LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ -- Dr. Bosah Ebo (left) of Yardley, PA, professor of communications at Rider University, is the editor of a book, Cyberghetto or Cybertopia? -- Race, Class, and Gender on the Internet, published recently by Praeger Publishers of Westport, CT.

An anthology of essays, the book focuses on how the Internet and other forms of communication by computer are dramatically changing the nature of social relationships. It questions whether cyberspace will simply retain vestiges of traditional communities with hierarchical social links and class-structured relationships or create new social networks of equality for all.

"Two conflicting and yet reasonable perspectives are emerging about the impact of the Internet on society," Dr. Ebo says. "Proponents believe that the Internet could create a cybertopia because of its potential to generate new egalitarian social networks. But many critics of the Internet argue virtual communities are just another dimension of traditional communal relationships with the same built-in biases of race, class, and gender."

Political scientists and sociologists, as well as communications and information systems scholars examine the issues of social justice and race, class, and gender on the Internet in this book.

A member of Rider's communications faculty since 1987, Dr. Ebo teaches and writes on international communication, communication ethics, and media and popular culture. His professional articles include "Media Diplomacy and Foreign Policy: Toward a Theoretical Framework" in News Media and Foreign Relations, and "War as Popular Culture: The Gulf Conflict and the Technology of Illusionary Entertainment" in the Journal of American Culture.

During the summer of 1997, Dr. Ebo was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship as a senior scholar to attend the German Studies Seminar that began in Bonn and included trips to Hamburg, Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, and Munich. While in Germany, he lectured on media diplomacy and foreign policy. He also studied the role of the Internet in international relationships between countries, particularly groups who could subvert some relationships and cause problems.

He earned his Ph.D. in mass communications from the University of Iowa and his M.A. degree (communications) and B.S. degree (economics and political science) from the University of Wisconsin.