Whats the value of a year study, other than it hasn been attempted before in journalism and media studies?
It is interesting to note how popular year studies have been in other fields. Consider David McCullough’s best-selling 1776 , for just one example. Other year studies have focused on 1000, 1215, 1759, 1912, 1919, and 1968. Sometimes, even a single month, or single day, has been the subject of book-length treatment. Because they tend to be sharply focused, year studies can clarify issues , trends, and developments that otherwise might remain obscure in the sweep of history. For example, the keen interest many American newspapers took in Hearst’s journalism of action is rarely recognized by historians. The Year That Defined American Journalism demonstrates that the journalism of action attracted considerable interest among journalists in 1897including some of Hearst’s rivals and foes. It was even seen as force for taking on political corruption and the monopoly interests that were gathering strength at the close of the 19th century. While the appeal of the journalism of action is typical
