WASHINGTON DATELINE

Inside the press gallery how the news is garnered in the capital. The author, who is a washington correspondent for the New York Times, gives a careful but uninspiring picture of his colleagues, their activities, ideals and foibles, along anecdotes of news a that tacklire. News magazines, columnists and press censorship are evaluated the professional point of view. The book is sprinkled with shop talk of sources. The chapters are on the party line; otherwise the story verges on the stodgy, like perspective which might make one the drama and humor that would make it a reading for the public.