Media and Society in the Twentieth Century: A Historical Introduction (Paperback)

by Lyn Gorman (Author), David McLean (Author) "Newspapers had existed long before the press developed as a mass medium..." (more)
Key Phrases: propagandist activities, propagandist purposes, power without responsibility, United States, New York, World War (more...)

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

Product Description
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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (December 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631222359
• ISBN-13: 978-0631222354
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,424,362 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

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

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

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.