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Acknowledgments Following the reporting of the Washington D.C. area sniper, first as a resident and then as a scholar, has been as engrossing as any of my other scholarly projects. The event, which occurred in October ≤≠≠≤, rattled the region and set off reverberations far beyond it. This drew me to the story, but I wanted to tell it as scrupulously and fairly as possible. While I hope this work contributes to important scholarly debates in its framing and conclusion, the narrative forms the emotional core of the book. My first thanks must go to my colleagues and students at George Mason University. Although I have heretofore published in the area of the French Revolution, I have taught the history of the press to history and communications students for many years. This book was written at the intersection of the two disciplines, and I hold an appointment in both. The opportunity to work with creative scholars, to teach demanding students, and to read the engaging communications scholarship about the press has enabled me to write this book. However, it is important to add that on the base level—both theoretically and for scholarly example—I am deeply indebted to historians. Michael Schudson and Robert Snyder, the readers of my manuscript for the University of Virginia Press, responded with interesting and challenging questions that forced me to think harder about what I wanted the book to accomplish. Lenard Berlanstein, J. William Harris, and Peter Stearns also assisted me by reading the manuscript and providing useful feedback. Likewise, Frank Sesno, Peter Slevin, and Lenny Steinhorn gave very useful advice. I thank them and others too numerous to name for their invaluable assistance. I appreciate the kindness and generosity of the Shadow TV staff who helped me gain access to local and national television coverage as well. x acknowledgments Many respondents both in the schools and in the media gave freely of their time in the many interviews conducted for this study. In particular , I want to thank a few who not only spoke with me but also facilitated connections to others and/or who took repeated questions. They include Jeremy Redmon, Tom Kapsedelis, Tom Bettag, Gail Pennybacker, Sari Horwitz, Michael Ruane, Peter Slevin, and Mike McMearty. Jerry Weast and Brian Porter of the Montgomery County Public Schools gave generously of their time and provided access to the excellent records of the central administration during the sniper incident. No one spent more time with me than journalist Jamie Stockwell, then of the Washington Post, who assiduously guided me through her three weeks with the sniper case. Writing a book while serving as an administrator provided a much different experience. The constraints on my time required me to rely upon others much more than before. Most important, Professor William Miller, the Director of Mason’s Creative Writing Program, wrote drafts of the chronological narrative in the introduction and provided significant copyediting to a late draft of the work. I am deeply grateful for his conscientious, thoughtful, and capable assistance in all matters. I enjoyed the assistance of three research assistants: Ben Huggins, Tom Cogliano, and Lynn Price, all of whom were critical to this project. Additional thanks go to Lynn Price who authored the footnoted biographies of journalists and other actors in this book. Kathleen Curtis provided considerable assistance in the closing stages of work. Marjorie Censer did excellent work locating on-line many of the media sources I used here. Her organizing skills were invaluable. Katie Clare, my administrative assistant over the last several years, put much energy into the project—some during work and some outside of it. It would be hard to overestimate how much she helped, not only in the support of the project, but also as a friend and colleague. Finally, my family forms the base of what I am able to do as a professional. Joel and Marjorie have lived through many of my projects, but they were older, more interested, and more informed for this one. It has been a joy to talk with them about the book and hear their ideas. Even more important than their direct assistance, however, are the love and pleasure that they bring into my life, which underpin productivity of every kind. My greatest debt goes to Jane Turner Censer, fellow historian, who has discussed the project with me and read drafts at every stage. Her good sense and emotional support have provided the platform for this and most everything else...

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