Faculty Bookshelf

The Age of Oprah
Cultural Icon for the Neoliberal Era
Associate Professor Janice Peck

Peck charts the rise of Oprah Winfrey from highly rated TV "trash talk" host to one of the most influential cultural icons of our times.

"How are we to understand this transformation of a figure once known chiefly for her dubious distinction as 'queen of television talk' … into a spiritual guru, cultural heroine and public leader whose program is a sought-after venue among presidential candidates? And what might the process of this transformation tell us about the politics and culture of our age?" Peck writes.

As American social, political and economic realities have shifted since the Reagan era, particularly as high-paying jobs have become harder for average people to land, Peck contends that Winfrey has appealed to middle-class white women to believe they can attain jobs, wealth and status through a philosophy of positive thinking, which ultimately undermines political action that would affect change through government policy.

"The appeal of this form of psychology and spirituality is that if you can just think positively, you can turn your life around," Peck said. "It deflects attention away from the issues, such as 'Why are the good jobs disappearing?' The competition to get those jobs is huge, but the message is, 'If you think positively, you'll get those jobs.'

"I'd like to see people think about these issues as political and societal issues instead of encouraging people to take a purely personal look at problems that are actually political and social problems," Peck said.

Message Control
How News Is Made on the Presidential Campaign Trail
Assistant Professor Elizabeth Skewes

Skewes examines how the national media cover modern presidential elections amid increasing control over messages that get to the electorate, deep political divisions, public backlash over campaign mudslinging and the emergence of blogs and other "new media." Among her conclusions: No one - not journalists, campaign managers or even the candidates themselves - seems to be satisfied with the political campaign process, yet the results always seem to be the same.

Idea Industry
How to Crack the Advertising Career Code
Associate Professor Brett Robbs and Deborah Morrison

Robbs and others conducted interviews with more than 100 top advertising industry professionals. The book provides an inside look at the major areas in an ad agency and offers practical advice about how to launch an advertising career.

Working with Numbers and Statistics
A Handbook for Journalists
Dean Paul Voakes and Charles Livingston

The book is a handy reference intended to bolster math skills and improve math confidence for journalists at all skill levels and heighten understanding and use of numbers in news stories. The math is presented in a journalistic context throughout, enabling readers to see how the procedures will come into play in their work.