The changes we are witnessing in our media system are occurring at a dizzying pace. Each day, there seems to be some new technological innovation or an even bigger industry merger announced. It's hard for anyone to keep up with these developments, let alone have a clear understanding of what they will ultimately mean for our society.

But decisions are being made today about our country's digital future by the biggest media companies, advertisers, technology manufacturers, lobbyists, and politicians. The U.S. public, sadly, has not been invited to participate, even though these decisions will affect everyone here and--since the United States is so dominant--around the rest of the world. The corporate media know where they wish to take us. If they are successful, we are likely to live with a communications system that offers us dazzling entertainment and seeks to fulfill our every consumer desire. Yet it will not meaningfully contribute to improving our lives or our democracy. We run the risk of merely serving as observers while special interests determine America's "digital destiny."

Read more here, but buy this book if you care about our digital destiny and want to learn more about how we got into the mess we are in, and how we still have a powerful potential digital future, if we fight hard to achieve it.