Media and Society in the Twentieth Century [Hardcover]

Lyn Gorman (Author), David McLean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0631222340 | ISBN-13: 978-0631222347 | Edition: 1

Focusing mainly on the development of newspapers, film, radio, television, and the Internet in the United States and Western Europe, Media and Society in the Twentieth Century fills a critical need for students and scholars by offering a historical introduction to the mass media in our time.

• Provides an up-to-date, readable, and informative survey of the history of mass media in the twentieth century.
  
• Offers a historical and comparative perspective to emphasize the importance of contemporary media and to explain why particular media systems exist.
  
• Focuses on the development of newspapers, film, radio, and television for purposes of entertainment, information, and persuasion.
  
• Explores recent media developments, including the Internet and globalization, from a historical perspective.

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘This is easily the best study of twentieth-century media I've seen. It combines historical with contemporary media studies research to trace the origins and impact of all major media and does so in well-written prose that will please teachers and inspire students.’ Gary Cross, The Pennsylvania State University

‘This important survey brings together the findings of specialized research on media history in a number of countries and analyses developments over the course of the twentieth century. The historical sweep is monumental and the analytical grasp of the authors on the profound technological changes that have shaped our lives is impressive. I congratulate the authors for making a significant contribution to the history of the twentieth century and of the communications revolution.’ David Welch, University of Kent at Canterbury

"Those looking for a quick but insightful survey will find this treatment hard to beat" Choice

From the Back Cover

Media and Society in the Twentieth Century captures the breathtaking revolutionary sweep of mass media since the turn of the century. Utilizing historical and comparative perspectives, the authors emphasize the importance of contemporary media and explain why particular media systems exist. The volume analyzes the socio-economic contexts in which mass media originated; the institutional forms taken by evolving media; the relationships between media institutions and the state; and the interrelationships between different media.

Focusing mainly on the development of newspapers, film, radio, television, and the Internet in the United States and Western Europe, Media and Society in the Twentieth Century fills a critical need for students and scholars by offering a historical introduction to the mass media in our time.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (December 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631222340
• ISBN-13: 978-0631222347
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,138,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well balanced book, October 31, 2003

By 

Zimmermann "I" (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Media and Society in the Twentieth Century: A Historical Introduction (Paperback)

I read this book for my study (Media and Journalism). I really enjoyed it. It's accessibly written for a change and gives a balanced view of how various media have developed in the 20th century. The authors take into account the various viewpoints -economic, social and other- without going to much into details. This makes to book a good introduction, giving its readers a clearcut overview of media developements in the past hundred years or so. Anyone interested in this topic will not regret buying this book.
The only flaw is its complete exclusion of develpements in non-western countries. I for one would liked have read some more on this topic.