Media, entertainment, information Books

Book Synopsis“The happiest, saddest, sweetest book about rock ‘n’ roll that I’ve ever experienced.”—Chuck Klosterman Mix tapes: We all have our favorites. Stick one into a deck, press play, and you’re instantly transported to another time in your life. For Rob Sheffield, that time was one of miraculous love and unbearable grief. A time that spanned seven years, it started when he met the girl of his dreams, and ended when he watched her die in his arms. Using the listings of fifteen of his favorite mix tapes, Rob shows that the power of music to build a bridge between people is stronger than death. You’ll read these words, perhaps surprisingly, with joy in your heart and a song in your head—the one that comes to mind when you think of the love of your life. Praise for Love is a Mixtape “A memoir that manages, no small feat, to be funny and beautifully forlorn at the same t

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPhilippe M. F. Peycam's vivid account makes a unique contribution to contemporary Vietnamese history and colonial studies. Until now, nothing of this scope has been attempted in English. Previous studies of the Vietnamese press have focused on the communist newspaper La Lutte and less systematic samplings of French-sanctioned publications. Peycam instead gives us portraits of writers, publishers, and editors who for months and years put out popular, often financially viable, newspapers to challenge the status quo. He makes judicious use of the reports of the French security police and brings these men and their peculiar mix of French idealism and colonial hypocrisy to life. His portrait of the rapidly changing society of French Indochina's major entrepot emphasizes the hybrid nature of Saigon politics with fascinating detail. -- Sophie Quinn-Judge, Temple University, author of Ho Chi Minh: The Missing Years a welcome addition to the literature on the development of journalism and its role in identity formation and nationalist resistance in Vietnam, Southeast Asia, and the colonized world generally. -- Mark W. McLeod American Historical Review Philippe Peycam brings this story alive for today's readers... -- David G. Marr Southeast Asian Studies Well-researched and fact-filled book -- Dr. Erik Harms Southeast Asia Research Historians of Vietnam will find in the volume abundant theoretical and documentary resources for making sense of the bewildering economic, social, and political changes that swept through French Indochina in the early twentieth century. New MandalaTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Maps Introduction Part 1. The Origins of Saigon's Public Sphere 1. Social Order in the Colonial City 2. French Republicanism and the Emergence of Saigon's Public Sphere Part 2. The "Newspaper Village" as a Political Force 3. In Search of a Political Role (1916-1923) 4. Scandals and Mobilization (1923-1926) 5. The Limits to Oppositional Journalism (1926-1030) Conclusion Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisDocumentary film can encompass anything from Robert Flaherty''s pioneering ethnography Nanook of the North to Michael Moore''s anti-Iraq War polemic Fahrenheit 9/11, from Dziga Vertov''s artful Soviet propaganda piece Man with a Movie Camera to Luc Jacquet''s heart-tugging wildlife epic March of the Penguins. In this concise, crisply written guide, Patricia Aufderheide takes readers along the diverse paths of documentary history and charts the lively, often fierce debates among filmmakers and scholars about the best ways to represent reality and to tell the truths worth telling. Beginning with an overview of the central issues of documentary filmmaking--its definitions and purposes, its forms and founders--Aufderheide focuses on several of its key subgenres, including public affairs films, government propaganda (particularly the works produced during World War II), historical documentaries, and nature films. Her thematic approach allows readers to enter the subject matter through the kinds of films that first attracted them to documentaries, and it permits her to make connections between eras, as well as revealing the ongoing nature of documentary''s core controversies involving objectivity, advocacy, and bias. Interwoven throughout are discussions of the ethical and practical considerations that arise with every aspect of documentary production. A particularly useful feature of the book is an appended list of 100 great documentaries that anyone with a serious interest in the genre should see. Drawing on the author''s four decades of experience as a film scholar and critic, this book is the perfect introduction not just for teachers and students but also for all thoughtful filmgoers and for those who aspire to make documentaries themselves. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewAlways clear and concise... a welcome addition to the Very Short Introductions series. * The Observer *

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Book SynopsisA memoir in the form of a series of sharply etched vignettes that shift astonishingly in time and mood, and range in place from Africa and the US to the streets of London. It demonstrates that no moment is isolated, and that privilege, conflict, race and gender are inherent in all our encounters, from the banal to the extreme

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Book SynopsisThis compilation of original essays by an international cast of economists, regulators and industry practitioners analyzes some of the major issues now facing postal and delivery services throughout the world as competition from information and communication technologies (ICT) has increased. Competition has become increasingly important in the postal sector for some time in the form of alternative entrants providing mail delivery. However, the competition from ICT in the form of email and instant messaging, the Internet, Facebook and other forms of social networking and portable wireless devices such as the iPad and Kindle may be even more significant. Mail volumes are falling and the economies of scale that have made possible daily deliveries to every address are being eroded. This book assesses volume these declines resulting from this so-called `eSubstituion' and looks at the ways the postal sector can adapt to the rapid changes resulting from ICT. The impact of electronic invoicing on transactions mail, and the impact on bulk mail of electronic forms of advertising are examined. Strategies, including pricing and access policies, are discussed in the context of the increasing impact of ICT. A rethinking of the role of mail in an electronic age is taking place and this book provides the cutting-edge of this rethinking and the attempts of POs to reinvent themselves while continuing to meet the public's expectation of continuing ubiquitous daily deliveries of traditional mail products. Undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers in regulation, competition law, innovation and public sector economics along with institutional libraries and industry professionals will find this volume informative and useful.Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Competitive Strategies under FMO and Intermodal Competition Michael A. Crew and Paul R. Kleindorfer 2. Invoicing in 16 European Countries Kari Elkelä 3. Does the Level of Price Elasticity Change with the Progression of Substitution? Heikki Nikali 4. Understanding the Impact of E-Substitution on Letter Mail Volumes: A Multi-Country Panel Study Meloria Meschi, Matthew Cherry, Carla Pace and Milena Petrova 5. The Future of the Portuguese Postal Sector and the Role of CTT Alberto Pimenta and António Manuel Amaral 6. Optimal Pricing for Mail and Welfare Implications in a Communications Market Philippe De Donder, Helmuth Cremer, Paul Dudley and Frank Rodriguez 7. UK Letter Mail Demand: A Content-based Time-series Analysis Using Overlapping Market Survey Statistical Techniques Catherine Cazals, Jean-Pierre Florens, Leticia Veruete-McKay, Frank Rodriguez and Soterios Soteri 8. Postal Markets and Electronic Substitution: Implications for Regulatory Practices and Institutions in Europe Martin Maegli, Christian Jaag, Martin Koller and Urs Trinkner 9. How Many Outlets if the USP Does Not Face Any USO? A Cross-country Comparison Claire Borsenberger, Denis Joram and Bernard Roy 10. Costing the Universal Service: Evaluating the Demand Response Isabelle Carslake, George Houpis and Christian Strobel 11. State Funding and Cost Sharing of the USO Under the 2008 EU Postal Services Directive Richard Eccles 12. Econometric Models and the Evolution of the French Post Office Network François Boldron, Frédérique Fève, Jean-Pierre Florens, Clémence Panet-Amaro and Christophe Valognes 13. Evaluating the Demand Effects of Reductions in the Frequency of Delivery Service Edward S. Pearsall and Charles L. Trozzo 14. The UK Service Obligation: What Do the Public Think and How Do They Value It? Rob Sheldon and Alison Lawrence 15. Assessing Anti-Competitive Behavior in a Postal Market Mary Davies 16. Price Discrimination in the Postal Sector and Competition Law Damien Geradin 17. Price Discrimination and Price Differentiation Within Direct Mail Felipe Flórez Duncan, Dawn Longman, Leonardo Mautino and Paul Dudley 18. The Economics of Postal Payment Channels and EU Postal VAT Tim Walsh 19. Impact of VAT Exemptions in the Postal Sector on Competition and Welfare Helmut Dietl, Christian Jaag, Markus Lang, Martin Lutzenberger and Urs Trinkner 20. Competition and Regulation in the Italian Postal Market Vincenzo Visco Comandini and Francesca Mazzarella 21. Strategic Responses to Recession: A Comparison of the United States Postal Service to Leading Companies Norma Nieto, Keith Strange and William Takis 22. The United States Postal Service Business Model: Lessons from the American Railroad Industry? David M. Levy and Matthew D. Field 23. Financial Inclusion and Postal Banking: Is the Survival of Posts Also There? José Ansón and Joёlle Toledano 24. The Dual Trend Towards Operational Efficiencies and Social Regulation in European Postal Services Dominique Bailly and Margaux Meidinger 25. Sustainable Growth and the Postal Sector: Universal Service versus Environmental Protection François Boldron, Claire Borsenberger, Helmuth Cremer, Philippe De Donder, Denis Joram and Bernard Roy 26. Offering Sensor Network Services Using the Postal Delivery Vehicle Fleet Michael J. Ravnitzky

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Book SynopsisSince making his journalistic debut breaking into Piers Morgan’s office, BBC foreign correspondent Nick Bryant has rattled Donald Rumsfeld, had tea with President Karzai, and lunched with the Tamil Tigers. Now casting a sideways glance at his own profession, Bryant divulges the day-to-day realities of life in ‘Correspondentland’ – its glamour, its quirks, and its sometimes unsavoury practices. Whether in Washington DC, offering a window onto American politics as no insider can, reporting from a slum in India, or revealing why the BBC delayed the news of Princess Diana’s death, Bryant’s perspective is inimitable and always insightful. Part memoir, part travelogue, part exposé, this is an unmissable and unique view into the world of modern reporting, and an intimate portrait of the countries Bryant has come to know.Trade ReviewBryant is a genuine rarity: a Brit who understands America. * Washington Post *Outstanding. * Sydney Morning Herald *Refreshing ... Correspondentland strikes the right balance of observation and insight, skilfully leavened with a helping of humour and a pinch of self-deprecation. * The Australian *

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Book SynopsisNorth Korea is like no other tyranny on earth. It is Orwell's 1984 made reality.The regime controls the flow of information to its citizens, pouring relentless propaganda through omnipresent loud speakers. Free speech is an illusion: one word out of line and the gulag awaits. State spies are everywhere, ready to punish disloyalty and the slightest sign of discontent.You must bow to Kim Il Sung, the Eternal Leader and to his son, Generalissimo Kim Jong Il. Worship the dead and then hail the living, the Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.North Koreans are told their home is the greatest nation on earth. Big Brother is always watching.Posing as a university professor, award-winning BBC journalist John Sweeney travelled undercover to gain unprecedented access to the world's most secret state. Drawing on his own experiences and his extensive interviews with defectors and other key witnesses, North Korea Undercover pulls back the Trade ReviewSweeney's book is a spark in the dark of North Korea. * The Times *The recent UN report on North Korea under-lined the importance of Sweeney's book. There is much to learn from North Korea Undercover. * Literary Review *Harrowing... creepy and poignant; and, in turn, tragic and obscene. North Korea Undercover asserts that the West should be more concerned about labour camps than nuclear weapons. -- Tom Farrell * Sunday Business Post *Explosive and entertaining... Sweeney provides a remarkably vivid look at this hidden country. An investigative must-read. * Booklist *A tremendous piece of reporting. This book is one that we should all read and absorb. * Army Rumour Service *

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Book SynopsisWhen social media has put mass communication in the hands of anyone with a smartphone - from US Presidents to any crook, liar or foreign enemy - Derek Taylor asks: What hope is there for the rest of us who just want to know what's really going on?Trade ReviewA revealing and sometimes alarming review of the age-old efforts by governments to muzzle the media. -- PETER SNOW

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the increasing altruistic impulse of the design community to address some of the world's most difficult problems including social, political, environmental, and global health causes at the local, national, and global scale. Each chapter strategically combines theory and practice to examine how to identify causes and locate accurate data, truth and integrity in information design, the information design/data visualization process, understanding audiences, crafting meaningful narratives, and measuring the impact of a design. A variety of international case studies and interviews with practitioners illustrate the challenges and impact of designing for social agendas. These range from traditional media outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian, popular science organizations like National Geographic and Scientific America, to health institutes like The World Health Organization and The Center for Disease Control. This book allows the noTable of ContentsChapter 1 - The Roots of Data-Driven Design Information Design vs Data Visualization Historical Overview Case Study: Harry Stevens, Washington Post Evolution of Form Case Study: Jason Treat, National Geographic, World Plastics Methods and Tools Chapter 2 - Social Good and Empathy Social Good History of Social Design Empathy Case Study: Juanita Londono, Impact Over Form History of Empathy Case Study: Jan Willem Tulp (Tulp Interactive), World Water Atlas Applied Empathy and Humanization Methods Chapter 3 - Collaboration and the Process of Data-Driven Design The Evolution of Design Processes and Data Exploration Case Study: Bryan Christie Design, National Geographic, Katie’s New Face Case Study: Dino Citraro, Periscopic, Pacific Salmon Explorer Collaborative Opportunity Starts Early Case Study: Sophia Aliferi and Courtney Marchese, Fifth Wave Chapter 4 - Truth and Integrity in Data Presentation Data Literacy Best Practices of Honest Data Carbon Footprint, David McCandless Rhetoric and Persuasion Avoiding Misleading Data Case Study: WHO, Violence Info Maps Case Study: Pablo Robles, South China Morning Post Methods - Finding and Cleaning Data Chapter 5 - Crafting a Meaningful Narrative Exploratory to Explanatory Data Functions and Goals of Storytelling with Data Case Study: Martin Krzywinski, The Many Paths of COVID-19 Spread Case Study: Pentagram, Covid-19 Press Briefing Graphics Persuasion and Memorability Narrative Structure and Plot Case Study: Dawn Kai, Reuters, Life in the Camps Case Study: Werner Helmich, GOV | DNA Storyboarding Chapter 6 - Visual Cues Introduction Perception and Gestalt Marks, Type, Color, and Other Graphic Details Case Study: Shin-Yun Chiang, Houston Flooding and Poverty Case Study: Sarthak Kathuria, Georgia Peach W.E.B. Du Bois and Black America The Influence of Isotype Case Study: Institute for Disease Modeling, Malaria Lifecycle Methods and Tools - Making Better Icon Systems Chapter 7 - Measuring Impact, with Laura Willis, PhD Case Study: Nadieh Bremer, The Guardian Goals and Reach Research Methods Evaluation Design Evaluation Materials Common Mistakes and Key Considerations Case Study: Giorgia Lupi, Bruises Conclusion Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisDeep within New York’s compelling, sprawling history lives an odd, ornery Manhattan native named Diedrich Knickerbocker. This book invites readers into the world of Knickerbocker, the antihero who surprised everyone by becoming the standard-bearer for the city’s exceptional sense of self, or what we now call a New York “attitude.” Trade Review"A briskly engaging book." -- Christopher Benfey * New York Review of Books *"This is cultural history at its best." * The Journal of American Culture *"Elizabeth L. Bradley sorts, catalogues and deciphers the shifting Knickerbocker currents in a metropolis constantly reinventing itself. She does the sturdy Dutchman proud in a scholarly and polished rendition." * The Star-Ledger *"An engaging account of the city through the fictional Knickerbocker, who was a steady presence 'over two centuries of wrenching urban transformation, from the post-colonial to the postmodern.' ... Bradley is a perceptive and lively writer and does a superb job of tracing the many strands of the Knickerbocker myth. She provides the historical context necessary to illustrate the ways the Knickerbocker brand was invoked and provides deft analysis of the cultural meanings it accrued." * Bookforum *"Diedrich Knickerbocker...gets a history and identity worthy of New York's swagger in this exploration by Bradley of how Knickerbocker shaped the city's identity. Literary historians and proud New Yorkers alike will delight in the character who brought pomp and legend to the city first nicknamed Gotham by Washington Irving 200 years ago." * Publishers Weekly *"Brims with information about the burgeoning use of Knickerbocker as a literary device in novels, newspaper articles, and advertisements as a touchstone of popular culture. Entertaining enough for the general reader—including those planning a trip to one of the world's most visited cities—and amply annotated for the scholar, this is highly recommended." * Library Journal *"These days the word 'knickerbocker' represents 'little more than a comical handle, a Dutch-inflected sound—or a heartbreaking season at Madison Square Garden,' observes Elizabeth Bradley in Knickerbocker: The Myth Behind New York. Her slender, charming volume aims to change that. Bradley delves into the 200-year history of the term, which originated in Washington Irving's 1809 History of New York and given that New Yorkers are famously preoccupied with their own exceptionalism, they would do well to learn more about one of the city's original boosters." * Barnes & Noble Review *"Knickerbocker is a very valuable work, particularly as one of the few contemporary histories to explore how fictional texts and reading practices can have material effects on a particular place. Bradley's analysis of Knickerbocker's significance will be of great interest to literary scholars and historians of the American nineteenth century, and her counternarrative of New York's development will reward the professional and general reader alike." * Clio *"Knickerbocker is a storied name steeped in tradition—one that I am proud to have been a part of. Bradley's Knickerbocker: The Myth Behind New York offers a unique examination of how a name familiarized by Washington Irving two hundred years ago grew to become a cultural symbol of New York." -- Former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley"Those who puzzle at the incessant branding and rebranding of New York City would do well to read this fascinating, sophisticated, and witty social history of a myth. Bradley knows her facts and shrewdly and convincingly interprets them. A delightful contribution to urban studies." -- Phillip Lopate * author of Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan *"Is New York different from other cities, or does it just have different myths? Focusing on a tale first spun by Washington Irving two centuries ago, Knickerbocker answers this question with grace and skill. It is a delight to read." -- Kenneth T. Jackson * editor-in-chief, The Encyclopedia of New York *"A briskly engaging book." -- Christopher Benfey * New York Review of Books *"This is cultural history at its best." * The Journal of American Culture *"Elizabeth L. Bradley sorts, catalogues and deciphers the shifting Knickerbocker currents in a metropolis constantly reinventing itself. She does the sturdy Dutchman proud in a scholarly and polished rendition." * The Star-Ledger *"An engaging account of the city through the fictional Knickerbocker, who was a steady presence 'over two centuries of wrenching urban transformation, from the post-colonial to the postmodern.' ... Bradley is a perceptive and lively writer and does a superb job of tracing the many strands of the Knickerbocker myth. She provides the historical context necessary to illustrate the ways the Knickerbocker brand was invoked and provides deft analysis of the cultural meanings it accrued." * Bookforum *"Diedrich Knickerbocker...gets a history and identity worthy of New York's swagger in this exploration by Bradley of how Knickerbocker shaped the city's identity. Literary historians and proud New Yorkers alike will delight in the character who brought pomp and legend to the city first nicknamed Gotham by Washington Irving 200 years ago." * Publishers Weekly *"Brims with information about the burgeoning use of Knickerbocker as a literary device in novels, newspaper articles, and advertisements as a touchstone of popular culture. Entertaining enough for the general reader—including those planning a trip to one of the world's most visited cities—and amply annotated for the scholar, this is highly recommended." * Library Journal *"These days the word 'knickerbocker' represents 'little more than a comical handle, a Dutch-inflected sound—or a heartbreaking season at Madison Square Garden,' observes Elizabeth Bradley in Knickerbocker: The Myth Behind New York. Her slender, charming volume aims to change that. Bradley delves into the 200-year history of the term, which originated in Washington Irving's 1809 History of New York and given that New Yorkers are famously preoccupied with their own exceptionalism, they would do well to learn more about one of the city's original boosters." * Barnes & Noble Review *"Knickerbocker is a very valuable work, particularly as one of the few contemporary histories to explore how fictional texts and reading practices can have material effects on a particular place. Bradley's analysis of Knickerbocker's significance will be of great interest to literary scholars and historians of the American nineteenth century, and her counternarrative of New York's development will reward the professional and general reader alike." * Clio *"Knickerbocker is a storied name steeped in tradition—one that I am proud to have been a part of. Bradley's Knickerbocker: The Myth Behind New York offers a unique examination of how a name familiarized by Washington Irving two hundred years ago grew to become a cultural symbol of New York." -- Former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley"Those who puzzle at the incessant branding and rebranding of New York City would do well to read this fascinating, sophisticated, and witty social history of a myth. Bradley knows her facts and shrewdly and convincingly interprets them. A delightful contribution to urban studies." -- Phillip Lopate * author of Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan *"Is New York different from other cities, or does it just have different myths? Focusing on a tale first spun by Washington Irving two centuries ago, Knickerbocker answers this question with grace and skill. It is a delight to read." -- Kenneth T. Jackson * editor-in-chief, The Encyclopedia of New York *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction The Picture of Knickerbocker Inheriting Knickerbocker Fashioning a Knickerbocracy Knickerbocker in a New Century Conclusion Notes Index

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Book SynopsisIf you look at all the people involved Ivo, Tony Wilson, McGee, Geoff Travis, myself nobody had a clue about running a record company, and that was the best thing about it.' Daniel Miller, Mute RecordsOne of the most tangible aftershocks of punk was its prompt to individuals: do it yourself. A generation was inspired, and often with no planning or business sense, in bedrooms, record-shop back offices and sheds, labels such as Factory, Rough Trade, Mute, Beggars Banquet, 4AD, Creation, Warp and Domino began. From humble beginnings, some of the most influential artists were allowed to thrive: Orange Juice, New Order, Depeche Mode, Happy Mondays, The Smiths, Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, Aphex Twin, Teenage Fanclub, The Arctic Monkeys. How Soon Is Now? is a landmark survey of the artists, the labels, and the mavericks behind them who had the vision and bloody-mindedness to turn the music world on its head.

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Book SynopsisThe indispensable classic on marketing by the bestselling author of Tribes and Purple Cow. Legendary business writer Seth Godin has three essential questions for every marketer: “What’s your story?” “Will the people who need to hear this story believe it?” “Is it true?” All marketers tell stories. And if they do it right, we believe them. We believe that wine tastes better in a $20 glass than a $1 glass. We believe that an $80,000 Porsche is vastly superior to a $36,000 Volkswagen that’s virtually the same car. We believe that $225 sneakers make our feet feel better—and look cooler—than a $25 brand. And believing it makes it true. As Seth Godin has taught hundreds of thousands of marketers and students around the world, great marketers don’t talk about features or even benefits. Instead, they tell a story—a story we want to believe, whether it’s factual or not. In a world where most people have an infinite number of choices and no time to make them, every organization is a marketer, and all marketing is about telling stories. Marketers succeed when they tell us a story that fits our worldview, a story that we intuitively embrace and then share with our friends. Think of the Dyson vacuum cleaner, or Fiji water, or the iPod. But beware: If your stories are inauthentic, you cross the line from fib to fraud. Marketers fail when they are selfish and scurrilous, when they abuse the tools of their trade and make the world worse. That’s a lesson learned the hard way by telemarketers, cigarette companies, and sleazy politicians. But for the rest of us, it’s time to embrace the power of the story. As Godin writes, “Stories make it easier to understand the world. Stories are the only way we know to spread an idea. Marketers didn’t invent storytelling. They just perfected it.”

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Book SynopsisFrom 1987 to 1995, Bristol, England’s Sarah Records was a modest underground success and, for the most part, a critical laughingstock in its native country—sneeringly dismissed as the sad, final repository for a fringe style of music (variously referred to as “indie-pop,” “C86,” “cutie” and “twee”) whose moment had passed. Yet now, more than 20 years after its founders symbolically “destroyed” it, Sarah is among the most passionately fetishized record labels of all time. Its rare releases command hundreds of dollars, devotees around the world hungrily seek out any information they can find about its poorly documented history, and young musicians—some of them not yet born when Sarah shut down—claim its bands (such as Blueboy, the Field Mice, Heavenly, and the Wake) as major influences. Featuring dozens of exclusive interviews with the music-makers, producers, writers and assorted eyewitnesses who played a part in Sarah’s eight-year odyssey, Popkiss: The Life and Afterlife of Sarah Records is the first authorised biography of an unlikely cult legend.Trade ReviewFascinating ... [A] detailed history of the cult Bristol-based indie ... [White] puts forward a strong case for its worth. * MOJO *White's book offers a series of discrete essays, each one covering a different theme or particular band … [Its] intriguing chapters explore the non-musical idiosyncrasies that made Sarah unique. * The Wire *Michael White expertly puts Sarah into context with a whirlwind tour of early indie-pop … This interesting read [is] very welcome. * Record Collector *A beautiful document in itself [and a 'Top Read of 2015']. * 3AM Magazine *Combining a zine-like zeal for its subjects with a thorough examination of the cultural context that made them special, the interconnected narratives of Popkiss form an IRL internet for people who believe a record is something to hold, cherish and scratch rather than click into the cloud. This is an essential archive of a pivotal moment in UK pop history that was in danger of fading from our collective pre-web memory. * Stuart Berman, Pitchfork Contributor and author of This Book Is Broken: A Broken Social Scene Story and Too Much Trouble: A Very Oral History of Danko Jones *More than the labels that inspired its existence, Sarah Records came to define the indie-pop aesthetic. A great record label needs a great biography, and it's hard to think of anyone who could tell the Sarah story as empathetically as Michael White. Popkiss is a triumph. * Pete Paphides *It’s hard to think of another record company that provoked such strong emotions as Sarah: the label, and the music it released, inspired either undying devotion or implacable loathing. Michael White’s book shines a brilliant light on a strange and unique moment in indie history, illuminating a fascinating, lost world of pop, politics, passion and postal orders. * Alexis Petridis, Head Rock and Pop Critic, The Guardian, UK *White's history is a much-needed document, fleshing out details and explanation for a label and ‘scene’ that has meant so much to so many yet not received the literary attention it deserves … Popkiss is immensely readable and incredibly successful in uncovering the secrets of a record label that was timeless in its output, limited in its lifespan, and for the most part known to only a select few record-philes during its duration. If you were in the know, Popkiss will help you discover Sarah anew. If you weren't, you will find endless rabbit holes down which to venture. Either way, you'll come away pleased. -- Frank Valish * Under the Radar *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Chapter One: Songs of Innocence and Inexperience: The Roots of Sarah Chapter Two: “Let’s Just Communicate!”: The 1980s Fanzine Underground Chapter Three: “How Much Do One Thousand Flexidiscs Weigh?”: When Matt Met Clare Chapter Four: “Come to My World”: The Sea Urchins and the Beginning of Sarah Chapter Five: “A Constant Source of Bemusement and Wonder”: The Orchids Chapter Six: “Another Fucking Harvey Band”: The Ubiquitous Harvey Williams Chapter Seven: “Sarah Records Unequivocally Supports a Fully Integrated Light-Rail Rapid-Transit System for the Greater Bristol Area”: Expressions of Civic Pride Chapter Eight: “A Diary of Sorts”: The Field Mice, Northern Picture Library, and the Quicksilver Bobby Wratten Chapter Nine: “I Sometimes Feel So Lost”: Brighter Chapter Ten: Safe Harbour: The Wake and The Hit Parade Chapter Eleven: “I Am Telling You Because You Are Far Away”: Internationalism and Sarah’s Written Communiqués Chapter Twelve: “Atta Girl”: Heavenly, Riot Grrrl and Feminism Chapter Thirteen: Sadness is Unisex”: Blueboy and “the Best Album” Sarah Released Chapter Fourteen: An Economy of Ambition: Sarah’s Short-Term Visitors Chapter Fifteen: “We Had an Outsider’s Perspective”: Sarah’s Foreign Visitors Chapter Sixteen: “A Day for Destroying Things…”: The End of Sarah Chapter Seventeen: The Afterlife of Sarah The Sarah Discography Index

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Book SynopsisIn a globalised world, megacorp publishing is all about numbers, about sameness, about following a formula based on the latest megasuccess. Each book is expected to pay for itself and all the externalities of publishing such as offices and CEO salaries. It means that books which take off slowly but have long lives, the books that change social norms, are less likely to be published. Independent publishers are seeking another way. A way of engagement with society and methods that reflect something important about the locale or the niche they inhabit. Independent and small publishers are like rare plants that pop up among the larger growth but add something different, perhaps they feed the soil, bring colour or scent into the world.Trade ReviewSusan Hawthorne’s ideas are brilliant. Independent publishing feeds the cultural identity of our society as well as providing a source of income and satisfaction for writers, editors, and designers. This book must be read and distributed far and wide so that everyone understands the challenges but supports the joy! —Lisa Hanrahan, Convenor, Independent Publishers Committee, Australian Publishers AssociationTable of ContentsIntroduction; Bibliodiversity: What is it? Who invented the term? Biodiversity analogy. Counter to globalisation. Feminist publishing. Multiversity of culture & language. Add: Copyright ?; One size fits all: How oppression is used to create homogenised subordinated groups. Racism. Misogyny. Language oppression. Marketing; The soil: The personal is political; Multiversity: What is it? The politics of knowledge. Appropriation; Production: Creation & production boundaries. Ecological boost; Feminism: Theoretical marginalisation. Impact of womens poverty; Pornography: Homogenisation of women as a class. Who profits? Text in chapter says: Who benefits? Institutionalised hatred; Free trade & free speech: Choice. Who are the defenders of free speech?; Fair trade & fair speech: What is fair speech? How is it different from free speech? Power & equality of outcomes instead of equality of opportunities. Pornography. The Forest Council? paper agreement; Recolonisation: eBooks, digital publishing & the recolonisation of old colonial territories. Pricing compared to farmers selling in supermarkets below cost; Digital bibliodiversity: Networks. Publishing concentration. Fresh Booki.sh; Organic publishing: The ecology of publishing. Making culture sustainable. Languages. Countering one size fits all, globalisation & clear-felled culture; Principles of bibliodiversity: Patterns & processes. Networks. Nested systems. Cycles. Flows. Development. Dynamic balance; Bibliodiversity in the twenty-first century.

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Book SynopsisWritten by an academic and researcher with over twenty years'' experience in teaching and convening Media Studies courses, Media Studies: A Complete Introduction is designed to give you everything you need to succeed, all in one place. It covers the key areas that students are expected to be confident in, outlining the basics in clear jargon-free English, and then providing added-value features like case studies, and even lists of questions you might be asked in your seminar or exam.The book uses a structure that mirrors the way Media Studies is taught on many university courses. Chapters include essential coverage of the history, organization and production of the media industries, and regulation of the media. The analysis of media texts is covered in detail, as are the issues of identity and gender, the idea of globalization and the shifting face of social media in its many contexts.

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Book SynopsisChina's economic rise and influence has been one of the most significant developments in the global economy of recent times. A driving force behind this expansion has been the private entrepreneurs and companies of China, some of which have literally redefined the economic and business landscape, both inside and outside of China. Dong Mingzhu is one such entrepreneur. Gree Electric is one of the powerhouses of the air-conditioning industry, and owes its success to the entrepreneurial and management tenacity of Dong. As a young widow, aged 36, she travelled south and began work at Gree as an ordinary salesperson. Four years later, in 1994, she became head of sales. By 1996, she was deputy president, and by 2001, president of Gree. During this time, Dong challenged and transformed industry norms through her innovations in sales, service and employee policies. This is the story of one of China's most inspiring and innovative business leaders.

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Book SynopsisMartha Gellhorn was one of the twentieth century's greatest war correspondents. The Face of War is a selection of her reports, on the conflicts in Spain, Finland, China and World War II, with later reports on Vietnam, Israel and Central America.Trade ReviewOne of the very greatest correspondents to cover the conflicts of this bloodies and most violent of centuries * Independent *

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Book SynopsisBringing together leading scholars, this international collection examines different dimensions of ageing and ageism in a range of media and how older adults use and interact with the media.Table of Contents1 Introduction: Ageing in/and the Media - Virpi Ylänne Part I: Framing and Constructing Ageing in Media Reporting 2 ‘Apocalyptic Demography’ Versus the ‘Reckless Generation’: Framing the Third and Fourth Ages in the Media - Paul Higgs and Chris Gilleard 3 Older Adults and the Pandemic in UK News Media - Virpi Ylänne 4 Present Time Witches: Media and the Intersecting Discourses of Age, Gender, and Mental Health in Ghana - Monika Wilińska and Doris Boateng 5 Portrayals of Older People With Dementia in Taiwanese Newspapers - Chin-Hui Chen and Yan-Hua Huang 6 Older LGBTQ+ Persons in Canadian Newspapers - Laura Hurd and Raveena Mahal Part II: Imagined Ageing in Promotional and Fictional Contexts 7 Ageism and the Promotion of Agelessness in Brazilian Advertising - Gisela Castro 8 Visual Ageism on Public Organisations’ Websites - Eugène Loos, Loredana Ivan, Maria Sourbati, Wenqian Xu, Christa Lykke Christensen and Virpi Ylänne 9 Imag(in)ing Ageing Futures in Comics and Graphic Novels - Nicole Dalmer and Lucia Cedeira Serantes Part III: Older Adults’ Interaction With the Media and Media Technologies 10 Advertising Old Men: Swedish Old Men Reflect on ‘Seeing Themselves’ - Karin Lövgren, Linn Sandberg and Jeff Hearn 11 Older Women and Women’s Magazines: Audience, Agency, and Life Course - Dana Sawchuk 12 The Double Logic of Care: Age, Gender, and Media Technologies in Austria - Barbara Ratzenböck 13 Conclusion - Virpi Ylänne

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Book SynopsisCreated by the team of Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, and starring Marling in the role of Prairie Johnston, the Netflix Originals series The OA (2016–19) is a generically ambiguous, and ambitious, vehicle for exploring a variety of themes, chief among them identity, belief and the nature and construction of reality. Prairie claims that she has learned the secret of inter-dimensional travel after a near-death experience and subsequent imprisonment at the hands of a deranged scientist obsessed with that phenomenon – but is she a potentially unreliable narrator, a sincere one or, finally, a metafictional character playing a version of herself in a fictional drama?This Constellation discusses The OA’s thematic concerns in the context of the creators’ earlier collaborations and in terms of influences on it, such as the work of David Lynch, particularly the TV series Twin Peaks (1990–2017) and the films Mulholland Drive (2001) and Inland Empire (2006), and comparable texts such as the Netflix Originals series Sense8 (2015–18) and Maniac (2018); the writings of Jorge Luis Borges and Philip K Dick. The discussion will be supported by sources from the fields of media and social theory, including the work of Jean Baudrillard, Steven Shaviro, Jodi Dean, Mark Fisher and Shoshana Zuboff. Negative criticisms of The OA will also be addressed, such as accusations of superficiality, which will be considered alongside the themes of deception, manipulation and artificiality identifiable in The OA specifically, and in Marling and Batmanglij’s wider oeuvre.

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Book SynopsisThe study of media industries has become a thriving subfield of media studies. It already comprises a diverse intellectual history, a range of fascinating questions and topics, and many theoretical and methodological frameworks.Media Industry Studies provides the roadmap to this vibrant area of study. Blending a comprehensive overview of foundational literature with an examination of the varied scales and sites media industry studies have considered, the book explores connections among research questions, topics, and methodologies. It includes examples from many media industries – film, television, journalism, music, games – and incorporates emerging scholarship considering the industrial contexts of social and internet-distributed media.Offering an account of the intellectual traditions and approaches that have defined the subfield to date, Media Industry Studies is an indispensable resource for upper-level undergraduates, postgraduates, and scholars.Trade Review“Three excellent scholars have provided a concise but remarkably comprehensive survey of a burgeoning field of study. It will be an indispensable introduction for newcomers, and a key reference point for analysts.”David Hesmondhalgh, University of Leeds “For anyone approaching the critical study of media industries, this useful and highly accessible source is packed with valuable insights. The book builds excellent foundations on which to understand the multiple dynamics involved with making media into an ‘industry’ and the roles that media industries play in shaping cultural life.”Paul McDonald, King’s College London“A highly resourceful account of a burgeoning area of research in media studies. … The thoughtfully laid out heuristic models serve as springboards for researchers to take a leap into their respective areas of interests.”Media Practice and Education"A very welcome contribution to a burgeoning area of discussion and debate."Media International Australia‘'Media industry studies present a concise but comprehensive introduction to the different research questions and methods underpinning media industries research. The book provides invaluable insights for readers, researchers and students who want to gain foundational knowledge about the development of media industry studies. (...) This broad overview of approaches to media industry studies offers readers excellent references and additional resources to explore historical and more contemporary studies about media industries.''Anna M. Ozimek, Information, Communication & Society Journal Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1 The Origins of Media Industry Studies 2 Individuals and Roles 3 “Production” Cultures 4 Organizations 5 Industries and Practices 6 The Macro View Conclusion: Future Directions for Media Industry Studies Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisLittle Black Book is THE book of the year for working women with drive' Refinery 29The essential career handbook for creative working women.A compact gem' StylistLittle Black Book: A Toolkit For Working Women is the modern career guide every creative woman needs, whether you're just starting out or already have years of experience. Packed with fresh ideas and no-nonsense practical advice, this travel-sized career handbook is guaranteed to become your go-to resource when it comes to building the career you want.Writer Otegha Uwagba (one of Forbes European 30 Under 30) takes you through everything you need to build a successful self-made career: from how to negotiate a payrise to building a killer personal brand, via a crash course in networking like a pro, and tips for overcoming creative block. Plus Little Black Book is full of indispensable advice on how to thrive as a freelancer, and an entire chapter dedicated to helping you master the tricky art of public speaking.With contributionTrade Review‘A must-read for anyone looking to be as prolific as Uwagba herself’ Sunday Times ‘Otegha Uwagba is one of London's new generation of female CEOs’ Evening Standard ‘Otegha Uwagba has the answer to all your creative career challenges…this book is a must-read guide for all creative women looking to navigate the world of work’ Elle ‘Avoids all the clichés of the “self-help” genre’ Dazed ‘There’s no fluff in here, it’s all solid gold – recommend 100%’ Emma Gannon, author of book and podcast CTRL-ALT-DELETE ‘All you lot should get your hands on this. Currently on my way to do a speech and shitting myself, but Chapter 4 on public speaking is allowing me to breathe’ Charlie Cuff, gal-dem / Dazed ‘If, like me, you love talking and thinking about your career – and hope to constantly evolve it – this one is for you’ Natasha Lunn, Red Magazine ‘Buy this BRILLIANT book (especially if you’re a woman in the creative industries, but basically buy it if you’re anyone)’ Elizabeth Day, journalist and author of The Party ‘A hugely helpful read for working women in creative industries’ Yomi Adegoke, co-author of Slay in Your Lane ‘Inspiring, insightful, ambitious’ Porter Magazine ‘The book you’ve seen all over Instagram’ NASTY GAL ‘A travel-sized pocket book full of professional gems and expert advice’ Fader ‘Robust, sensible and calm advice… this is a useful and digestible guide to developing the creative career that will most suit you’ A Little Bird ‘Should be handed to every graduate instead of that piece of paper which, in many cases, amounts to sweet FA’ Grace Woodward, Fashion & TV commentator

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Book Synopsis23 Innovations in Digital Communication describes, criticizes and evaluates 23 digital innovations that are used in media and communication. Innovations that are not hypes, but that were implemented to reach permanent changes in media and communication. The innovations are supported by testimonials of professionals in the field and the scientific foundation of their mechanism of action. The impact and professional, scientific and social challenges coming with these innovations are discussed. Reading this book will render deep insights into how innovative digital media can be used to influence buying behavior and decision-making. This book answers questions such as “How do I create a strong brand story?”, “What are the effects of serious gaming?”, “How can we use VR in our communication?”, “How do consumers process emotional stories?” and “Is persuasion profiling unethical?”. The answers to these questions are not only based on the authors knowledge and research, but each innovation is also discussed by top experts on that specific innovation.

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Book SynopsisChina's economic rise and influence has been one of the most significant developments in the global economy of recent times. A driving force behind this expansion has been the private entrepreneurs and companies of China, some of which have literally redefined the economic and business landscape, both inside and outside of China. With a $15,000 loan from his father, the former high school dropout and factory worker Wang Wei started up his courier delivery service, SF Express, in 1993. This book is a classic rags-to-riches story of a young entrepreneur who grew SF Express into a logistics empire with revenues of $7 billion and 400,000 employees by 2015. The phenomenal rise of Wang and his company was further propelled by a $30 billion public listing in Shanghai in 2018. By any standards, this is one of the most remarkable entrepreneurial stories of recent times.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisFrom the Iranian hostage crisis through the Gulf War and the World Trade Centre bombing, the West has been haunted by a spectre called ''Islam''. As portrayed by the news media - and by a chorus of government, academic and corporate experts - ''Islam'' is synonymous with terrorism and religious hysteria. At the same time, Islamic countries use Islam to justify unrepresentative and often oppressive regimes. In this landmark work, for which he has written a new introduction, one of our foremost public thinkers examines the origins and repercussions of the media''s monolithic images of Islam. Combining political commentary with literary criticism, Edward Said reveals the hidden assumptions and distortions of fact that underlie even the most ''objective'' coverage of the Islamic world.Trade ReviewNo-one studying the relations between the West and the decolonizing world can ignore Mr. Said's work * New York Times Book Review *Edward Said belongs to that small band of American intellectuals who talk sense (and write beautifully) about the outside world * Guardian *Edward Said is a brilliant and unique amalgam of scholar, aesthete and political activist... He challenges and stimulates our thinking in every area * Washington Post Book World *

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Book SynopsisAlan Whicker is quite simply a legend. A visionary and master of his craft, his television shows from the fifties to the nineties almost single handed invented the language of travel television and earned him the status of one of the most foremost of British media icons.Trade Review'a vivid warm-hearted record of his experiences as a leading member of the Army Film and Photo Unit in Italy during the second world … Whicker's prose is such a natural expression of his ebullient personality … that reading it one seems to hear that laconic humour and to realize that he is as dapper and jaunty as he was in 1943.'Sunday Times ‘Riveting – a marathon television series, now a compulsive and fascinating book…’Radio 4 'My bookshelf would certainly be poorer without this written record. Inspired…and inspiring.'Manchester Evening News 'It almost doesn't seem like a book at all, for so familiar is the Whicker economy of language and word rhythms that it is impossible to look over the opening paragraphs without hearing the Whicker voice reading the words out loud inside your head.'Jean Moir, Daily Telegraph 'One of the outstanding broadcasters of the age and a reporter with notable gifts. Surrounded by carnage, corpses and the memory of lost friends, his familiar voice was as lilting and playful as ever, but laced with elegy…It was beautifully written and delivered with such assurance that even the pauses were eloquent.'Stephen Pile, Daily Telegraph

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