A “riveting and thoroughly researched” history of language technology’s effect on society across millennia—from Sumerian syntax to social media hashtags (Phil Lapsley). Writing was born thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia. Spreading to Sumer, and then Egypt, this revolutionary tool allowed rulers to extend their control far and wide, giving rise to the world’s first empires. When Phoenician traders took their alphabet to Greece, literacy’s first boom led to the birth of drama and democracy. In Rome, it helped spell the downfall of the Republic. Later, medieval scriptoria and vernacular bibles gave rise to religious dissent, and with the combination of cheaper paper and Gutenberg’s printing press, the fuse of Reformation was lit. The Industrial Revolution brought the telegraph and the steam driven printing press, allowing information to move faster and wider than ever before through the invention of the newspaper. But along with radio and television, these new technologies were more easily exploited by the powerful, as seen in Germany, the Soviet Union, even Rwanda, where radio incited genocide. With the rise of carbon duplicates (Russian samizdat), photocopying (the Pentagon Papers), the internet, social media, and cell phones (the recent Arab Spring) more people have access to communications, making the world more connected than ever before. This “accessible, quite enjoyable, and highly informative read” will change the way you look at technology, history, and power (Booklist). “[Bernstein] enables us to see what remains the same, even as much has changed.” —Library Journal, “Editors’ Picks” “It brims with interesting ideas and astonishing connections.” —Phil Lapsley, author of Exploding the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws Who Hacked Ma Bell “[Bernstein’s] narrative is succinct and extremely well sourced. . . . [He] reminds us of a number of technologies whose changed roles are less widely chronicled in conventional histories of the media.” —The Irish Times

The media landscape has changed, and children and adolescents now face a tsunami of entertainment and information. How they sort through this may have significant effects on their education and their health. We’ve called on some of the world’s media experts to discuss what the crucial issues are and what teachers, administrators, schools, parents, and health professionals can do about them – hence, the title – Masters of Media.

Argues that the mainstream media helped secure Barack Obama's reelection by parroting inaccurate Democratic talking points and failing to report stories that would paint the administration in a negative light.

Can teaching media literacy really change the world? Researchers predict that, in 2015, the average American will spend more than fifteen hours every day listening, reading, clicking, and viewing media. Without question, television, films, radio, and music, the Internet, social media, news programs, and books and magazines are part of our daily lives. And while some claim that all of this media consumption is detrimental to society, the truth is it doesn't have to be. Times have changed. Technology connects us today in new and exciting ways. We have more choices and more control than ever, regarding what and when we will watch, listen to, and read. And, as Julie Smith explains in Master the Media: How Teaching Media Literacy Can Save Our Plugged-in World, with that control comes a heightened level of responsibility to think critically about the content we consume. Written to help teachers and parents educate the next generation, Master the Media explains the history, purpose, and messages behind the media. The point isn't to get kids to unplug; it's to help them make informed choices, understand the difference between truth and lies, and discern perception from reality. Critical thinking leads to smarter decisions-and it's why media literacy can save the world.

Digital technology plays a vital role in today's need for instant information access. The simplicity of acquiring and publishing online information presents new challenges in establishing and evaluating online credibility. Online Credibility and Digital Ethos: Evaluating Computer-Mediated Communication highlights important approaches to evaluating the credibility of digital sources and techniques used for various digital fields. This book brings together research in computer mediated communication along with the affects digital culture and online credibility.

Praise for Master the Media to Attract Your Ideal Clients "This book is a marketing masterpiece. It should be required reading for all financial professionals." -Janine Wertheim, Chief Marketing Officer Securities America, Inc. "Marketing is the lifeblood of any practice. The media is the most effective and cost-efficient way to market. Unfortunately, most practitioners only dream of media attention. No more-Derrick Kinney delivers on his promise to help you 'master the media.'" -Harold Evensky, CFP author, Wealth Management "This fast-moving, practical book gives you a step-by-step process to multiply your results and dramatically increase your exposure and name recognition. A classic!" -Brian Tracy, President, Brian Tracy International author, Create Your Own Future "Kinney offers an easy and effective 'how-to' approach for financial producers to gain recognition and credibility by becoming media sources. If you want to take your business to the next level, this book can help you get there." -Gail S. Waisanen, CLU, Editor, Life Insurance Selling "Derrick Kinney has built an effective marketing system that every advisor can use to help grow their business and attract more profitable clients." -John J. Bowen Jr., CEO, CEG Worldwide, LLC columnist for Financial Planning

Social media is not about social media. It's about leadership and connections. Billions of conversations are taking place in social networks every day. But for busy executives and business owners, time constraints make it hard to dedicate time to demystifying these communication opportunities. In The Social Executive, readers are given evidence-based, data-driven strategies for mastering social media, and using it to enable business success. This book's easy, straightforward, practical style ensures that you will gain a solid working platform in the shortest amount of time possible. The focus is on the reasons why social media is important for executives, and how it aligns perfectly with business strategies. The Social Executive is for analogue people who know they need to be digital but need a guiding hand - the book is a safety net - it's saying - we will guide you there - we will tell you why - we will tell you how - let us help you to remain relevant and become more influential - it's about human communication. It gives the tips and tools to adapt to new online environments, and the confidence to use them to build credibility, authority deeper and new business relationships. Written by Dionne Kasian-Lew, an expert who has advised many executives on the topic of corporate social media use, this resource also helps professionals pinpoint the most important social networks to invest time in, and explores which platforms are best suited for various communication goals. Brings together strategy and concrete actions, so can learn not only the most rewarding approaches, but how best to carry them out Delves into the benefits of a strong presence on the most popular social networks, including Twitter, LinkedIn, SlideShare, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+ and YouTube Presents hard evidence that shows the positive results of investing time and energy in social networks Focuses on the most important aspects of social networks that can be learned in a short period, and is designed for busy professionals Social networks represent a powerful way to make connections and draw attention and interest to your company. This resource can help you hit the ground running and become social media savvy efficiently and effectively.