Product Description

The story of McCord's fight for survival in Sante Fe, New Mexico, and also of his guerrilla warfare to help another small paper survive against Gannett's underhand tactics in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It seeks to show what happens when a ruthless wheeler-dealer gets control of the news.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3396934 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 312 pages

Review
"The Chain Gang's message needs to be heard by as many Americans as read newspapers." - Vanity Fair "An exceedingly well-told story of McCord's successful fight for survival in Santa Fe, NM, and also of his guerrilla warfare to help another small paper survive (barely) against Gannett's underhanded tactics in Green Bay, Wisconsin.... A first-rate book." - Washington Post "McCord has battled the Gannett newspaper giant twice and lived to tell about it in this fascinating book... This book is nearly impossible to put down, for the media curious or those who just like a good scrap." - Publishers Weekly "Richard McCord's The Chain Gang takes the losing battle for the soul of American newspapers from the euphoric accounts on financial pages to show what corporate news chains can mean in human terms to the people and the vitality of the victimized cities and towns. His is a unique account of the power and depredations of the Gannett chain under its glib empire builder, Allen Neuharth. It goes behind the facade of slick public relations and financial killings for investors to show what happens when a ruthless and ambitious wheeler-dealer gets control of our news." - Ben H. Bagdlkian "This book blends detective story, drama, and strong research to create a riveting newspaper yarn and an unrelenting indictment of the seemingly boundless Gannett newspaper empire." - Kirkus Reviews

Customer Reviews

From the inside-McCord tells the truth
My only complaint with the book is a bit too much McCord, although his story is part of the whole. I can live without his comments on small-town suspicion...it detracts from his main story, which is a whopper...the subversion of a free press by the forces of greed. Fight on, Dick! (I was sports editor of the News-Chronicle at the time of McCord's articles.)

Chilling Adventure Tale, as well a good ethics manual!
I played classical guitar in the background at 4 of McCord's booksignings in Green Bay last year. The personal stories he tells people who buy his book are even better than the book. And the book's good. Real good. McCord recommended I read "Toxic Sludge is Good For You," which I still have to buy one of these days. Marco Capelli