Broadcasting - Something for Everyone - at a Cost

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Douglas Gomery is not afraid to mince words about the state of broadcasting in the United States. An author and long-time professor (now emeritus) in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, he currently serves as the resident scholar for the Library of American Broadcasting, which is located in the Hornbake Library on campus.

Gomery has many passions (ask him about Patsy Cline), and his latest book, A History of Broadcasting in the United States takes an expansive and comprehensive look at the industry from its inception in 1926 through 1996.

He says that broadcasting has literally gone from a luxury only the rich could afford to listen to, to something that is not only necessary, but ubiquitous and overwhelming. He says few know what channels are out there anymore: "The good part - there is something for everyone. The downside is that the uniting factor of 'Uncle Walter' linking us all together has disappeared."

Gomery has little regard for the new Newseum that just opened in Washington, D.C. (it is "good PR" for newspapers he says, not a museum) and even less for Sony's recent victory in the high definition DVD wars. "The lesson," he says, "is that the inferior technology won again." And wait till you read what he says about CBS Anchor Katie Couric!

Recently Newsdesk spoke with Prof. Gomery about the state of broadcasting today - and where it is going in the future. Read "A Conversation With..." Prof. Douglas Gomery =>

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