This book investigates the fundamental question of whether traditional objective reporting is sufficient to sustain a healthy democratic society. Davis "Buzz" Merritt, a veteran editor and proponent of the public journalism movement, argues that the news media must transition from a detached observer role to an active participant in fostering civic engagement. He utilizes his extensive experience in newsroom management to propose a framework where journalists prioritize the needs of the public over the interests of political elites. The text challenges the long-standing professional norms of detachment, suggesting that such neutrality often alienates citizens from the political process.

Experts in media studies recognize this work as a foundational text for the public journalism movement of the 1990s and early 2000s. Readers frequently note the accessible yet provocative nature of the prose, which serves as a critical counterpoint to traditional reporting models.