Examines how the news grew in importance as the ability to transmit live feeds developed - and how worldwide newsrooms emulate the U.S. market. Includes insight on the McCarthy hearings, the election and death of JFK, race riots, and more.
Examines how the news is more impactful and can be used to manipulate when people see moving images. Touches on the Vietnam war, political assassinations and attempts, protests, the unseating of Richard Nixon, and more.
An examination of how documentaries struggled, then flourished once filming techniques were perfected, but eventually declined thanks to docudramas and a yet-to-be-named new genre known as reality television.
The history and development of television comedy is examined, from its origins in American vaudeville and radio shows, through the social comment sit-coms to the ultimate send-ups in such productions as "Soap".
The medium's revolutionary effect on the business of electioneering around the world, with politicians being taught how to maximize their television appeal, and image replacing issues as the key vote-catcher.
Looks to the medium's future in a satellite and cable world where the viewer may be spoilt for choice in terms of quantity of channels. But what of the quality of programmes, of standards and mandatory public service content of the schedules, with satellites crossing frontiers and national regulations a thing of the past?
