Taking on the Pledge of Allegiance: The News Media and Michael Newdow's Constitutional Challenge
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.73 (794 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0791471829 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 216 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2015-02-01 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Taking on the Pledge of Allegiance explores the landmark lawsuit filed by avowed atheist Michael Newdow against the Elk Grove Unified School District in California, in which he claimed the words under God in the Pledge of Allegiance amounted to an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. Ronald Bishop examines how the news media marginalized Newdow after the Ninth Circuit s ruling acting as a guard dog for the government and for the ideas supposedly at the ideological heart of America by framing the decision as an aberration, a radical act by a hopelessly liberal federal circuit court. Newdow s original suit was ignored by the public and the news media until June 26, 2002, when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional. This book contains interviews with many of the parties involved, including Newdow and journalists who covered the case. Bishop concludes that journalists relegated Newdow to a rhetorical protest zone he was heard, but from a safe distance.". The U.S. This decision touched off a firestorm of negative reaction, both from politicians and from the public. Supreme Court eventually overturned the ruling on Flag Day 2004
Mr. Bishop is correct, the media largely failed America here The book's Foreword, written by Nadine Strossen, has a good concise summary of both the lawsuit's assertions and the media's distorted characterization of the lawsuit. Newdow maintained that the public school policy of requiring teachers to daily lead the students in pledging allegiance to one nation Under God violated his parental rights to influence his young daughter's beliefs without the state placing its imprimatur on a particul
Ronald Bishop is Associate Professor in the Department of Culture and Communication at Drexel University.
We need more books like this one. And as long as the media continue to trivialize complex issues and marginalize people who challenge us, this book needs to be read. American Journalism As long as people believe that the media represent antiestablishment values, this book needs to be read. As long as reporters mislead themselves into believing they are watchdogs and not lapdogs of the establishment, this book needs to be read. Chris Lamb, author of Drawn to Extremes: The Use and Abuse of Editorial Cartoons" . Taking on the Pledge of Allegiance offers political scientists and lawyers a fresh perspective on a controversial issue and legal case Bishop also raises hard questions about the media and their role in American democracy. Law & Politics Book Review Bishop persuasively explains and, in the process, raises important questions about journalism for us all to ponder