This book is an expansive history of community weekly newspapers in the United States during the twentieth century, a subject of particular interest for journalism, history, and business students, U.S. history buffs, and current or former media workers. Beth Garfrerick has given us an important, seminal work. Most historians have ignored community newspapers. Prof. Garfrerick shows that they played vital roles in the lives of their readers. Her book is a major contribution to the study of journalism history. David Sloan Founder, American Journalism Historians Association This book serves as an important corrective to the dominant narrative of American journalism, which has focused too exclusively on big-city dailies while ignoring the personal, grassroots journalism found in thousands of influential weekly newspapers around the country. It is a must-read for media scholars, who will appreciate Garfrerick’s skill in uncovering these newspapers’ economic strategies and historicizing their vital public role. Tracy Lucht Professor of Journalism History and Women and the Media, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, Iowa State University Beth Garfrerick , Ph.D., APR, is a professor at the University of North Alabama. She earned doctoral, master’s and undergraduate degrees from the University of Alabama, has 20 years of experience in print journalism and public relations, and has received teaching/practitioner awards from several professional associations.