Media & culture : an introduction to mass communication / Richard Campbell, Christopher R. Martin, [and] Bettina Fabos

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preface -- Mass media and the cultural landscape -- Sounds and images -- Words and pictures -- The business of mass media -- Democratic expression and the mass media -- Index.

"Breaking the mold of traditional mass communication textbooks, Richard Campbellâ s Media & Culture goes beyond the basic facts and presents students with a critical and cultural perspective on the media. Campbell uses a unique five-stage critical thinking process to help students examine the forces that shape the mass media and become active participants in the media. Media & Cultureâ s integrated cultural perspective focuses on the reciprocal relationship between the mass media and our shared culture — how cultural trends affect our media and how historical developments, technology, and key media leaders have shaped our society. Completing the full picture of the mass media is the textâ s in-depth coverage of the history, structure, and economics of each industry. Continuing the tradition of cutting-edge content, the 2009 Update includes the most current media trends and developments." -- Amazon.