Taking on the Press: Constitutional Rights in Conflict

Zerman's newest book on the Constitution (his previous was Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is one of the clearest examinations of a Constitutional issue for any age group in recent memory. The authohr gives a brief history and then looks at the current state of the First Amendment guarantee of a free press. Tough questions on the role of the media and the limits of responsibility are pulled from examples of important and famous legal battles, including the Pentagon Papers, Reagan's press ban in Grenada, and General Westmoreland's libel suite against CBS. By describing the roots of each conflict and by taking the reader through the trials, judicial decisions, reactions and consequences, Zerman makes abstract concepts concrete and understandable. Though he is not afraid to state his own stand on the issues, all points of view, even the most extreme, get their say. Because the book doesn't oversimplify, the youngest recommended readers may find the material too demanding. But for those who persevere, the reward is a deeper understanding of the role of a free press in a complex society. (12-up)