In "Ruthless Criticism," co-edited by the insightful Robert W. McChesney, readers are invited on a profound journey through the annals of American media history, exploring terrains often left untouched by traditional narratives. This groundbreaking anthology, originally published in 1993, harnesses the power of digital technology to resurrect essential discourses, presenting them unaltered and vibrant, as they were first conceived by the scholars of the University of Minnesota Press editions. Through a series of meticulously researched essays, McChesney and his co-editor, Solomon, embark on a critical examination of media's evolution, employing a blend of critical theory and deconstruction to unravel the complex tapestry of print media in the colonial era, and extending their inquiry to the nuanced media ecologies of subsequent periods. The collection delves into an array of topics, from the profit-driven focus of the post-Civil War press to the portrayal of gender within the labor press, and the ideological diversity within the working-class press. It charts the emergence of a commercial press within the black community, and casts a discerning eye over the twentieth century's culture industry, including the origins of the broadcast ratings system and the intricate dance between television networks and the federal government. "Ruthless Criticism" not only broadens the scope of media history but also offers an alternative lens through which to view the myriad ways in which media has shaped, and been shaped by, American society. With each chapter, McChesney and his contributors challenge readers to reconsider the narrative of media history, making "Ruthless Criticism" an indispensable resource for scholars, students, and anyone keen to understand the forces that have sculpted the American media landscape.