Mass Communications: A Comparative Introduction

The rise of mass communications has fundamentally reshaped the modern world. In this comparative introduction, Lorimer surveys not only the different types of media and their attendant technologies, but the theories used to understand the subject. He provides an international perspective, drawing on examples from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and various European countries. The study begins with an examination of the historical and contemporary roles of communication in society, followed by an analysis of the mass media in modern society. Four fundamentals of mass media - law and policy, ownership, professionalism and technology - are explored in detail. This is followed with key sections on audience response and media content. Aimed at first-year undergraduates in media and communication studies, this work intends to explain the geopolitics of mass communication and the likely impact of modern media systems on national cultures in the future.