What is news? Why does news turn out like it does? Social Meanings of News takes on these deceptively simple questions through an essential collection of classic and contemporary studies by leaders in the field of mass communication. Rather than applying a journalist's viewpoint to answer the questions, the book starts from the premise that news is a human construction shaped by the social world from which it emerges. In order to bridge the book's multiple methodologies and varied research approaches, Editor Dan Berkowitz introduces a conceptual scheme based on level of analysis and research paradigm. Each of the following six sections begins with an overview to help the student glean key concepts and understand their implications. The book then closes with an epilogue offering carefully crafted, yet concise examples of how concepts can be applied to study news from a socially-oriented perspective.

Underserved Communities and Digital Discourse: Getting Voices Heard presents a series of case studies which evaluate the elevation and suppression of voices within marginalized and minority communities. It examines the use of digital media and its role in the construction of reality-specifically who is included, who is left out, and who feels they must remain silent. Through both quantitative and qualitative measures, this book discusses digital discourse in terms of ethnic media, political communication, ethics, crisis communication, myth, and health frameworks.

Consider news-as the product of a culture What is news? What does news tell us about the culture and the society that produces and consumes it? This book provides a fresh examination of news production from a cultural perspective, moving beyond what was once called "sociology of news" and toward the globally-broader, culturally-based concept of "journalism studies." Key Features Twenty-three original and contemporary articles-encompassing the intrinsic cultures of print, broadcast, and online media-are grouped in six thematically cohesive sets. The articles are presented chronologically to allow the reader to follow the exchange of ideas between authors over time. Berkowitz looks at news globally, helping the student look beyond his or her own cultural context to that of many other societies. A comprehensive framework helps to thoughtfully present this cultural study of news. Berkowitz opens and closes the text with a cultural perspective on news and hints on applying this perspective to emerging news situations; each section also contains an introduction that highlight connections between the articles. Intended Audience Cultural Meanings of News: A Text-Reader is ideal for a wide range of courses in any journalism studies curriculum, including Media and Society, Sociology of News, Media Criticism, and Popular Culture and Mass Media. This text may also be used as a companion to Berkowitz's Social Meaning of News: A Text-Reader, which addresses the sociological approach to news.

What is news? Why does news turn out like it does? Social Meanings of News takes on these deceptively simple questions through an essential collection of classic and contemporary studies by leaders in the field of mass communication. Rather than applying a journalist's viewpoint to answer the questions, the book starts from the premise that news is a human construction shaped by the social world from which it emerges. In order to bridge the book's multiple methodologies and varied research approaches, Editor Dan Berkowitz introduces a conceptual scheme based on level of analysis and research paradigm. Each of the following six sections begins with an overview to help the student glean key concepts and understand their implications. The book then closes with an epilogue offering carefully crafted, yet concise examples of how concepts can be applied to study news from a socially-oriented perspective.