From God to Bill Gates: A Look at the Media's Role in the Year 2000 Panic

Hilbert College

Annotated Bibliography:

From God to Bill Gates: A Look at the Media's Role in the Year 2000 Panic

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Cappella, Joseph N. and Kathleen Hall Jamieson.(1997) Spiral of Cynicism: The Press and the Public Good. Oxford University Press: Oxford.

Capella and Jamieson explore the effects of conflict-based press coverage on voters and citizens in both a campaign and a public policy environment. They also ask if cynicism is the only realistic attitude that can be taken with current press coverage, or if one can be a realist while retaining a trusting world view. They also focus on the effects of media framing on the way an audience thinks about an event. In conclusion to their research, they propose a method to break the "spiral of cynicism" created when the press, politicians, and the public form low expectations of each other.

Harris, Richard Jackson. (1989) A Cognitive Psychology of Mass Communication. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: New Jersey.

Harris analyzes Mass Communications and the effects that it has on its audience, particularly the idea of media as perceived reality. He explains how this perception leads to viewer-constructed realities based on what is portrayed in the media. He also discusses issues that factor into the media's portrayal of events such as point of view, political slant, and the ever-present advertising industry.

Keogh, Jim. (1997) Solving the Year 2000 Problem AP Professional Press: Boston.

Keogh explains the large-scale ramifications of the millennium bug. He discusses the steps needed to prepare for the millennium on an all-encompassing level, such as testing, programming, and updating. He also explains the divide-by-zero factor in computer programs that is the cause of the millennium bug.

Landes, Richard A.(1997) "The Apocalyptic Year 1000: Millennial Fever and the Origins of the Modern West." The Year 2000: Essays on the End. Charles B. Strozier and Michael Flynn, eds. New York University Press: New York.

Landes discusses the religious implications of the year 1000, and the pre-and post-millennium panics that occurred at that time. He explores the apocalyptic background of Christianity as well, explaining that, since the apocalypse hasn't happened yet, the idea of it breeds in each generation of Christians the hopes, fears, and religious fervors that could easily escalate to panic with a few well-placed suggestions.

Micrsosoft Corporation. (1999) "The Microsoft Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure."

Microsoft's statement of preparation for Y2K, in concordance with the Federal disclosure law.

Notredame, Michel D. (1978) The Complete Prophecies of Nostradamus. Henry C. Roberts, ed. Nostradamus Press, Inc.: New York

Roberts offers a translation and interpretation of the prophecies of Nostradamus. He draws parallels with Nostradamus's predictions and significant historical events, claiming that, through ESP, Nostradamus was able to predict such events as World War II and the Bubonic Plauge. Roberts also notes that many of Nostradamus predictions foretell the eventual end of the world.

Quinby, Lee. (1999) Millennial Seduction: A Skeptic Confronts Apocalyptic Culture. Cornell University Press: London.

Quinby discusses the ingrained tendency toward belief the apocalypse from a skeptic's point of view. He theorizes about the world's almost-hysterical reaction to events such as the AIDS virus, El Nino, the millennium computer virus, and the pop-culture depictions of Saddam Hussein as the Antichrist. Quinby also argues that the reason apocalypse is so inviting to society is the millenial dream that follows: "Truth unveiled and visions of perfection for the elect."

Rushkoff, Douglas. (1999) Coercion: Why We Listen to what They Say. Riverhead Books: New York.

Ruskoff analyzes manipulative techniques used in media advertising, television programming, news presentation, and the Internet. He discusses the effects of such "programmed thought" on audiences and gives several possible explanations for these effects. He also mentions the power of the logo and superstar endorsement of a product as well as other methods used to incite people to buy into a product or idea.

Ulrich, William M. and Ian S. Hayes. (1997) The Year 2000 Software Crisis: Challenge of the Century. Yourdon Press Computing Series: New York.

Ulrich and Hayes explore the myths and realities of the year 2000 computer problem, as well as the financial and legal risks of ignoring the problem. They explain in detail the "millennium bug" (the inability for some operating systems and software to see dates after December 31, 1999 as being after that date). Ulrich and Hayes explain the ramifications that will happen if the problem is not corrected. Computers could no longer accurately predict when people are eligible for pensions or social security benefits, banks would no longer be able to accurately calculate interest, etc. One of the things that the Y2K bug does not mean, Ulrich and Hayes stress, the failure of personal computers to function after midnight on December 31, 1999.