Review
"Media/Society provides a conceptually clear, substantive guide to the study of mass communication and society. The text helps students develop a critical under-standing of the interplay between media industries, social and economic institutions, media con-tent produced, and the audience. Media/Society encourages students to become more thoughtful consumers of media and prepares them to engage in informed discussions about media practices and policy." -- Christine Bachen 20110701 "This text does a wonderful job of presenting the history of media, the print medium discussion is also excellent. It is well written and examines the media from all angles (technology, history, audiences and social influences). The text also provides the best coverage on the creation of television news and how news has been impacted by media ownership and conglomeration that I have reviewed." -- Donna Goyer 20110701 "I think the strength of this textbook emerges from the general vision shared by the authors, their ability to provide excellent examples, and their engaging writing style. This book is valuable, because it helps reorient readers in their thinking about media industries; the book's emphasis on media as a social institution is especially relevant to departments con-cerned about the power relationships between media and political institutions. The book is appli-cable to majors preparing for careers in media industries and to the general student whose media literacy is crucial to citizenship." -- Harry Haines 20110701 "Excellent overview of the mass media from a sociological perspective. It is balanced, thorough, and clearly written. Everything you would want in a textbook on the subject. Also reasonably priced...The best media sociology textbook available." Previously used: Durham & Kellner: Media and Cultural Studies: Key Works -- Vincent Carducci "I used this title since 2006 (3rd edition), and I designed my course Media and Society based on this text." -- Viera Lorencova
About the Author
David Croteau taught about the sociology of media as an Associate Professor (retired) in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the author of Politics and the Class Divide: Working People and the Middle-Class Left and co-author, with William Hoynes, of Experience Sociology. William Hoynes is Professor of Sociology and former Director of the Media Studies Program at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he teaches courses on media, culture, and social theory. He is the author of Public Television for Sale: Media, the Market, and the Public Sphere and co-author, with David Croteau, of Experience Sociology. Stefania Milan (stefaniamilan.net) holds a Ph.D. in Political and Social Sciences from the European University Institute, Italy. She has taught courses on global media and democracy, communications governance, and technology and society at several European universities. She has published widely on social movement media and participatory governance.
