The symptoms of the crisis of the U.S. media are well-known—a decline in hard news, the growth of info-tainment and advertorials, staff cuts and concentration of ownership, increasing conformity of viewpoint and suppression of genuine debate. McChesney's new book, The Problem of the Media, gets to the roots of this crisis, explains it, and points a way forward for the growing media reform movement. Moving consistently from critique to action, the book explores the political economy of the media, illuminating its major flashpoints and controversies by locating them in the political economy of U.S. capitalism. It deals with issues such as the declining quality of journalism, the question of bias, the weakness of the public broadcasting sector, and the limits and possibilities of antitrust legislation in regulating the media. It points out the ways in which the existing media system has become a threat to democracy, and shows how it could be made to serve the interests of the majority. McChesney's Rich Media, Poor Democracy was hailed as a pioneering analysis of the way in which media had come to serve the interests of corporate profit rather than public enlightenment and debate. Bill Moyers commented, "If Thomas Paine were around, he would have written this book." The Problem of the Media is certain to be a landmark in media studies, a vital resource for media activism, and essential reading for concerned scholars and citizens everywhere.

What is the future of television? What is the impact of media violence on society? Is news quality better or worse online? Should we regulate internet and social media use, and if so, how? Will traditional print books disappear from the marketplace? These are just a sampling of the important, provocative questions in this new reader, sure to provide a solid foundation to spark lively classroom discussion. For current coverage of controversial and important issues centering on media, look to the balanced reporting, complete overviews and engaging writing that CQ Researcher has consistently provided for more than eighty years. This brief reader allows students to see the links between media, culture, business and politics, and an opportunity to view the issues from all sides while giving them a window into the relationships between media, culture, business, and politics. In addition, useful pedagogical features—pro/con debates, graphs, tables, photos, suggested readings, and bibliographies—advance critical thinking and help in study and review.

Bringing together a range of renowned scholars in the field, this book examines eighteen key issues within contemporary media studies. Written in an accessible student-friendly style, Media Studies - Key Issues and Debates is an authoritative landmark text for undergraduate students. Each individual chapter begins with a concise definition of the concept(s) under investigation. This is followed by a 5,000 word discussion on the current state of play within research on the specific area. Chapters contain case-studies and illustrative materials from Europe, North America, Australasia and beyond. Each chapter concludes with annotated notes, which guide the student-reader in terms of future study. With a preface by Denis McQuail, contributors include Janet McCabe, John Corner, David Croteau, William Hoynes, Natalie Fenton, Jenny Kitzinger, Jeroen de Kloet, Liesbet van Zoonen, Sonia Livingstone and Greg Philo.

What are alternative media? What roles do alternative media play in pluralistic, democratic societies? What are the similarities and differences between alternative media, community media, civil society media and rhizomatic media? How do alternative media work in practice? This clear and concise text offers a one-stop guide through the complex political, social and economic debates that surround alternative media and provides a fresh and insightful look at the renewed importance of this form of communication. Combing diverse case studies from countries including the UK, North America and Brazil, the authors propose an original theoretical framework to help understand the subject. Looking at both ‘old’ and ‘new’ media, the book argues for the importance of an alternative media and suggests a political agenda as a way of broadening its scope. Understanding Alternative Media is valuable reading for students in media, journalism and communications studies, researchers, academics, and journalists.

Public relations and the media are in a time of major change. The rise of social media, altered media platforms, evolving legislative environments and new models of communication have altered not only the working environments of public relations and the news and entertainment media, but also many aspects of how these industries work together. Media Relations provides a practical and thorough introduction to media work in this changing environment. Based on a solid understanding of media culture and theory, Jane Johnston shows how to steer a path between the technical and human elements of media relations. She drills down into the different types of media, analysing their applications, strengths and weaknesses, and shows how to target your message to the right media outlets, whether national television, community radio, celebrity magazines or influential blogs. This second edition has been revised throughout and includes new case studies, and new chapters on digital and social media, media campaigns, and legal and ethical considerations. 'Media Relations: Issues and Strategies is written in an engaging, easy to understand style. It provides excellent examples and cases of media relations.' - Global Media Journal

Media studies scholars and commentators have categorised the media in distinct periods: 'old media' such as television, radio and print; 'new media' which include online media, computers, and PDAs. Now we are in a period of 'media convergence' - print newspapers sent as MP3 - but also the increasing convergence of media policy, media ownership and media practices. This book looks at how 'traditional' media companies are moving in to converged media, questions of ownership, questions of working practices and questions of the audience.