This outcomes-based textbook with comprehensive information on the makeup of media institutions, theories in media studies, as well as critical issues that face the media today. With this guide students learn the history of the media and learn how to keep up with the latest trends and developments in broadcasting, printed press, and film. Methods to develop an internal media policy with company mission statements, news, and programming policies is outlined, and the relationship of the media to society as a whole is discussed.

Aimed at second and third level university and technikon students, this outcome-based textbook covers core theoretical approaches in media studies. A section centred around production focuses on basic techniques and introductory applications. The discussions and outcomes contained within can easily be adapted to accommodate the needs of different educational institutions and students.

• The South African media landscape
• characteristics of and trends in the media business and the political economy of the media
• media ownership
• external and internal media policy
• mass communication theory
• the functions, effects and power of mass communication
• media and ideology
• media and the production of meaning
• media and culture
• feminist media theory
• media imperialism
• the nature of news and news production
• the representation of race, gender and sexual orientation
• media and violence
• media and terrorism
• censorship
• globalisation.