It Ain't Necessarily So: How the Media Remake Our Picture of Reality

by David Murray, S. Robert Lichter, Joel Schwartz

Anthrax scares. Airplane crashes. The AIDS epidemic. Presidential election polls and voting results. Global warming. All these news stories require scientific savvy, first to report, and then-for the average person-to understand. It Ain't Necessarily So cuts through the confusion and inaccuracies surrounding media reporting of scientific studies, surveys, and statistics. Whether the problem is bad science, media politics, or a simple lack of information or knowledge, this book gives news consumers the tools to penetrate the hype and dig out the facts.

"Whether it's a scientific study on day care or health care, hunger in America or the environment, once it gets into the hands of journalists - look out! You may think you're getting the straight story - but it ain't necessarily so, as this aptly named book makes clear. But beware: It Ain't Necessarily So may confirm your worst fears about the media. Which is precisely why it's such an important contribution to our understanding of how things really operate inside the American newsroom." (Bernard Goldberg, author of Bias)

Genres: Nonfiction

266 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Erika]

Loved this! I hope they write a second edition.

[Jerrid Kruse]

The book’s points are important. It would be nice if they applied them to conservative news outlets as well.

[Kimberly]

An interesting book. It's a good education/reminder of the need to critically think about the information you are receiving especially if you are going to pass it on, or base decisions upon said information.

[Michael Pack]

This book opened my eyes to how media is consumed, and the importance of not taking a news story at face value. There is often an agenda, misinformation, and skewed perspectives.