I'm doing some research on introduction to mass media textbooks. What is covered? What are mass media students learning? Has content changed?
See the table of contents on my research page and comment on this blog post below. What do you notice when scanning the table of contents? Common topics covered? New topics covered? Comment on this blog post below.
Introduction to Mass Media/Communication Textbooks
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Some of the newer topics are Technical, International, and Global aspects of media and some of the more common topics within the table of contents' are the beginnings of communication like newspapers and audio and film. Looking at the table of contents of these books makes me reflect on what I actually learned in the beginning of my college years and I would say that things and literature has changed.
ReplyDeleteIJaxon -- yeah, the table of contents does look like a list of courses that an undergrad mass comm student would take.
ReplyDeleteWhat I noticed off hand is from book to book, it seems that almost all follow the same format when it comes to books, newspapers, and magazines. Majority of the books covered these topics first and then moved onto radio, television, and movies. One topic that seemed somewhat scarce was about digital media. I only saw that mentioned in two of the texts even though we have been dealing with digital versus analog for some time now. Content has changed as our outlets are changing. Prime example would be how we have gone from newspapers, to radio, to television, so forth and so on
ReplyDeleteThe main thing Ive noticed while scanning the table contents is that every book covers the common areas of communicattion which television, radio and print. I've also noticed that more texts are beginning to incoporate new material on media intertwining with other professional fields such as marketing and advertising.
ReplyDeleteWhile scanning over the different table of contents, I notice that there are a variety of topics covered. While some of them are more conventional, such as media literacy, the foundations of communication, and the role that the media plays in everyday life, there are many new topics touched on as well. Some of the new topics include the Internet and foreign media in the United States. I believe that the broad range of topics discussed provides students with a more up-to-date view of the communications world.
ReplyDeleteAfter scanning the table of contents on your research page Ive noticed that every book covers material revolving around three particular media oulets. These outlets are television, radio and print. These three media outlets are common topics that seem to always be in the discussion of mass communication. I've also noticed that the books incorporated the relationship between media and other professions such as advertising and marketing. These topics are relatively new to me in the mass communication field. Seems like this material will be interesting and very informative.
ReplyDeleteWhat I noticed off hand is from book to book, it seems that almost all follow the same format when it comes to books, newspapers, and magazines. Majority of the books covered these topics first and then moved onto radio, television, and movies. One topic that seemed somewhat scarce was about digital media. I only saw that mentioned in two of the texts even though we have been dealing with digital versus analog for some time now. Content has changed as our outlets are changing. Prime example would be how we have gone from newspapers, to radio, to television, so forth and so on.
ReplyDeleteWith technology advancing so quickly, any introduction to mass communication book must acknowledge the newer ways of doing things. Many of these books have acknowledged the digital advancements within the mass communication industry, which makes print look like more of a history lesson than a medium that students need to learn to use.
ReplyDeleteIn reviewing the text I have come to find that most of the items being reviewed are the basic principals of media. The overview of media can be so broad to a certain extent that almost makes it boring to go over the same things again and again.I feel that mass media students are learning the basics and just expanding on what they already know. The content really has not changed just the technology that is advancing us.
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