Covering print, photography, film, radio, television, and new media, this textbook instructs readers on how to take a critical approach to media and interpret the information overload that is disseminated via mass communication. This fourth edition of Keys to Interpreting Media Messages supplies a critical and qualitative approach to media literacy analysis. Now updated with conceptual changes, current examples, updated references, and coverage of new developments in media- particularly in digital, interactive forms-this book addresses all forms of information disseminated via mass communication. Organized into three sections, the book first presents a theoretical framework for the critical analysis of media text that covers the definition of media literacy as well as fundamental principles and concepts. Part II focuses on the application of this methodological framework to the analysis of advertising, journalism, American political communications, and interactive media. Part III considers specific mass media issues, such as violence in the media, media and children, and global communications, and discusses outcomes of having a media-literate population. Supplies clear explanation of media literacy theory and guidance on interpreting modern mass media from leading scholars Represents a highly effective tool for achieving a key aspect of media literacy: enabling students to decipher information and independently reach opinions and positions without relying on the pervasive influence of the media Provides critical examination of controversial, current topics such as violence in the media and the intersections of media and social change

The ^IDictionary of Media Literacy^R is a reference work that contains key concepts, terms, organizations, issues, and individuals of note related to the field of media literacy. Media literacy is an international movement, with many countries developing media literacy programs. This work significantly contributes to the study and understanding of this new and evolving field. In that we all live in a world in which we are inundated by information conveyed through the channels of mass commmunication, this dictionary will be a resource for scholars, students, and individuals seeking to understand information delivered in this context.

The study of various types of programming is essential for critical analysis of the media and also offers revealing perspectives on society's cultural values, preoccupations, behavior, and myths. This handbook provides a systematic, in-depth approach to the study of media genres - including reality programs, game shows, situation comedies, soap operas, film noir, news programs, and more. The author addresses such questions as: Have there been shifts in the formula of particular genres over time? What do these shifts reveal about changes in culture? How and why do new genres - such as reality TV shows - appear? Are there differences in genres from one country to another? Combining theoretical approaches with concrete examples, the book reinforces one's understanding of the importance of genre to the creation, evolution, and consumption of media content. Each chapter in this reader-friendly book contains a detailed discussion of one of the theoretical approaches to genre studies, followed by Lines of Inquiry, which summarizes the major points of the discussion and suggests directions for analysis and further study. Each chapter also includes an example that illustrates how the particular theoretical approach can be applied in the analysis of genre. The author's careful linkage of different genres to the real world makes the book widely useful for those interested in genre study as well as media and culture, television studies, film studies, and media literacy.

International communication affects the way we think about other countries and their people and sets the agenda of issues that face the global community. This book introduces the functions of international communications.

Completely updated, with current examples and new coverage of digital media, this popular handbook provides a range of qualitative approaches that enable students to effectively decipher information conveyed through the channels of mass communication - photography, film, radio, television, and interactive media. It aim is to help students develop critical thinking skills and strategies with regard to what media to use and how to interpret the information that they receive. The techniques include ideological, autobiographical, nonverbal, and mythic approaches. An Instructor's Manual is available to professors who adopt this new edition.

The study of various types of programming is essential for critical analysis of the media and also offers revealing perspectives on society's cultural values, preoccupations, behavior, and myths. This handbook provides a systematic, in-depth approach to the study of media genres - including reality programs, game shows, situation comedies, soap operas, film noir, news programs, and more. The author addresses such questions as: Have there been shifts in the formula of particular genres over time? What do these shifts reveal about changes in culture? How and why do new genres - such as reality TV shows - appear? Are there differences in genres from one country to another? Combining theoretical approaches with concrete examples, the book reinforces one's understanding of the importance of genre to the creation, evolution, and consumption of media content. Each chapter in this reader-friendly book contains a detailed discussion of one of the theoretical approaches to genre studies, followed by Lines of Inquiry, which summarizes the major points of the discussion and suggests directions for analysis and further study. Each chapter also includes an example that illustrates how the particular theoretical approach can be applied in the analysis of genre. The author's careful linkage of different genres to the real world makes the book widely useful for those interested in genre study as well as media and culture, television studies, film studies, and media literacy.

This book introduces students and general readers to the functions of international communications as well as their cultural contexts, and offers strategies for evaluating the media messages we receive through television, print media, radio, the internet, and advertising.

Completely updated, with current examples and new coverage of digital media, this popular handbook provides a range of qualitative approaches that enable students to effectively decipher information conveyed through the channels of mass communication - photography, film, radio, television, and interactive media. It aim is to help students develop critical thinking skills and strategies with regard to what media to use and how to interpret the information that they receive. The techniques include ideological, autobiographical, nonverbal, and mythic approaches. An Instructor's Manual is available to professors who adopt this new edition.

This second edition provides new concepts and insights into media literacy and updates previous examples and discussions. As with the first edition, Part One provides a theoretical framework for the critical analysis of media text. Part Two invites students to apply the methodological framework to a variety of media formats. In addition to the formats included in the first edition--journalism, advertising and American political communications--this section includes a new chapter of interactive media. Part Three considers issues in media communication, such as violence in the media, media and children, media and social change and global communications. Ideal for college courses focusing on the topic of media literacy, this text can also be adopted as the primary text in several media-related courses, such as media criticism, media research, Introduction to Mass Communications, Media and Society, media seminars, and education courses in communications, langauge arts, or social studies.

Covering print, photography, film, radio, television, and new media, this textbook instructs readers on how to take a critical approach to media and interpret the information overload that is disseminated via mass communication. This fourth edition of Keys to Interpreting Media Messages supplies a critical and qualitative approach to media literacy analysis. Now updated with conceptual changes, current examples, updated references, and coverage of new developments in media- particularly in digital, interactive forms-this book addresses all forms of information disseminated via mass communication. Organized into three sections, the book first presents a theoretical framework for the critical analysis of media text that covers the definition of media literacy as well as fundamental principles and concepts. Part II focuses on the application of this methodological framework to the analysis of advertising, journalism, American political communications, and interactive media. Part III considers specific mass media issues, such as violence in the media, media and children, and global communications, and discusses outcomes of having a media-literate population. Supplies clear explanation of media literacy theory and guidance on interpreting modern mass media from leading scholars Represents a highly effective tool for achieving a key aspect of media literacy: enabling students to decipher information and independently reach opinions and positions without relying on the pervasive influence of the media Provides critical examination of controversial, current topics such as violence in the media and the intersections of media and social change

This book offers a critical approach for the study of media literacy. In Part One, the author furnishes the theoretical tools (the keys) that will enable students to identify and analyze messages conveyed through the media. In Part Two, they are given the opportunity to apply these keys to a variety of media formats: journalism, advertising, and political communications. The final section discusses important issues in media communications: media and violence, media and children, media and social change, and global communications. Ideal for college courses focusing on the topic of media literacy, this text can also be adopted as the primary text in several other media-related courses, such as media criticism; media research; Introduction to Mass Communications; Media and Society; media seminars; and education courses in communications, language arts, or social studies. A separate Instructor's Manual is available upon request.