Mass Communications
A Comparative Introduction
Published on 11. August 1994
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-0-7190-3946-1 (ISBN)
Description
The rise of mass communications has fundamentally reshaped the modern world. In this comparative introduction, Lorimer surveys not only the different types of media and their attendant technologies, but the theories used to understand the subject. He provides an international perspective, drawing on examples from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and various European countries. The study begins with an examination of the historical and contemporary roles of communication in society, followed by an analysis of the mass media in modern society. Four fundamentals of mass media - law and policy, ownership, professionalism and technology - are explored in detail. This is followed with key sections on audience response and media content. Aimed at first-year undergraduates in media and communication studies, this work intends to explain the geopolitics of mass communication and the likely impact of modern media systems on national cultures in the future.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Manchester
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
tables, illustrations, references, glossary, index
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-7190-3946-1 (9780719039461)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Part 1 Communication and society: oral society; literate society; electronic society; oral and literate communication - an overview; electronic oral communication; electronic audio-visual communication; electronic textual-numeric communication; other viewpoints. Part 2 Mass communication and modern society: an historical example; a contemporary example; telecommunications; a revised definition of mass communication; the mass media; beyond a mass media audience. Part 3 Mass communications law and policy: the place of the media in society; the legal and policy foundations of mass communication; some specific comparisons; the press in comparison with the eletronic media; non-broadcasting telecommunications law and policy - the common carriers; cultural industries. Part 4 The structure and role of ownership: historical background - function and ownership; the public role in broadcasting; private-sector media ownership - the private enterprise ethic; trends in ownership form; implications of commercial ownership; private media ownership - cases 1 and 2 - the brilliant careers of Axel Springer and Leo Kirch. Part 5 The functions of journalists: a professional profile; the ideals of journalism; law and policy and the practice of journalism; a survey of national law and policy; libel and other laws of constraint; academic research perspectives. Part 6 Technology and communication: technology defined; communication technology and the organization of space; some theoretical perspectives on technology; the physical foundations of communication technology; between physics and society; technological difference, convergence and policy; rationales for and realities of technological development; a facilitative legal and policy framework; technology and production; technology and distribution; technology and consumption. Part 7 Media and audiences: a theoretical synthesis - an interaction of meaning-generating systems; eight approaches to the study of audiences; building a picture of the audience. Part 8 Media content: communication as representation; the implications of the indeterminacy of representation; signification; theoretical perspectives on the study of content; mechanisms of media/culture binding; media presentations and social and political agendas. Part 9 Information flow - the geopolitics of entertainment and information: a theoretical framework - metropolis and hinterland; the international news agencies; global news flows; consuming exported cultural products - heartburn or health?; the world information and communications order; the new world information and communications order; three points of debate; European trade information and cultural products; what does theory have to offer? Part 10 Mass communication and culture: media and society; the mass media; policy and ownership; professionalism; technology; media and audiences; media content; geopolitics; a closing note - communication and cultural identity.