Author Description

This volume presents current controversial issues surrounding mass media and society in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies, including the Internet, television, newspapers, and radio, which are used for mass communications, and to the organizations which control these technologies. This topic is framed with a general summary and introduction, and a postscript or challenge questions. This work features an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites and an online instructor's resource guide with testing material available. The readings, which represent the arguments of leading scholars and media commentators, discuss topics such as the media's relationship with the public, freedom of speech, and the future of media and media technologies.