This text encourages students to take more active roles as media consumers and gives them a deeper understanding of the role that the media play in both shaping and reflecting culture. The sixth edition features a complete updating of industry statistics throughout, numerous new examples from the ongoing Iraq war, Virginia Tech shooting, and the US presidential election.

Author Biography

Stanley Baran earned his Ph.D. in Communication research at the University of Massacusetts after taking his M.A. in journalism at Pennsylvania State University. He taught for 4 years at Cleveland State University, eventually moving to the University of Texas. He led the Department of Radio-TV-Film's graduate program for 6 of his 9 years in Austin and won numerous teaching awards there, including the AMOCO Teaching Excellence Award as the best instructor on that 40,000 students campus, the College of Communication's Teaching Excellence Award as that college's outstanding professor, and Utmost Magazine's Student Poll for best instructor; Dr. Baran moved to San Jose State University in 1987 and served 9 years as chair of the Department of Television, Radio, Film, and Theatre. At SJSU he was named President's Scholar as the university's outstanding researcher.