Queer Airwaves by Phylis Johnson; Michael C. Keith Ph.D.

Description: Queer Airwaves is the first book-length study of the role of gays and lesbians in the fields of television and radio. Using dozens of interviews and oral histories they gathered, authors Phylis A. Johnson and Michael C. Keith examine the obstacles encountered - and significantly surmounted - by gays and lesbians in the broadcast industry. Both scholarly and groundbreaking, Queer Airwaves is also a compellingly human story of courage and perseverance. It will be a valuable addition to the ever-growing canon of studies focusing on the experiences of minority, alternate lifestyle, and counterculture groups in the field of American electronic media. -- Blackwell North Amer

Johnson (Southern Illinois University at Carbondale) and Keith (communications, Boston College) use original interviews and oral history to document the gay community's use of electronic media for networking and creating a sense of community. They consider the place of electronic media in the lives on this minority, examine its uses in promoting visibility, and critically assess the current state of queer media production. Chapters outline the rise of queer radio, the roles of music and TV, the place of profit, the practice of outing queer broadcasters, the relationship of the queer community with the larger society, and crucial position of queer youth. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) -- Book News