MEDIA RELEASE

Dr. Todd Belt, associate professor of political science at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, will be at Borders Books and Music in Hilo on Saturday, Feb 28 from noon to 1 p.m. to sign copies of “We Interrupt this Newscast: How to Improve Local News and Win Ratings, Too,” a new book he recently co-authored.

The book, published by Cambridge University Press, is billed as “what the media think about the public and why they are wrong.”

Some of the most prestigious news professionals and media watchers in academia have praised “We Interrupt this Newscast.”

CBS News anchor Bob Schieffer said, “Finally, someone has collected the data to prove what I have always believed: you don’t have to dumb down the news to get more viewers.”            

Charles Gibson of ABC News observed, “They conducted the most extensive study ever undertaken of local television news. One-by-one they debunk the consultant myths.  Get it.  Read it.”

And Thomas E. Patterson of Harvard University noted, “We Interrupt this Newscast is must reading for everyone in local news … and for any citizen who cares about the future of news in their community.

For more information, contact Belt at 974-7375 or tbelt@hawaii.edu.