Media/Society
Technology, Industries, Content, and Users
Eighth Edition
Clayton Childress
- University of British Columbia, Canada
If you’re in North America, please visit our Sage College Publishing website to purchase or sample this book:
Go to College Publishing WebsiteDescription
Media/Society: Technology, Industries, Content, and Users provides a framework to help students understand the relationship between media and society while developing skills to critically evaluate both conventional wisdom and one’s own assumptions about the social role of media. The Eighth Edition retains its basic sociological framework but has been thoughtfully streamlined in length, while still including additional discussions of new studies and up-to-date material about a rapidly changing media landscape. With updated research, the latest industry data, and current examples from popular media, this edition helps illustrate enduring themes in the sociology of media.
Contents
Preface
Preface
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
About the Authors
Part I: Introduction
- Chapter 1: Media/Society in a Digital World
- The Importance of Media
- Models of Communication Media
- A Sociology of Media
- A Model of Media and the Social World
- Applying the Model: Civil Rights in Two Media Eras
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
Part II: Technology
- Chapter 2: The Evolution of Media Technology
- The History of Media Technology
- Technological Determinism
- Social Constructionism
- From Print to Television
- The Internet
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
Part III: Industry
- Chapter 3: The Economics of the Media Industry
- Media Companies in the Internet Era
- Changing Patterns of Ownership
- Consequences of Conglomeration and Integration
- The Effects of Concentration
- Mass Media for Profit
- The Impact of Advertising
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 4: Political Influence on Media
- Media and Democracy
- Free Speech to Free Markets: The Evolution of U.S. Regulatory Policy
- Regulation in International Perspective
- Competing Interests and the Regulation Debate
- Regulating Ownership
- Regulating Content
- Regulating Access and Distribution
- Informal Political, Social, and Economic Pressure
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 5: Media Organizations and Professionals
- The Limits of Economic and Political Constraints
- Decision Making for Profit: Imitation, Hits, and Stars
- The Organization of Media Work
- Occupational Roles and Professional Socialization
- Norms on the Internet, Newer Media, and Newer Organizations
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
Part IV: Content: Media Representations of The Social World
- Chapter 6: Media and Ideology
- What Is Ideology?
- Theoretical Roots of Ideological Analysis
- News Media and the Limits of Debate
- Movies, the Military, and Masculinity
- Television, Popularity, and Ideology
- Rap Music as Ideological Critique?
- Advertising and Consumer Culture
- Ideology Online
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 7: Social Inequality and Media Representation
- Comparing Media Content and the “Real” World
- The Significance of Content
- Race, Ethnicity, and Media Content: Inclusion, Roles, and Control
- Gender and Media Content
- Class and the Media
- Sexual Orientation: Out of the Closet and into the Media
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
Part V: Users
- Chapter 8: Audiences and Creators
- The Active Audience: Balancing Agency and Structure
- Decoding Meanings and Social Position
- The Social Context of Media Use
- The Limits of Interpretation
- Content Creation and Distribution
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 9: Media Influence
- Learning from Media Effects Research
- Early Works: Establishing the Agenda
- Mitigating Media Effects
- Highlighting Media Influence
- Mediatization
- The Mediatization of Politics
- Digital Dilemmas: Online Media Influence
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
Part VI: Afterword
- Chapter 10: Globalization and the Future of Media
- What Is Globalization?
- The Global Media Industry
- Interpreting Global Media Content
- Regulating Global Media
- The Ubiquity of Change and the Future of Media
References
References
Index
Index
Additional materials
Description
Media/Society: Technology, Industries, Content, and Users provides a framework to help students understand the relationship between media and society while developing skills to critically evaluate both conventional wisdom and one’s own assumptions about the social role of media. The Eighth Edition retains its basic sociological framework but has been thoughtfully streamlined in length, while still including additional discussions of new studies and up-to-date material about a rapidly changing media landscape. With updated research, the latest industry data, and current examples from popular media, this edition helps illustrate enduring themes in the sociology of media.
Contents
Preface
Preface
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
About the Authors
Part I: Introduction
- Chapter 1: Media/Society in a Digital World
- The Importance of Media
- Models of Communication Media
- A Sociology of Media
- A Model of Media and the Social World
- Applying the Model: Civil Rights in Two Media Eras
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
Part II: Technology
- Chapter 2: The Evolution of Media Technology
- The History of Media Technology
- Technological Determinism
- Social Constructionism
- From Print to Television
- The Internet
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
Part III: Industry
- Chapter 3: The Economics of the Media Industry
- Media Companies in the Internet Era
- Changing Patterns of Ownership
- Consequences of Conglomeration and Integration
- The Effects of Concentration
- Mass Media for Profit
- The Impact of Advertising
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 4: Political Influence on Media
- Media and Democracy
- Free Speech to Free Markets: The Evolution of U.S. Regulatory Policy
- Regulation in International Perspective
- Competing Interests and the Regulation Debate
- Regulating Ownership
- Regulating Content
- Regulating Access and Distribution
- Informal Political, Social, and Economic Pressure
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 5: Media Organizations and Professionals
- The Limits of Economic and Political Constraints
- Decision Making for Profit: Imitation, Hits, and Stars
- The Organization of Media Work
- Occupational Roles and Professional Socialization
- Norms on the Internet, Newer Media, and Newer Organizations
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
Part IV: Content: Media Representations of The Social World
- Chapter 6: Media and Ideology
- What Is Ideology?
- Theoretical Roots of Ideological Analysis
- News Media and the Limits of Debate
- Movies, the Military, and Masculinity
- Television, Popularity, and Ideology
- Rap Music as Ideological Critique?
- Advertising and Consumer Culture
- Ideology Online
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 7: Social Inequality and Media Representation
- Comparing Media Content and the “Real” World
- The Significance of Content
- Race, Ethnicity, and Media Content: Inclusion, Roles, and Control
- Gender and Media Content
- Class and the Media
- Sexual Orientation: Out of the Closet and into the Media
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
Part V: Users
- Chapter 8: Audiences and Creators
- The Active Audience: Balancing Agency and Structure
- Decoding Meanings and Social Position
- The Social Context of Media Use
- The Limits of Interpretation
- Content Creation and Distribution
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 9: Media Influence
- Learning from Media Effects Research
- Early Works: Establishing the Agenda
- Mitigating Media Effects
- Highlighting Media Influence
- Mediatization
- The Mediatization of Politics
- Digital Dilemmas: Online Media Influence
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
Part VI: Afterword
- Chapter 10: Globalization and the Future of Media
- What Is Globalization?
- The Global Media Industry
- Interpreting Global Media Content
- Regulating Global Media
- The Ubiquity of Change and the Future of Media
References
References
Index
Index
Additional materials
Reviews
Media/Society
Technology, Industries, Content, and Users
May 2025 | 416 pages | Sage US
| Format | Published Date | ISBN | Price |
|---|
Media/Society: Technology, Industries, Content, and Users provides a framework to help students understand the relationship between media and society while developing skills to critically evaluate both conventional wisdom and one’s own assumptions about the social role of media. The Eighth Edition retains its basic sociological framework but has been thoughtfully streamlined in length, while still including additional discussions of new studies and up-to-date material about a rapidly changing media landscape. With updated research, the latest industry data, and current examples from popular media, this edition helps illustrate enduring themes in the sociology of media.
Table Of Contents:
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- About the Authors
- Part I: Introduction
- Chapter 1: Media/Society in a Digital World
- The Importance of Media
- Models of Communication Media
- A Sociology of Media
- A Model of Media and the Social World
- Applying the Model: Civil Rights in Two Media Eras
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Part II: Technology
- Chapter 2: The Evolution of Media Technology
- The History of Media Technology
- Technological Determinism
- Social Constructionism
- From Print to Television
- The Internet
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Part III: Industry
- Chapter 3: The Economics of the Media Industry
- Media Companies in the Internet Era
- Changing Patterns of Ownership
- Consequences of Conglomeration and Integration
- The Effects of Concentration
- Mass Media for Profit
- The Impact of Advertising
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 4: Political Influence on Media
- Media and Democracy
- Free Speech to Free Markets: The Evolution of U.S. Regulatory Policy
- Regulation in International Perspective
- Competing Interests and the Regulation Debate
- Regulating Ownership
- Regulating Content
- Regulating Access and Distribution
- Informal Political, Social, and Economic Pressure
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 5: Media Organizations and Professionals
- The Limits of Economic and Political Constraints
- Decision Making for Profit: Imitation, Hits, and Stars
- The Organization of Media Work
- Occupational Roles and Professional Socialization
- Norms on the Internet, Newer Media, and Newer Organizations
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Part IV: Content: Media Representations of The Social World
- Chapter 6: Media and Ideology
- What Is Ideology?
- Theoretical Roots of Ideological Analysis
- News Media and the Limits of Debate
- Movies, the Military, and Masculinity
- Television, Popularity, and Ideology
- Rap Music as Ideological Critique?
- Advertising and Consumer Culture
- Ideology Online
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 7: Social Inequality and Media Representation
- Comparing Media Content and the “Real” World
- The Significance of Content
- Race, Ethnicity, and Media Content: Inclusion, Roles, and Control
- Gender and Media Content
- Class and the Media
- Sexual Orientation: Out of the Closet and into the Media
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Part V: Users
- Chapter 8: Audiences and Creators
- The Active Audience: Balancing Agency and Structure
- Decoding Meanings and Social Position
- The Social Context of Media Use
- The Limits of Interpretation
- Content Creation and Distribution
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Chapter 9: Media Influence
- Learning from Media Effects Research
- Early Works: Establishing the Agenda
- Mitigating Media Effects
- Highlighting Media Influence
- Mediatization
- The Mediatization of Politics
- Digital Dilemmas: Online Media Influence
- Conclusion
- Discussion Questions
- Part VI: Afterword
- Chapter 10: Globalization and the Future of Media
- What Is Globalization?
- The Global Media Industry
- Interpreting Global Media Content
- Regulating Global Media
- The Ubiquity of Change and the Future of Media
- References
- Index
Recent Product Reviews:
The book's greatest strength is the sociological focus of mass media. Many texts of this ilk are structured to look at media from a historical perspective and silo each medium. This examines media as a confluence of all platforms.
Alan Goldenbach, Hood College
Up-to-date, understandable, good explanations of cultural trends, and authors who have familiarity with the issues confronting media today.
Donna L. Halper, Lesley University