There are two new books out on shelves about Clear Channel.

One is from Alec Foege, titled The Monster That Ate Mass Media, which exposes the radio giant for the steamrolling corporate giant that it is.

The second is Clear Vision: The Story of Clear Channel Communications, by Reed Bunzel, the former editor of the trade magazine Radio Ink. And it was commissioned by none other than Clear Channel, for the sole reason of countering Foege's book.

When execs learned of Foege's book back in 2005, they knew they'd have a public relations matter on their hands — and what better way to counter the report with an officially sanctioned tome dedicated to a friendlier retelling of the corporation?

Naturally, Clear Channel says publicly that they just wanted its story told fairly, and that Foege's book had the potential for "hit job" written all over it.

Lisa Dollinger, Clear Channel's communications director, spearheaded the book project. She calls it an "evenhanded look at Clear Channel" that "was written from an independent point of view by a journalist with decades of experience in radio."

Clear Channel's move to recruit Mr. Bunzel dates back to 2004, when the company was preparing to fend off other rumored Clear Channel books. While those books never materialized, the false alarms meant the company was ready when it heard about Mr. Foege's work.

With Clear Channel sponsoring the project, Dollinger received "unfettered access to Clear Channel executives and managers." Meanwhile: "The company had been denying Mr. Foege access to its executives."

And there it is: What better way to guarantee the other book is slanted — and that you'll be able to label it as such — than by denying its author access to your corporate leadership.

[WSJ]