Howard Kurtz Bücher

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Spin Cycle comes this engrossing, entertaining exposé of how the media -- from television to newspapers to the Internet -- drive the financial markets today.The booming economy and mass investing have produced an insatiable demand for financial news and given rise to a group of "fortune tellers" eager to scoop and spread the latest intelligence. In this riveting, unsettling book, Howard Kurtz introduces the powerful journalists, commentators, and analysts whose reports -- too often based on rumor, speculation, and misinformation -- have a real-time impact on the rise and fall of stocks and on the financial health of millions of investors.Focusing on such well-known figures as cable TV's Ron Insana, Maria Bartiromo, and Lou Dobbs; Christopher Byron and other print reporters who specialize in exclusives; and superstar analysts Ralph Acampora and Henry Blodget, The Fortune Tellers is an incisive, often amusing, and sometimes terrifying report by a journalist well known for his sharp-eyed observations and behind-the-scenes access. In a time of head-spinning volatility, The Fortune Tellers is essential reading for all of us who gamble with our savings in today's overheated stock market.

Bill Clinton faced unprecedented scrutiny as the most investigated president since Richard Nixon, grappling with inquiries into Whitewater, campaign fundraising, and sexual misconduct. Despite starting 1998 with high approval ratings akin to Ronald Reagan's, a wave of new allegations emerged, prompting the administration to once again engage in damage control. In "Spin Cycle," Washington Post reporter Howard Kurtz unveils the inner workings of Clinton's adept propaganda team, arguably the most effective in White House history. He provides a glimpse into closed-door strategy meetings involving Clinton, Al Gore, Mike McCurry, and others as they navigate scandals and a hostile press through tactics like stonewalling and intimidation. The narrative reveals a White House fixated on controlling the narrative, including Hillary Clinton's secret report on a reporter investigating Whitewater, the tense atmosphere that led spin doctors to avoid questioning the President about scandals, and a clandestine meeting between a Clinton operative and a New York Times editor that allowed Clinton to prepare for a presidential interview. Kurtz also highlights Al Gore's feelings of betrayal as the press turned against him, jeopardizing his 2000 candidacy. "Spin Cycle" captures the moral dilemmas faced by political operatives as they strive to protect their leader amidst escalating scandals, illustrating the lengths to which they go and the impact o