THE NEWS A User's Manual

Alain de Botton calls journalism superficial and callous, and narrator Nicholas Bell is convincing in putting forth the author's point of view. Bell's crisp British accent is trustworthy and authoritative. His calm delivery of examples of the many failings of reporters hints at an underlying anger. With a tone of passion held in check, Bell emphasizes that society is being betrayed by reporters who are not delivering the whole story. Bell sincerely delivers de Botton's message that newscasters need to make us care about the subjects of news stories, in particular by describing the lives of victims before the news that affects them took place. M.S. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2014]