New Releases by Alan Schroeder

Alan Schroeder's big-picture history recounts the phenomenon of American televised presidential debates and its evolution over the past half century. From pundits to political operatives, from debate moderators to the viewing public, Presidential Debates reveals how the various stakeholders make and experience this powerful event. For this third edition, Schroeder analyzes the presidential debates of 2008 and 2012 and the crucial role that social media and contemporary news outlets had in shaping their design and reception. He also expands his coverage of previous campaigns, including the landmark meetings in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Schroeder details an insider's view of the key phases of the debate: anticipation, in which the campaigns negotiate rules, formulate strategy, and steer press coverage; execution, in which the candidates, moderators, panelists, and television professionals create and project the event; and reaction, in which the commentators, spin doctors, and viewers evaluate the performance and move story lines in new directions. New chapters focus on real-time debate responses and the extent to which postdebate news coverage influences voters' decision making and candidates' behavior.

Abe Lincoln spoke many memorable adages. As the sixteenth president, he needed great wisdom to guide the country through the Civil War, preserve the Union, and end slavery. This nontraditional tribute to the president who brought the homespun demeanor and humor of his humble beginnings to the White House uses the alphabet to organize a wealth of information about his life and accomplishments. Filled with Lincoln's often humorous proverbs and witty cartoons by John O'Brien, this colorful book takes a thought-provoking look at Old Abe.

Introduces the life and accomplishments, from A to Z, of a Founding Father, from armonicas to bifocals, with adages and cartoons.

One of the most colorful periods in American history is vividly brought to life in this stirring account of Josephine Baker's childhood. Tumpie, inspired by the vivacious ragtime music of turn-of-the-century St. Louis, dreams of escaping her life on Gratiot Street and becoming a famous honky-tonk dancer. Her determination, pluck, and exuberance will have children clapping, tapping, and rooting for her from the beginning.

A biography of Josephine Baker.

Writing and Producing Television News: From Newsroom to Air is a step-by-step guide to the nuts and bolts of writing and producing television journalism. Schroeder presents two goals: first, to familiarize students with the basic challenges and skills faced by television news professionals; and second, to put these principles into practice through realistic exercises and assignments that puts students into the role of decision-makers. This comprehensive text employs a running case study throughout the text: Schroeder has created the fictional town of Lakedale, a medium-size news market not unlike the sort of places a young professional might have their first job. Many of the exercises are set there, and the text stresses the many decisions news journalists must make on a daily basis, and stresses problem-solving throughout. Each topic area is complemented by assignments designed to closely approximate the work of professional television journalists. These exercises cover a wide spectrum of material, from breaking news to features, and they introduce a range of story formats, from simple anchor readers and voiceovers to such complex structures as sound-bite stories and news packages. The text also draws on the insights and experiences of a select group of dedicated professionals who represent the best of TV news in local stations across the country: reporters, anchors, producers, assignment editors, web journalists, graphic artists, and newsroom executives.

* Critically acclaimed biographies of history's most notable African-Americans * Straightforward and objective writing * Lavishly illustrated with photographs and memorabilia * Essential for multicultural studies

Tells the colorful story of how the two most visible branches of American celebrity-the presidency and Hollywood-came together in a marriage of pop culture and politics

They called her "Minty." When she grew up, she became Harriet Tubman, the courageous and heroic woman who helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad. But she was just a little girl for a while—and this is her story. Minty, short for Araminta, was a feisty and headstrong young slave, whose rebellious spirit often got her into trouble. She told stories to her doll, released animals from traps, and, above all, dreamed of running away. And when her father began to teach her the skills necessary for escape, she listened carefully, and learned. . . . *"Rich with melodrama, suspense, pathos, and, of course, a powerful vision of freedom. This exquisitely crafted book resonates well beyond its few pages."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award An ALA Notable Book

Long ago in Japan, Lily promises her dying grandmother that she will never remove the lacquered bowl the old woman placed on her head to protect her from those who would take advantage of her beauty. But Lily faces a life of hardship as a servant to a wealthy farmer whose hateful wife is determined to be rid of her. When their son falls in love with Lily, she must perform an impossible task to find her happiness, in this dramatic adaptation of a Japanese folktale.

A biography of the renowned American author focusing on his short, turbulent life and the many adventures that are reflected in his novels and stories.