"BEYOND THE COLD WAR". Edited by E. Dennis, George Gerbner and Yassen N. Zassoursky. 180 Pages. The International Publishers, First Printed in 1991. Price $ 21.95

"Beyond the Cold War" is a collection of critical and analytical essays on the state of media in the US and USSR region. The amnioticity and tension between the Soviet block of nations and the United States and its allies is viewed by a number of journalists. Psychological and media war, Political maneuvering, war by proxy and fear of mutual annihilation is viewed analytically. Prior to the Cold War, the images of opposite mass media had been objected by the "Iron Curtain" and aftermath, the blind folded eyes of the both sides were opened. As viewed by one writer, the American image on Russia was based on the concept of the mysteriousness of the Russian soul. He further states that USA helped the USSR to wipe out Tzar's reign.

The first writer brings out the way that American media corrected their perspectives before and after the Glasnost. He mainly tries to highlight the American efforts to bring the Cold War to an end. The history of images of both sides is discussed. The images built up were almost imaginary during Cold War period. This essay is well analysed and manured with facts.

2nd writer is a pro-Russian. He brings out Russian attributes of the Cold War. He describes availability of the information of US in USSR and visa versa. The 3rd writer too describes an Epoch of the Cold War and post Cold War. His effort to describe the US and USSR relations is successful. He perceives that even during the Cold War, the US-USSR people were better relations in comparison to the other nations, which he derives with valid reasons.

Next writer also tries to describe the roles of Soviet and American television during this crucial period, which he perceives as a successful role. Following the next has tried to describe the image of Soviet Union and United States. His effort to emphasize that the Soviet Unionist images is not primitive, but impressive.

Following Writers thinking is based on coverage of electronic media of Reagan - Gorbachev summits. Being a pro American, he points out the defensive role of American journalists towards Gorbachev's move, the fear of being called as manipulated by Gorbachev. Comments of this kind point out the liberal thinking of writers.

A Chinese writer points out the images of 3 distinct Newspapers. Giving the information, he visualises this movement positively. Next, 2 Russian writers disclose data collected through surveys and trying to derive at the positive aspect of Perestroika and Glasnost.

A Chinese writer has discussed the image of USSR in Chinese mass media. China, being the next largest Communist country perceives USSR as a giant being the fighter against Fascism, stander against American imperialism and the balance of power. China's perception and its international relationship between USSR are analysed with relevant facts.

Another Chinese writer has discussed the image of US in China. The given data shows that Chinese mass media have projected US image to the Chinese than the USSR's. In this China imaginations on US as an enemy is discussed and the question whether the Cold War is over is discussed extensively. The writer at one instance view US as an enemy and at the same time he tries to describe that China is a Non aligned country and it has a neutral foreign policy.

Lastly, one writer giving the details of conceptions of various newspapers and personnel describes the insight of the various personnel/News papers on Cold War. He perceives that even the real Cold War is over, the mass medial Cold War will prevail.

The essays in this book are not in a chronological order, but they contain almost all the details on the Cold War. As the back cover says these essays are suitable for upper-division graduates.

Martin's comment for German readers: Es geht um Radio und die US Politik, News Radio, umstrittene Stars wie Rush Limbaugh, Music Radio, NPR National Public Radio, Global Airwaves (BBC und andere), AM (Mittelwelle) - viele Betrachtungen zum Thema Radio, ueberwiegend ueberarbeitete Veroeffentlichungen aus der Zeitschrift Media Studies Journal vom Sommer 1993. Liest sich gut haeppchenweise, da abgeschlossene Themen.

Favorite quotes:
"Radio isn't forgotten by it's legions of listeners, only by the people who don't listen, and who cares about them?"
"When hurricanes hit, when traffic is snarled, when the World Trade Towers are bombed, when the orioles are in town - give radio 22 Minutes (or less) and get the world."