Playing Doctor

You might be interested in my new book about the history of the prime-time doctor show formula and its relation to the sociopolitics of medicine. Called Playing Doctor: Television, Storytelling and Medical Power, it’s a revision and expansion of my book that Oxford University Press published in 1989.

Annenberg’s PR people put together a video in which I discuss some themes of the book. With clips from shows (implemented in a fair-use fashion), it clocks in a 9 minutes, 39 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/annenbergschool#p/a/u/0/w6_HCSFXWww

The University of Michigan Press site for the book is here:

http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do;jsessionid=2292CD6C5545748970148891827D8741?id=354930

On Nielsen's Cross-Media Ambitions

Today's [Nielsen] communication [to clients] says, 'As the most wide-ranging research and development plan in Nielsen's history, A2/M2 was designed to follow the video across all platforms and keep pace with the evolving ways that people watch television in contemporary society.' It's nice to dream, but Nielsen has a well-earned reputation for producing nightmares; poor judgment, late delivery and shoddy service are an all too persistent theme over time. Nielsen may have a former GE executive at the helm, but never use a jet engine manufactured at 770 Broadway.

-An unnamed Nielsen client

In Joe Mandese, "Nielsen Follows the Video, Sets PC, TV Panel Integration," Media Daily News, February 12, 2008.