The Media Versus the Apprentice

Book excerpt: This book is about the conflicts between Donald Trump and the media during the U. S. Presidential Election of 2016. Reporters and political commentators discussed with horror the controversial campaign words of Mr. Trump, while in turn he brashly claimed that they were "totally dishonest." Who was right? Professor Alberto Martínez meticulously analyzes infamous incidents and news stories to find out how accurately the news media covered the tempestuous candidate. Surprisingly, Martínez finds that the media often failed to accurately report the news. Fiction was reported as news. Alberto A. Martinez is a professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of five other books, including Science Secrets: The Truth About Darwin's Finches, Einstein's Wife, and Other Myths (University of Pittsburgh, 2011). He also writes articles for periodicals such as The Hill, SALON, The Austin American-Statesman, the USA Today newspapers, Scientific American, The Houston Chronicle, The Daily Texan, Latina, New Standard Press, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Sloan Science & Film, and others. Reviews of Martínez's past books: "his scholarship is admirable. Every subject needs its history told in a careful and useful manner, and Martínez clearly succeeds in this endeavor." ⎼ Choice "at once scholarly and readable. ... anyone with an interest in intellectual history would benefit." ⎼ Books & Culture