Scanning Television (2nd Ed.)
by Neil Anderson, John Pungente, & Kathleen Tyner
Harcourt Canada (www.harcourtcanada.com) & Face to Face Media

Reviewed by Mike Grange.

Teachers of media studies, journalism, sociology rejoice!

Just when you can't stand another day with those video vignettes, the old ones you have shown for several years, and now know the words to off by heart, along comes a new series with fresh clips, timely ideas and up-to-date controversial items.

Authors Neil Anderson, John Pungente, & Kathleen Tyner are well known to members on this list and to media educators around the world for their insight into how the media works and how the teaching needs to take place.

Fifty one short videos intended for media literacy come with the two formats -- DVD or Video Tape -- along with a teachers guide with insight into how to present the lesson prior to showing the clips, ideas of what to look for while viewing and post viewing conclusions. One of the timely releases, for example, is the story on Al-Jazeera Television, which reaches more than 35 million viewers but is almost ignored by the North American media. Radio, Internet, marketing, teen issues like suicide and drug abuse are all touched upon here. But the stories will be a help to cross curricular teachers too, because many of the items are fine examples of journalism and can be examined from a sociology point of view and can spice up an English/Language Arts class.

This set will make a fine addition to a classroom or to a library collection.

Mike Gange teaches media studies at Fredericton High.
Fredericton, NB Canada