This text explores the new culture of news media and shows how it works. It describes a world of news in which the speed of delivery is reducing the time for verification, sources are gaining more leverage and argument is overwhelming reporting.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 173-180) and index.

The journalism of assertion -- What happened? The parameters of the mixed media culture -- The rise of anonymous sourcing -- The growing power of sources -- There are no gatekeepers here -- The argument culture -- The press and cultural civil war -- What is to be done -- Appendix 1: The Clinton crisis and the press: a new standard of American journalism? -- Appendix 2: The Clinton crisis and the press: a second look -- Appendix 3: Methodology for the third Lewinsky study -- Appendix 4: The blue dress story -- Appendix 5: The talking points -- Appendix 6: Vernon Jordan's role -- Appendix 7: Betty Currie -- Appendix 8: Third party witnesses -- Appendix 9: "The second intern" -- Appendix 10: The cigar story.