World's Top Political Bloggers Share the Secrets to Success by Tanni Haas Lutterworth Press (8 November 2011) Amazon Making It in the Political Blogosphere is a simple, concise introduction to blogging as a political practice, and what motivates political bloggers. Tanni Haas focused on twenty high-profile figures in … Continue reading Making It in the Political Blogosphere →

The News at Any Cost

The News at Any Cost: How Journalists Compromise Their Ethics to Shape the News by Tom Goldstein Simon & Schuster (1 May 1986) Amazon The News at Any Cost examines all manner of journalistic practices, particularly the competitive nature of finding scoops, and the compromising of ethical standards in the pursuit of those exclusives. Tom … Continue reading The News at Any Cost →

The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media

The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media by Gawker Media Atria Books (2 October 2007) Amazon Gawker Media was an independent media company and blog network, spanning several sites. Founded in 2002, it was the largest independent media organisation in the world, prior to its bankruptcy in 2016. The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media … Continue reading The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media →