This collection of 15 papers, edited by Freedman (journalism, Michigan State U.) and Shafer (journalism, U. of North Dakota), contributes to mass media research by focusing on the neglected former Soviet republics of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. After addressing the theoretical approaches to the subject and the Soviet foundations of the Central Asian press, papers discuss specific national issues, including the role of financial-industrial groups in controlling the media in Kazakhstan, representations of the Islamist Hizb ut-Tahrir in Kyrgyzstan's Vicherniy Bishkek, monitoring of Internet media in Uzbekistan, and journalistic self-censorship in the Tajik press; regional issues such as journalistic rights and duties under authoritarianism, ethnic minorities and the regional media, and the impact of international broadcasting into Uzbekistan; issues of journalism education and professionalism; and the impact of Internet media. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)