National Catholic Reporter at Fifty The Story of the Pioneering Paper and Its Editors

The National Catholic Reporter (NCR) provides a platform for discourse on issues from a Catholic perspective. Editor Jones, who posits that the publication offers an important forum for laity to express their opinions, supplies a behind-the-scenes look at the paper over the course of its history. NCR's ongoing 'Five Elements' consist of 'race & poverty, peace & U.S. foreign policy, nuns & women, sexuality, and church & papacy.' Within these subjects are more specific topics such as birth control, racism, celibacy, and women's ordination. A continuing major concern is the sex abuse scandal involving priests. Jones uses the advantage of his experience and in-house relationships to describe how NCR was formed and developed and examines various editorial perspectives and styles throughout the years. Excerpts illustrate and reflect the news of the times. This is a personal project for Jones and a way to encourage interest in NCR. He refers to his book as a 'rough draft' and calls for a 'three-volume footnoted history' in his introduction. Verdict fore NCR readers, Catholics, and journalism students. Library Journal.