*The Christian Science Monitor**: **An Evolving Experiment in
Journalism*by Linda K. Fuller (Praeger, 2011).
ISBN 978-0-313-37994-9.  [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask] .Cost $34.95  Bulks discounts are
available.

This is the story of how a secular newspaper, founded in 1908 by a woman in
her 88th year, evolved into becoming a unique, highly respected
journalistic venture. In 2009, *The Christian Science Monitor* decided to
go digital with a 24/7 Web-first format (CSMonitor.com), supplemented for
subscribers by a weekly edition (*CSM Weekly*) and a daily email
version (*Daily
New Briefing*). An assessment of that decision by means of interviews with
61 staff members, as well as a content analyses of both print offerings,
found that the *Monitor*’s unique user numbers increased dramatically
while, at the same time, the venerable “newspaper” was able to maintain its
moral sensibility and keep to its journalistic mission: “To injure no man,
but to bless all mankind.” Including a detailed description of the *Monitor*’s
uniqueness, reputation, and role in the world of media, this book
highlights its 100-year long history, founder Mary Baker Eddy’s vision of
how the press operates, and—of particular importance, the inclusion of a
look at journalism in the twenty-first century in terms of media bias and
ethics. The physical process of production is outlined, focusing on
national and international bureaus and personnel; their perspectives, in
their own voices, are invaluable. Case studies are provided on disasters,
gender issues, health and disease, homelessness, international events,
terrorism, religion, sports, and much more. One whole chapter is devoted to
the role of information technology and how the *Monitor* has both bent to
acknowledge it and plan for its future. Appendices include awards, editors,
methodology and dates of interviews, relevant websites, a timeline,
citations of film and book reviews during the study, and a list of key
staff.  The author, who has been monitoring the *Monitor* nearly a
half-century, underscores the value of a moral sensibility at the core of
its publishing ideology.


*Features:* interviews with managers and writers of *The Christian Science
Monitor *and case studies on topics like terrorism, international issues,
gender, and more.

* *

*Linda K. Fuller* (Ph.D., Communications), a Senior Fellow at Northeastern
University, is the author/(co-) editor of more than 20 books and 300+
professional publications, including these with Praeger: *The Cosby Show:
Audiences, Impact, Implications* (1992); *Community TV in the US
*(1994); *Dictionary
of Quotations in Communications* (1997); and *National Days/National
Ways *(2004).
The recipient of Fulbright awards to Singapore and Senegal, she has found
the *Monitor* invaluable in her research. *Linda K. Fuller*, PhD, is senior
fellow at Northeastern University, Boston, MA, and professor of
communications at Worcester State University, MA. She is the author,
editor, or coeditor of 20 books and more than 300 professional publications
and conference reports. Her published works include Praeger's *National
Days/National Ways: Historical, Political, and Religious Celebrations
Around the World* and Greenwood's *The Cosby Show: Audiences, Impact, and
Implications* and *Community Television in the United States: A Sourcebook
on Public, Educational, and Governmental Access*. The recipient of
Fulbright awards to teach in Singapore and to research HIV/AIDS in Senegal,
Fuller has been monitoring the *Monitor* for half of its 100-year history.