Media studies: Vol 1

This is the first volume in the four-part textbook series in media studies. This series has been written by key thinkers in media studies locally and from abroad. Media studies encompasses the systematic, critical and analytical study of the media in all its forms, and sees the media as one of the most important generators and disseminators of meaning in contemporary society. Media studies investigates who owns the media, who produces the media, media content and the users of the media. It investigates the power relationships between the media and politics, culture, economy, society, and above all, the relationship between the media and democracy. In this volume of the edition of the textbook, Media studies, the following is covered - A history of the South African media; a macro history of the media in Africa; theoretical approaches to mass communication and media research; the functions and effects of the media in society; media culture/media and culture; the ideological power of the media; the media as public sphere in contemporary society; the impact of globalisation and communication technology on media and media communication.

Pieter J. Fourie is an internationally renowned senior scholar in communication and media studies. He is affiliated with the department of communication science at the University of South Africa.