ABSTRACT
For journalism in America today, the news has been both encouraging and dispiriting. At its very best, during a time of crisis or a momentous event, the news media can do a marvelous job of telling the news thoroughly, yet quickly, then following up with needed interpretation and explanation to inform and reassure the public. For example, on the day of the death of China’s top leader, Deng Xiaoping, The New York Times provided five full pages of news and informed analysis. Several days later, Newsweek published a 25-page special report, “China After Deng,” written by 11 experts. Such thorough coverage of major news events is not unusual. The well-reported 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States may have been the press’s finest days but the revived interest in serious journalism dissipated as the immediate dangers receded.
