Airhead the imperfect art of making news

"Airhead: The Imperfect Art of Making News" is a book written by Michael Shapiro, a journalist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley. The book explores the challenges and imperfections of making news in the digital age.

The title "Airhead" is a play on words, referencing both the idea of a news anchor or journalist being an "airhead" (i.e., lacking substance or depth) and the concept of a news story being "airborne" (i.e., in the process of being created and disseminated).

In the book, Shapiro argues that the traditional notion of journalism as a noble pursuit of truth and accuracy is no longer relevant in the digital age. Instead, he contends that news is often created and disseminated in a haphazard and imperfect manner, driven by the demands of social media, the 24-hour news cycle, and the pursuit of clicks and ratings.

Shapiro draws on his own experiences as a journalist and his observations of the news industry to illustrate the imperfections of making news. He discusses the ways in which news is often created in a rush, with little attention to detail or fact-checking, and how this can lead to errors, inaccuracies, and sensationalism.

At the same time, Shapiro argues that these imperfections are not necessarily a bad thing. He suggests that the imperfections of news-making can actually be a source of creativity and innovation, as journalists and news organizations seek to adapt to the changing media landscape and find new ways to engage audiences.

Overall, "Airhead" is a thought-provoking and insightful book that challenges readers to think critically about the nature of news and the role of journalists in the digital age.