Podcasts about deggans

The shear amount of media generated and consumed in the United States every day is simply staggering.  Eric Deggans reminds us that the stories we tell, tell us something about ourselves—whether those stories are about music, or politics, or race. Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic and media analyst, providing reviews, feature stories, commentary and guest hosting services for the network's shows such as “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” along with writing for NPR.org and appearing on NPR podcasts such as “Consider This,” “Life Kit,” “Code Switch,” “Pop Culture Happy Hour” and “It's Been a Minute.” Deggans is also an adjunct instructor at Duke University and Indiana University, a member of the National Advisory Board for the Poynter Institute for Media Studies and chair of the Media Monitoring Committee for the National Association of Black Journalists. From 2017 to 2021, he served as a contributor/media analyst for MSNBC and NBC News. In April 2021, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida gave him its Irene Miller Vigilance in Journalism Award.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic. Deggans came to NPR in 2013 from the Tampa Bay Times, where he served a TV/Media Critic and in other roles for nearly 20 years. A journalist for more than 20 years, he is also the author of Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation, a look at how prejudice, racism and sexism fuels some elements of modern media, published in October 2012, by Palgrave Macmillan. Deggans is also currently a media analyst/contributor for MSNBC and NBC News. In August 2013, he guest hosted CNN's media analysis show Reliable Sources, joining a select group of journalists and media critics filling in for departed host Howard Kurtz. The same month, Deggans was awarded the Florida Press Club's first-ever Diversity award, honoring his coverage of issues involving race and media. He received the Legacy award from the National Association of Black Journalists' A&E Task Force, an honor bestowed to "seasoned A&E journalists who are at the top of their careers." And in 2019, he was named winner of the American Sociological Association's Excellence in the Reporting of Social Justice Issues Award. In 2019, Deggans served as the first African American chairman of the board of educators, journalists and media experts who select the George Foster Peabody Awards for excellence in electronic media. He also has joined a prestigious group of contributors to the first ethics book created in conjunction with the Poynter Institute for Media Studies for journalism's digital age: The New Ethics of Journalism, published in August 2013, by Sage/CQ Press. From 2004 to 2005, Deggans sat on the then-St. Petersburg Times editorial board and wrote bylined opinion columns. From 1997 to 2004, he worked as TV critic for the Times, crafting reviews, news stories and long-range trend pieces on the state of the media industry both locally and nationally. He originally joined the paper as its pop music critic in November 1995. He has worked at the Asbury Park Press in New Jersey and both the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Press newspapers in Pennsylvania. Now serving as chair of the Media Monitoring Committee for the National Association of Black Journalists, he has also served on the board of directors for the national Television Critics Association and on the board of the Mid-Florida Society of Professional Journalists. Additionally, he worked as a professional drummer in the 1980s, touring and performing with Motown recording artists The Voyage Band throughout the Midwest and in Osaka, Japan. He continues to perform with area bands and recording artists as a drummer, bassist and vocalist. Deggans earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and journalism from Indiana University.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Eric Deggans, a multifaceted individual who wears many hats as a TV critic, author, musician, and educator. As a TV critic and media analyst, Deggans works for National Public Radio (NPR) where he discusses and analyzes television and streaming content. He engages with his audience through various mediums, including reviews, trend stories, think pieces, feature stories, interviews, and even news reporting.In this episode of "The Truth in This Art," we delve into the world of media and journalism, discussing Deggans' unique perspective and offering more than just surface-level analysis. With their shared visual aesthetic of being bald, black, and sporting glasses and beards, they share personal experiences and reflect on the evolving perception of baldness. Tune in for an engaging conversation that goes beyond the surface.Here are the major takeaways from this enlightening conversation: Consistency is key in the modern media landscape: In a world where attention spans are shorter than ever, it's crucial to be consistent, constant, and reliable. Just like NPR's iconic show, Fresh Air, which has evolved over the years but still offers the same quality content that initially drew listeners in. So, whether you're a content creator or a consumer, remember that consistency pays off! Finding balance in your creative pursuits: Eric Deggans shares his experience of balancing multiple creative endeavors, from journalism to music. It's essential not to cut away pieces of your creative personality but rather find a balance and be responsible about it. With the right mindset and flexibility, you can pursue different passions without feeling like you're shortchanging any of them. Mindful snacking and healthy habits: Our conversation took an unexpected turn as we discussed the importance of being mindful about snacking and making healthier choices. Eric emphasizes the need to snack judiciously and opt for healthier options with less sugar. And he even suggests ditching soda altogether! It's a small change that can have a big impact on your overall well-being. Join us as we explore the behind-the-scenes of media analysis, streaming trends, and more. Eric shares his insights, experiences, and even some of his own reporting stories. You don't want to miss it!

Editor's Note: Download the audio version below and click here to subscribe to our newsletter.This week, Shawn Deggans, owner of Green Nanny, joins the Cannabis Equipment News podcast to discuss why no one wants a fully-automated garden.Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. You could also help us out by giving the podcast a positive review. Finally, to email the podcast or suggest a potential guest, you can reach David Mantey at David@cannabisequipmentnews.com.

Heather Deggans, Vice President of Microsoft US Partner Go-to-market, share her insights on her organization's mission. Heather leads a team of diverse marketers focusing on enabling partner success by creating intelligent cloud and edge solutions that transform customer outcomes. Her main goal is to accelerate partner growth, capture market share, and increase revenue, supporting Microsoft's mission of empowering every individual and organization to achieve more.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about a Stoughton High School student who was suspended for protesting the school district's ban on pride flags and Black Lives Matter flags. Juliette Kayyem discussed massive flight delays and cancellations after the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) reported an outage of its Notice to Air Missions System. Kayyem is former assistant secretary for Homeland Security under President Barack Obama, and the faculty chair of the homeland-security program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Her latest book is "The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters." Corby Kummer talked about the closure of critically-acclaimed Danish restaurant Noma — often regarded as the best restaurant in the world. Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Jared Bowen weighed in on the return of the Golden Globes after multiple scandals involving racism, corruption, and sexual assault. Bowen is GBH's Executive Arts Editor. He hosts “Open Studio with Jared Bowen” on GBH Channel 2. Eric Deggans shared his favorite television shows of 2022, from "Abbott Elementary" to "We Need to Talk About Cosby." Deggans is NPR's TV critic, a contributor to NBC, MSNBC and BPR. He's also the author of “Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation.” Kenneth Griffith, Jacob Hiser, Mara Stein, and Jean-Caleb Belizaire of Boston Children's Chorus joined us for an in-studio performance ahead of their “Becoming King: 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert” at Boston Symphony Orchestra. Griffith is a conductor and Associate Director of Choirs for the Boston Children's Chorus. Hiser is the collaborative pianist for the Boston Children's Chorus. Stein and Belizaire are members of the Boston Children's Chorus. For tickets to Monday's “Becoming King: 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert” at Boston Symphony Orchestra, go to BostonChildrensChorus.org. We ended the show by talking with listeners about a recent string of airline fiascos, from surging ticket prices to last-minute cancellations.

This hour, we preview some of the must-see TV shows and must-read books ahead this autumn. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans joins us, plus we hear from Roxanne Coady, owner of R.J. Booksellers in Madison and Middletown. Deggans recently wrote about "why Black characters in 'Rings of Power' and 'Little Mermaid' make fantasy better." Addressing racist criticisms of the new Amazon Prime Video series "Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power" series, Deggans writes, "These new visions of classic fantasy worlds and characters are simply a reflection of our new, more multicultural world. And that's probably what most scares fans who are used to white-centered fantasy."   GUESTS: Eric Deggans: TV Critic, NPR Roxanne Coady: CEO, R.J. Julia Booksellers; CEO and Founder, Just the Right Book Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners about America's political divide. Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett discusses the latest news on COVID-19 and monkeypox vaccines, and answers listeners' questions in another edition of “Ask the Doctor.” Gergen-Barnett is the vice chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation and residency director in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Callie Crossley talks about Meghan Markle's Spotify podcast “Archetypes,” and a new Madame C.J. Walker Barbie doll. Crossley hosts GBH's Under the Radar and Basic Black. Micheal Twitty discusses the Jewish and African diaspora through his new book, “Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew.” Twitty is a James Beard winning author, chef, and cultural historian. His new book is “Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew.” Eric Deggans shares his thoughts on the latest on TV, from “Better Call Saul” to “A League of Their Own.” Deggans is NPR's TV critic and a regular on Boston Public Radio. John Davidson reflects on his life and career, and his time hosting “Hollywood Squares.” He also performs a sampling of his music live at the Boston Public Library. Davidson is an actor, musician, and all-around entertainer who's filled in for Johnny Carson, hosted shows like “Hollywood Squares,” “That's Incredible!,” and “Time Machine.” Nowadays you can catch him performing music up at Club Sandwich in Center Sandwich, New Hampshire. We end the show by asking listeners for their favorite summer drinks.

Purdue University Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Danny Milisavljevic shares what all of the excitement is about the all new $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope. And speaking of another world, we brought back our conversation with NPR TV and film critic Deggans to discuss why Hollywood loves the Midwest for their settings.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about the latest news from the Jan. 6 committee hearings. Art Caplan talks about California Gov. Gavin Newsom announcing that the state would begin manufacturing its own insulin. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Juliette Kayyem shares her analysis on the latest news from the Jan. 6 committee hearings, and the release of surveillance video footage depicting the police response to the Uvalde school shooting. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the Homeland Security program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Corby Kummer weighs in on the end of the business lunch, and explained how some online restaurant reviews seemingly from customers are part of an extortion scam. Kummer is executive director of the food and society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Lee Feinberg and Terri Randall discuss the NOVA documentary “Ultimate Space Telescope,” and previewed what's next for the James Webb Space Telescope. Feinberg is the Optical Telescope Element Manager for the James Webb Space Telescope at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Randall is the director of the new NOVA documentary “Ultimate Space Telescope,” which airs on PBS, GBH2, on July 13 at 9 p.m. EST. Eric Deggans shares his thoughts on this year's Emmy nominations. Deggans is NPR's TV critic and author of the book “Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation.” We end the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners for their thoughts on images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope.

Can you name the most watched TV event of the year? Who gets more viewers, MSNBC or FOX? In this installment of "Life By Numbers," Eric Deggans, TV critic for NPR, quizzes listeners on television ratings. Can you name the longest running show on TV? What about the most watched TV finale of all time? Now: @Deggans quizzes listeners on TV ratings, in our latest trivia installment of "Life By Numbers"Live on @WNYC https://t.co/20NQjw4IiM pic.twitter.com/JZuOtH0Cjx — The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) March 10, 2022

Norms in newsrooms across the United States are being upended thanks to deep polarization, a racial reckoning, and the pandemic. Hallmark journalistic traits like neutrality and objectivity are being redefined. Eric Deggans, TV critic for NPR, says it's impossible to be objective, and journalists have long been advocates for the status quo. “We've seen newspapers apologize for how they covered the Civil Rights Movement because they marginalized civil rights advocates." Still, today's challenges are unique. Newsrooms are grappling with generational change, the Me Too movement, and journalists who became oppositional following President Trump's "enemy of the people" comments. Deggans speaks with Joanne Lipman, former editor in chief for USA Today, and Vivian Schiller, executive director of Aspen Digital.

Andy Slavitt, who is a long-term government bureaucrat and not a physician, has a book out attacking President Trump's handling of the Coronavirus in the United States! He also is attacking WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE claiming we did not sacrifice enough! He never seems to mention that we should not be funding research in China to develop viruses in test tubes so we can make viruses more deadly. He never seems to think all the people who lost businesses and/or jobs, all the mental health crises individuals contended with (and too many ending in suicide), all the anguish of parents and other loved ones dying alone, all the people who didn't catch terrible diseases soon enough because they could not get normal healthcare screenings, or all the children who lost an entire year of school could be “enough sacrifice”. So who is this guy? He is the former acting chief of Medicare and Medicaid for 2 years under the Obama administration and the former senior White House COVID-19 adviser for 5 months under Biden.Talk about carrying this liberal, socialist “wokeness” too far! Eric Deggans, a black NPR TV critic, is very critical of Tom Hanks' lifetime history of making very successful, very entertaining movies, including “Splash”, “Big”, “A League of Their Own”, “Forrest Gump”, “Saving Private Ryan”, “Apollo 13”, “Cast Away”, “Charlie Wilson's War”, “Bridge of Spies”, “The Post”, “Band of Brothers”, “Sleepless in Seattle”, “Toy Story”, “You've Got Mail”, and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”. Deggans thinks Hanks needs to start being less “racist” in his movies, and instead needs to start doing a better job of telling the stories of oppressed black men. Well……the reality is Tom Hanks skin color is not black. Perhaps a man with black skin would do a better job of that.Our American Mamas, Denise Arthur, explains divorce does not just affect the parents. It also always involves the children as well. So if one parent behaves quite inappropriately towards the other parent, especially publicly, it is going to impact the children, too. So the Virginia father who dumped 80,000 pennies in the street in front of his ex-wife's house as his final child support payment — well, he told everyone more about himself than he probably wishes he had. The mother, on the other hand, showed true class by donating that $800 to Safe Harbor, a domestic abuse center. That action was so well received others from all over the world also made donations.Stephen Parr goes through example after example of the Socialist Democrats accusing Donald Trump of lying when the very words coming out of their mouth or being printed in the news were the actual lies. Now, Trump is saying the 2020 election was stolen. There is a definite pattern here.Louis Avallone explains how Biden's staff prepares flash cards for him to remember important things, such as he wants the DOJ to reflect his values and his principles because Trump abused power. What? Biden's corrupt values and principles?The Bright Spot is Jon Stewart told Stephen Colbert “I think we owe a great debt of gratitude to science. Science has, in many ways, helped ease the suffering of this pandemic, which was more than likely caused by science.” He went on to say scientists are going to kill us all. When Stewart says something like that, the socialist media will not really be able to continue covering up the truth.

This week on The Media Roundtable, Dan sits down with NPR's media critic, Eric Deggans. Much more than an “idiot box,” Deggans argues that TV is not just important, it is the “heartbeat of society”. Deggans shares why believes the medium “ultimately tells us things about society and the conversations we're having about family, romance, employment, race, and gender."

Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic. His work, "Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation," explores how prejudice, racism, and sexism fuels some elements of modern media, was published in October 2012 by Palgrave Macmillan. A journalist for over two decades, Deggans spent time at the Tampa Bay Times in various roles and has also contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Village Voice.

This week, Derek and deputy editor Daniel Comiskey are joined by NPR television critic Eric Deggans to talk about Indy native Ryan Murphy's new film for Netflix, "The Prom," premiering this week. They discuss how Murphy's Hoosier roots have influenced his career and approach to this project, as well as Deggans' day-to-day life as a TV critic in a time when streaming services and the pandemic have upended how we consume media.

Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic. His work, "Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation," explores how prejudice, racism, and sexism fuels some elements of modern media, was published in October 2012 by Palgrave Macmillan. A journalist for over two decades, Deggans spent time at the Tampa Bay Times in various roles and has also contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Village Voice.

This week pop culture and current events collide as our hosts speak with NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans about the current racial movement taking place in our country and how TV shows about cops and the justice system pass along derogatory and discriminative messages regarding race, specifically African-Americans. Deggans also discusses the desire among white Americans to fight systemic racism and suggests they "find one thing that may support white supremacy or passes along racist ideas and tackle it" whether it's a family member, a television show, or systemic problems in the workplace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eric Deggans, media analyst (NPR/NBC) and author of ‘Race-Baiter: How The Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation’ joins us to talk about yet another case of police brutality that has shocked the world, Trumps response and a system that allows for racism and violence to keep happening. You will find Mr Deggans article “A Tale of Two Videos: Why the Images of George Floyd Dying Broke the Nation” here; https://ericdeggans.tumblr.com

From 2009: Michael Jackson​ has died at age 50.​ ​In commemoration of the man, BlogTalkRadio presented ​Michael Jackson Remembered​. ​ ​The live, two-hour special was anchored by ​Mr. Media​ host ​Bob Andelman​, and featured contributions from fellow BTR hosts ​Kevin Ross​, ​Mutha Knows​, ​Shaun Daily​, ​MarQ with a Q​ as well as many listeners. ​ ​Guests included ​Eric Deggans​, TV and media critic for the ​St. Petersburg Times​, who is from Michael’s hom

From 2008, my interview with then TV critics Aaron Barnhart and Eric Deggans. Barnhart was then with the Kansas City Star; he is now specializing in Kansas history; Deggans was with the St. Petersburg Times; he is now TV critic for NPR.

From 2009: Audiences first noticed Sam Jones III as Clark Kent’s best friend, Pete Ross, during the first three seasons of “Smallville.” He has since appeared in a number of movies, including Snipes, Zig Zag and Glory Road. More recently, Jones became part of the final group of medical students to go through Chicago’s County General Hospital on “ER.” His character was noteworthy because for 17 episodes he played Chaz, the younger brother of long time “ER” doc Greg Pratt, played by Mekhi Phif

William Hosea and Cornelius Wright speak with Eric Deggans, NPR’s first full-time TV critic. They discuss the final Presidential debate, Mr. Deggans’ visionary book “Race-Baiter,” as well as exploring his extensive journalistic and cable news experience. PART ONE William Hosea and Cornelius Wright speak with Eric Deggans, NPR’s first full-time TV critic. They discuss the …

On the debut episode, we look back to season one exclusively through the eyes (err, words) of main character Elliot Alderson (played by Rami Malek). Despite the Internet's (justified) obsession with the show's realistic depiction of tech, Ars reviewer Jonathan Gitlin said the characters and especially how "they break down and experience their delusions" is what made Mr. Robot compelling. So if break downs and delusions are what you're after, no one is better to relive S1 with than Elliot. We also talk with one of the most familiar TV voices around: NPR's Chief Critic Eric Deggans. Deggans watches a lot of television, but in a crowded 2015 field he felt Mr. Robot stood out from the rest. No spoilers, but Deggans has seen the first episodes of S2 and maintains high hopes for the series going forward. He shares the story of how Mr. Robot caught him off-guard last summer and what Batman v. Superman could've learned from this little hacking drama that could. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the debut episode, we look back to season one exclusively through the eyes (err, words) of main character Elliot Alderson (played by Rami Malek). Despite the Internet's (justified) obsession with the show's realistic depiction of tech, Ars reviewer Jonathan Gitlin said the characters and especially how "they break down and experience their delusions" is what made Mr. Robot compelling. So if break downs and delusions are what you're after, no one is better to relive S1 with than Elliot. We also talk with one of the most familiar TV voices around: NPR's Chief Critic Eric Deggans. Deggans watches a lot of television, but in a crowded 2015 field he felt Mr. Robot stood out from the rest. No spoilers, but Deggans has seen the first episodes of S2 and maintains high hopes for the series going forward. He shares the story of how Mr. Robot caught him off-guard last summer and what Batman v. Superman could've learned from this little hacking drama that could.

The Sanfords. The Jeffersons. The Cosbys. The Winslows. The Banks's.  And now the Lyons. In this special Thanksgiving episode, we talk about family: specifically, the evolution of the black family on television. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans tells us about his first encounter with the Evans family on Good Times, and explains why Lucious, Cookie, and their three sons might be a new thing in the TV world.  What do you think? What did you eat? Get at us on Twitter @EmpirePodcast and @JozenC.  Subscribe to Empire Afterparty on iTunes.

You can read a lot into media depictions of minorities.Richard Pryor was hilarious at it. One time he said he had just seen a movie called "Logan's Run." It was set in the future, and there were no black characters in it. "That means white folks ain't planning for us to be there," he said.Media critic Eric Deggans joins us today, and one of his major theses is that extremism and division make for a bad public discourse and great television. Big media, says Deggans, thrive on division and tension, whether it's on cable news shows or reality TV.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eric Deggans doesn’t just want to see the media transformed. He has his eye on something even more profound. “The goal is to transform the audience,” he said, “because the audience has the power.” Deggans, media critic for the Tampa Bay Times, is the author of Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012). The title comes from a 2008 episode of Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” in which the host, Bill O’Reilly, called Deggan a race-baiter. At the urging of his friends and colleagues, Deggans began to explore divisive issues in media and how networks use them to drive ratings and increase their bottom line. “Race-Baiter” goes beyond race, also studying issues of gender and regional culture. Deggans had both the curse and the benefit of writing the book under a tight deadline, which allowed for a discussion of such recent events as the Trayvon Martin shooting and Sarah Fluke being thrust into the national spotlight by radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh. Deggans draws on his experience as a critic to look not just at news, but also network television, including scripted shows and reality TV. Although the bulk of the book highlights the outrageous exploitation committed by media, he ends Race-Baiter by pushing the conversation forward in the hopefully titled chapter, “Talking Across Difference.” Racial, gender, and cultural differences best serve society through discussion, says Deggans, not exploitation for financial gain. “Let’s fill Facebook pages, comment sections, and Twitter feeds with praise for outlets doing the right thing,” Deggans writes in his final chapter, “and scorn for those who choose another direction.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Deggans doesn’t just want to see the media transformed. He has his eye on something even more profound. “The goal is to transform the audience,” he said, “because the audience has the power.” Deggans, media critic for the Tampa Bay Times, is the author of Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012). The title comes from a 2008 episode of Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” in which the host, Bill O’Reilly, called Deggan a race-baiter. At the urging of his friends and colleagues, Deggans began to explore divisive issues in media and how networks use them to drive ratings and increase their bottom line. “Race-Baiter” goes beyond race, also studying issues of gender and regional culture. Deggans had both the curse and the benefit of writing the book under a tight deadline, which allowed for a discussion of such recent events as the Trayvon Martin shooting and Sarah Fluke being thrust into the national spotlight by radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh. Deggans draws on his experience as a critic to look not just at news, but also network television, including scripted shows and reality TV. Although the bulk of the book highlights the outrageous exploitation committed by media, he ends Race-Baiter by pushing the conversation forward in the hopefully titled chapter, “Talking Across Difference.” Racial, gender, and cultural differences best serve society through discussion, says Deggans, not exploitation for financial gain. “Let’s fill Facebook pages, comment sections, and Twitter feeds with praise for outlets doing the right thing,” Deggans writes in his final chapter, “and scorn for those who choose another direction.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Deggans doesn’t just want to see the media transformed. He has his eye on something even more profound. “The goal is to transform the audience,” he said, “because the audience has the power.” Deggans, media critic for the Tampa Bay Times, is the author of Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012). The title comes from a 2008 episode of Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” in which the host, Bill O’Reilly, called Deggan a race-baiter. At the urging of his friends and colleagues, Deggans began to explore divisive issues in media and how networks use them to drive ratings and increase their bottom line. “Race-Baiter” goes beyond race, also studying issues of gender and regional culture. Deggans had both the curse and the benefit of writing the book under a tight deadline, which allowed for a discussion of such recent events as the Trayvon Martin shooting and Sarah Fluke being thrust into the national spotlight by radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh. Deggans draws on his experience as a critic to look not just at news, but also network television, including scripted shows and reality TV. Although the bulk of the book highlights the outrageous exploitation committed by media, he ends Race-Baiter by pushing the conversation forward in the hopefully titled chapter, “Talking Across Difference.” Racial, gender, and cultural differences best serve society through discussion, says Deggans, not exploitation for financial gain. “Let’s fill Facebook pages, comment sections, and Twitter feeds with praise for outlets doing the right thing,” Deggans writes in his final chapter, “and scorn for those who choose another direction.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices