Mass communication theory : foundations, ferment, and future / Stanley J. Baran and Dennis K. Davis

Includes bibliographical references and index

Section 1: Introduction to mass communication theory. Understanding and Evaluating Mass Communication Theory ; Four Eras of Mass Communication Theory. -- Section 2: The era of mass society and mass culture. The Rise of Media Industries and Mass Society Theory ; The Rise of Media Theory in the Age of Propaganda ; Normative Theories Of Mass Communication. -- Section 3: From limited-effects to critical cultural theories: ferment in the field. The Rise of Limited-Effects Theory ; Moving Beyond Limited Effects: Focus on Functionalism and Children ; The Emergence Of Critical And Cultural Theories Of Mass Communication. -- Section 4: Contemporary mass communication theory: From active-audience to meaning-making theories. Audience Theories: Uses, Reception, and Effects ; Media and Society: The Role of Media in the Social World ; Media and Culture Theories: Meaning-Making in the Social World ; Afterword: The Future of Media Theory and Research

"Mass Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment, And Future, Sixth Edition, provides a comprehensive, historically based introduction to mass communication theory. Clearly written with examples, graphics, and other materials to illustrate key theories, the text traces the emergence of two main bodies of mass communication theory--social/behavioral and critical/cultural--and concludes with a discussion of how these two traditions support the media literacy movement and might be combined to produce a new theory of mediated communication. The authors emphasize that media theories are human creations typically intended to address specific problems or issues. MASS Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment, And Future , Sixth Edition, helps students develop an understanding of theory so they can make better use of media and play a role in the development of new media industries."--Publisher's website