The book delves into the complex relationship between a U.S. police department and its portrayal on television. Through interviews, personal observations, and striking black and white photography, it captures the everyday lives and philosophies of street patrol officers. The narrative reveals their mixed feelings about the representations of police in the media, highlighting the tension between reality and fiction in law enforcement.
Perlmutter examines the rapidly burgeoning phenomenon of blogging, exploring the degree to which it influences--or fails to influence--American politics.
The book explores the influence of iconic images in the media on public opinion and foreign policy decisions. It highlights how certain powerful images can encapsulate significant events, evoke moral outrage, and drive government action. Perlmutter argues that while discourse elites shape the interpretation of these images, the general public often resists or remains indifferent to their framing, suggesting a complex relationship between media representation and public perception.