Culture, politics, economics and technology all impact upon policy decisions. To investigate the factors that influence communications policy, however, one has to go beyond conventional views of media and communication studies and combine these with policy studies. Communications Policy: Theories and Issues utilizes new research to highlight key debates and developments, and addresses a broad spectrum of contemporary concerns regarding the structure and the organization of communications systems in the past, present and future. Combining theoretical analysis with empirical research findings, this comprehensive text explores the contemporary theories and issues in communications policy that affect all democratic societies as they seek to address the challenges of emerging information and communications technologies. Featuring contributions from distinguished authors across a range of media disciplines, Communications Policy introduces challenging ideas about how communications should be structured in the future and is essential reading for all policy makers, researchers and students of communications policy. Editors: Stylianos Papathanassopoulos is Professor in Media Organization at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He is the author of Television in the 21st Century (2005), Media and Politics (2004) and European Television in the Digital Age: Issues, Dynamics and Realities (2002). Ralph Negrine is Professor of Political Communication in the Journalism Studies Department at the University of Sheffield. His previous books include The Transformation of Political Communication (Palgrave, 2008), Television and the Press Since 1945 (1999) and The Communication of Politics (1996). Contributors: Bram Abramson, Johannes M. Bauer, Sandra Braman, Dom Caristi, Alistair Duff, Gisela Gil-Egui, Alison Harcourt, Jackie Harrison, Robert W. McChesney, Serge Proulx, Marc Raboy, Concetta M. Stewart, Yan Tian and Roxanne Welters.

This fully-updated new edition of Politics and the Mass Media provides a comprehensive introduction to the role of mass communications in politics at all levels, from election campaigns, news reports and lobbying groups to the media activities of pressure groups. The relationship between politics, politicians and the media is a matter of increasingly contentious debate, as politicians' awareness of the importance of the media becomes more sophisticated amidst rapidly-advancing media technology and control. Providing a review of the nature and content of political communications and of recent theoretical developments, Negrine addresses the issues surrounding today's mass media, including cable and satellite television, investigation of the press, the relationship between the state and broadcasing institutions and the ever-present question of whether or not Britain needs a media policy. This new edition includes: * Case studies from television and the press * Fully revised text with updated sections on the press, broadcasting and media legislation * Brand new chapters on Europe and globalisation

Originally published in 1985, this book surveys developments in cable television in the major industrialised countries with chapters specifically authored on each area. It looks at the technology, its potential, and how far it had been implemented, considering the reaction of governments, existing broadcasting corporations and licensing authorities. Going on to assess future trends, a discussion of the likely effects of cable on communications, society and economy is an enlightening read now.

First published in 1992, Images of Disability on Television examines the frequency and nature of disability on British and American television and how it is perceived and presented by programme makers. Attitudes held by those closest to the issues - disabled people, their carers, and television producers and writers - are presented as the result of interviews and discussions. There is an increasingly strong sentiment that television has got it wrong as far as disability is concerned and does not play its proper role in allowing the non-disabled to understand fully the world of disabled people. This book provides information to promote greater understanding of the needs of the disabled people in television portrayal and opens up possibilities for a change in attitudes. It will be valuable reading for students, researchers and lecturers in the social sciences, communication studies, and media studies.

Gathering together key writings and many single-authored essays in to a handy one-volume resource, this is the only Reader currently available on political communication.

The selected texts and articles have been included for their significant contribution to our understanding of the issues under considerations, are grouped into thematic sections, each introduced by the editors, and the contributors cover such areas as:

• the exercise of power, media and democracy
• the media and elections
• media effects
• political participation and the media
• the personalization of politics
• new technologies and the reshaping of political communication.

Available as a companion Reader to Brian McNair's Introduction to Political Communication textbook, students will find The Political Communication Reader a valuable resource in this popular subject area.

Studies of election campaigns have shown an increased employment of websites, weblog tools, email, and social media by political campaigners, as well as the use of similar platforms by citizens to find information, communicate about elections or engage more generally in political issues. This comprehensive volume explores the ways in which social media is used on the one hand as a campaigning tool, and on the other, by local citizens. It aims to develop a more holistic and Eurocentric research agenda by capturing both supply and demand practices at the European level. The authors employ both single and multination case studies, furthering debates on how political actors and voters embrace the new information and communication environment, in what ways, and for what purposes. The book offers new perspectives on social media campaigning within European democracies, thereby contributing to a more global and comprehensive understanding of how campaigning is affected, and might be enhanced, by developing an interactive digital strategy. This book will be of great interest to students of both politics and media studies. It was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Information Technology & Politics.

Studies of election campaigns have shown an increased employment of websites, weblog tools, email, and social media by political campaigners, as well as the use of similar platforms by citizens to find information, communicate about elections or engage more generally in political issues. This comprehensive volume explores the ways in which social media is used on the one hand as a campaigning tool, and on the other, by local citizens. It aims to develop a more holistic and Eurocentric research agenda by capturing both supply and demand practices at the European level. The authors employ both single and multination case studies, furthering debates on how political actors and voters embrace the new information and communication environment, in what ways, and for what purposes. The book offers new perspectives on social media campaigning within European democracies, thereby contributing to a more global and comprehensive understanding of how campaigning is affected, and might be enhanced, by developing an interactive digital strategy. This book will be of great interest to students of both politics and media studies. It was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Information Technology & Politics.

In this book, Ralph Negrine examines the political role of the mass media in contemporary Britain. Covering the main features of the press and television, it develops an analysis of their relationships with "politics" and political and social institutions, using extensive examples and case studies.
"Politics and the Mass Media in Britain" deals with the major issues in media studies--competition, ownership, control, autonomy, impact--from broad political perspectives, thus avoiding a simplistic, ahistorical overview of the topic. The book also examines practices within television and print journalism, and the relationship between news, politics, and political parties. Negrine discusses the issues of "impact" and "influence," as well as raising fundamental questions about the extent to which ideas about "freedom of the press" and "responsibility" have any real value in the present day.

Originally published in 1988, this book provides a thorough examination of the possibilities and key issues in satellite technology which at the time already seemed likely to change the face of broadcasting both within nations and internationally. It begins with a guide to the technical development of different systems of satellites and signal reception and an outline of the international, political and regulatory issues involved. It then examines the situation in various industrialised countries by analysing launching plans, funding, the interaction between satellite, cable and VCRs and the effect on existing broadcasting systems. Concerned throughout with a wide range of cultural considerations and the potential impacts of the new media, this is a useful reflection on the time.

Originally published in 1985, this book surveys developments in cable television in the major industrialised countries with chapters specifically authored on each area. It looks at the technology, its potential, and how far it had been implemented, considering the reaction of governments, existing broadcasting corporations and licensing authorities. Going on to assess future trends, a discussion of the likely effects of cable on communications, society and economy is an enlightening read now.

Originally published in 1988, this book provides a thorough examination of the possibilities and key issues in satellite technology which at the time already seemed likely to change the face of broadcasting both within nations and internationally. It begins with a guide to the technical development of different systems of satellites and signal reception and an outline of the international, political and regulatory issues involved. It then examines the situation in various industrialised countries by analysing launching plans, funding, the interaction between satellite, cable and VCRs and the effect on existing broadcasting systems. Concerned throughout with a wide range of cultural considerations and the potential impacts of the new media, this is a useful reflection on the time.

Gathering together key writings and many single-authored essays in to a handy one-volume resource, this is the only Reader currently available on political communication. The articles included are grouped into thematic sections, each introduced by the editors, and the contributors cover such areas as: communication processes between governments; the media and the public; the nature of political journalism; the coverage of political campaigns, party conferences and other events; spin doctors; the tabloidization of news coverage; political advertising and internet campaigning; and direct action. Available as a companion Reader to Brian McNair's Introduction to Political Communication textbook, students will find The Political Communication Reader a valuable resource in this popular subject area.

Has the communication of politics become professionalised? Who are the 'professionals' and what part do they play in the political process? Can the process of professionalisation be observed in different political systems? These, and related questions, about the changing nature of practices in political communication are explored in this book that looks at developments across a number of different countries. The different ways in which the idea of the professionalisation of political communication has been commonly used is explored and the authors develop a framework for understanding changing practices in political communication and in different contexts, for example, in respect of political campaigns and elections in general, and in respect of communication by governments. It is also focuses on these same themes in specific countries: Germany, France, Britain, Greece, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Sweden.

Culture, politics, economics and technology all impact upon policy decisions. To investigate the factors that influence communications policy, however, one has to go beyond conventional views of media and communication studies and combine these with policy studies. Communications Policy: Theories and Issues utilizes new research to highlight key debates and developments, and addresses a broad spectrum of contemporary concerns regarding the structure and the organization of communications systems in the past, present and future. Combining theoretical analysis with empirical research findings, this comprehensive text explores the contemporary theories and issues in communications policy that affect all democratic societies as they seek to address the challenges of emerging information and communications technologies. Featuring contributions from distinguished authors across a range of media disciplines, Communications Policy introduces challenging ideas about how communications should be structured in the future and is essential reading for all policy makers, researchers and students of communications policy. Editors: Stylianos Papathanassopoulos is Professor in Media Organization at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He is the author of Television in the 21st Century (2005), Media and Politics (2004) and European Television in the Digital Age: Issues, Dynamics and Realities (2002). Ralph Negrine is Professor of Political Communication in the Journalism Studies Department at the University of Sheffield. His previous books include The Transformation of Political Communication (Palgrave, 2008), Television and the Press Since 1945 (1999) and The Communication of Politics (1996). Contributors: Bram Abramson, Johannes M. Bauer, Sandra Braman, Dom Caristi, Alistair Duff, Gisela Gil-Egui, Alison Harcourt, Jackie Harrison, Robert W. McChesney, Serge Proulx, Marc Raboy, Concetta M. Stewart, Yan Tian and Roxanne Welters.

Offering an introduction to key research methods and approaches for the study of media and mass communications processes, this book starts with a discussion on how to select the right methods for the right research questions, before going on to outline the main methods and approaches for the study of: media organisations; the practices of media professionals; media content and representations; and media audiences. Drawing widely on examples from communications research literature, the authors describe the development and application of each method and the details of the steps involved, giving examples of research instruments as appropriate.