Questioning the Media: A Critical Introduction

A best-seller in its first edition, this text has become the critical introduction to media studies. Now with seven new chapters and extensive revisions throughout, this Second Edition provides an introduction for students and general readers that is even more current and engaging. Practical and highly accessible, Questioning the Media, Second Edition invites readers to become active participants in understanding the importance of the media today. New chapters enhance the previous collection of original works by distinguished contributors:

• Media and identity
• Global media influences
• Computer-mediated communication
• Feminist media theories
• Popular music
• News coverage of AIDS

Designed as a text with introductions to each section and chapter, this groundbreaking volume offers diverse critical perspectives on media studies, including:

• Political economy
• Cultural studies
• Frankfurt School critical theory
• Feminism
• Audience ethnography
• Cultural dependency

Students can thoroughly examine topics in mass culture, technology, international communication, and much more. Throughout the text and glossary, sophisticated terms and concepts are explained, making this the ideal critical introduction to media studies. Questioning the Media is the introductory text for first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year undergraduates, and is also invaluable for graduate students, professionals, and general readers as a critical introduction to media studies.

John Downing is Professor in the Department of Radio-Television-Film at the Univeristy of Texas, Austin. He is a co-editor of Questioning the Media (1990) and has contributed to the journals Media, Culture & Society and Discourse & Society

Dr Ali Mohammadi is Reader in the Department of English and Media Studies at Nottingham Trent University. He is co-author with Annabelle Sreberny-Mohammadi, of Small Media, Big Revolution: Communication and Culture and The Iranian Revolution (1994). He is also co-editor of Questioning the Media (1994)

CONTRIBUTORS OUTSIDE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

Oliver Boyd-Barrett University of Leicester

Cees Hamelink University of Amsterdam

Ralph Negrine University of Leicester

John Tomlinson Nottingham Trent University