Mass Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment and Future

This textbook provides a comprehensive, historically based, authoritative introduction to mass communication theory. It is clearly written with examples, graphics, and other materials to illustrate key theories. It traces the emergence of two main bodies of mass communication theory; social and behavioral and critical and cultural, providing many examples of each and an in-depth discussion of the strengths and limitations of these two types of theory.The book emphasizes that media theories are human creations that typically are intended to address specific problems or issues.The books contextual information about the motives of theorists and the problems/issues they address make it easier for students to learn theory.