"James Watson's Media Communication established itself on first publication in 1998 as a supportive and engaging overview of the role and influence of mass media in contemporary society. For students taking courses in media studies or communication studies for the first time, it offers a clear conceptual framework for understanding the process of media communication, setting debates firmly in social, cultural, political and economic context, as well as illustrating theoretical arguments with memorable and up-to-date examples."

"The second edition builds on the strengths of the first with its emphasis on applying theory to practice, exploring a wide range of debate and research in a succinct and lively fashion, and furnishing readers with the analytical tools to substantiate their own ideas about the function and practices of the media."--BOOK JACKET.