News Blues
Marianne Macusi
Love Spell, Mar 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 9780505527493
In San Diego twenty-seven year old investigative news producer Maddy Madison cannot believe she still works on fluff and puff at News 9; her goal since school has been to work real news at Newsline, but each day that passes means one more nail of stereotyping her as candy. Adding to her period of discontentment is that her divorced parents have new significant others and so there is no time for parenting, which means her teenage sister Lulu with a drug problem is Maddy’s problem.
However, Maddy begins investigating a real story involving drug smuggling; not the usual attack of the “deadly dishwashers” and the sequel revenge of the “Deadly Dishwashers”. She and engaged photographer Jamie Hayes work together to cover the drug smuggling story even as she egotistical anchor terrorist Terrence Toller drives her as batty as her father marrying a girl younger than her.
This entertaining satire of how the news is manufactured is at its best when it focuses on reporting and on Maddy’s extended family interrelationships. Especially fascinating while enhancing the lampooning on how news is produced is when the TV station provides opinion and commentary on social issues, but makes it appear to be hard core news. Fans will enjoy this fun tale while also taking a closer look at what CNN, Fox, MSNBC and the networks, etc. claim is the news especially whose advertising dollars pay for the broadcast.
Harriet Klausner
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