Mass Communication in Canada

by Lorimer, Rowland; Gasher, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780195415285
• ISBN10: 0195415280
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-08-24
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This edition has been thoroughly revised with updated examples and information. The text is illustrated by numerous photos, media articles, political cartoons, and various samples of communications material.

Author Biography

Michael Gasher is Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism, Concordia University.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Communications and Society	1	(29)
Introduction	1	(5)
Communications: Principles and Range of Influence	6	(6)
The Social Dimension	6	(1)
The Political Dimension	7	(1)
The Economic Dimension	8	(1)
The Educational Dimension	9	(2)
The Cultural Dimension	11	(1)
The Technological Dimension	11	(1)
The Familial or Primary Social Group Dimension	11	(1)
The Individual Dimension	12	(1)
Communication as Transmission and as Transformation	12	(3)
Oral Society	15	(3)
Literate Society	18	(3)
Electronic Society	21	(2)
Modes of Communication	23	(4)
Oral and Literate Communication	23	(1)
Electronic Oral Communication	24	(1)
Electronic Audiovisual Communication	25	(1)
Electronic Digital Communication	26	(1)
Other Derivative and Different Viewpoints	27	(1)
Summary and Book Overview	27	(3)
Related Web Sites	29	(1)
Key References	29	(1)
Study Guide	29	(1)
Modern Society: Mass Communication, the Mass Media, and Public Communication	30	(24)
Introduction: Definitions	30	(1)
Mass Communication	30	(6)
The Mass Media	36	(15)
A Distinct Set of Activities	36	(1)
Particular Technological Configurations	37	(1)
Formally Constituted Institutions	38	(3)
Certain Laws, Rules, and Understandings	41	(4)
Persons Occupying Certain Roles	45	(4)
Information, Entertainment, Images, and Symbols	49	(1)
The Mass Audience	50	(1)
Public Communication	51	(1)
Summary	52	(2)
Related Web Sites	53	(1)
Key References	53	(1)
Study Guide	53	(1)
Democracy, Politics, Culture, and the Media	54	(26)
Information and Democracy in Europe	54	(4)
The Beginnings of the Modern Press	58	(1)
From the Press to the Media	58	(2)
The Place of the Media in Society	60	(3)
Political Economic Theory	62	(1)
Libertarian Theory	62	(1)
Social Responsibility Theory	63	(1)
Canada: Liberal Principles in a Conservative State	63	(2)
The Mass Media and Canadian Realities	65	(1)
The Mass Media and Canadian Culture	66	(4)
Canadian Culture in the Media, 1945-present	67	(3)
Politics and the Canadian Media	70	(6)
Information Needs, Communications Actualities, and the United Nations	76	(1)
Summary	77	(3)
Related Web Sites	78	(1)
Key References	78	(1)
Study Guide	79	(1)
Media Content	80	(46)
A Mathematical Model of Communication	80	(2)
A Social Model of Communication	82	(1)
Signification	82	(2)
The Indeterminacy of Representation and its Implications	84	(2)
Theoretical Perspectives on the Study of Content	86	(20)
Literary Criticism	86	(1)
Structuralism, Semiotics, and Post-structuralism	87	(4)
Pragmatics, Discourse, and Conversational Analysis	91	(2)
Content Analysis	93	(1)
Political-Economic Analysis	94	(1)
Media Form Analysis	95	(11)
Mechanisms of Media/Culture Binding	106	(3)
Mainstreaming	107	(1)
Media Presentations and Social and Political Agendas	107	(2)
Media Creating Meaning: Possibilities and Limitations	109	(1)
Media and Reality: Media Devices and Real Life	110	(9)
Media Violence and Normalization	111	(3)
Challenging Other Standards	114	(1)
Media Reductionism	115	(4)
Summary	119	(1)
Appendix: A Semiotic Analysis of a Black Label Ad Series	120	(6)
Related Web Sites	125	(1)
Key References	125	(1)
Study Guide	125	(1)
Media and Audiences	126	(30)
A Theoretical Synthesis of Meaning-Generating Systems	126	(2)
Five Perspectives on Audiences	128	(11)
Effects Research	128	(4)
Uses and Gratification Research	132	(1)
Cultural Studies	132	(5)
Feminist Research	137	(1)
Reception Analysis	138	(1)
Industry Audience Research	139	(5)
The World's Best Readership Database -- PMB, A Case Study	144	(9)
Audience Research and the Public Interest	153	(1)
Summary	154	(2)
Related Web Sites	155	(1)
Key References	155	(1)
Study Guide	155	(1)
Communications Law and Policy	156	(21)
The Legal and Regulatory Frameworks of Communications	157	(1)
Policy Development	158	(2)
Telecommunications Policy	160	(4)
Common and Contract Carriers	162	(1)
Telecommunications Regulation over the Years	162	(2)
Satellite Communications	164	(1)
Broadcasting Policy	164	(10)
Technology	168	(3)
Access and Content	171	(2)
A Future for Broadcast Regulation?	173	(1)
Summary	174	(3)
Related Web Sites	175	(1)
Key References	176	(1)
Study Guide	176	(1)
Cultural Industries Law and Policy	177	(26)
Cultural Industries Policy by Sector	180	(20)
Film and Video	180	(6)
Music Recording	186	(3)
Book Publishing	189	(5)
Magazine Publishing	194	(4)
Newspaper Publishing	198	(2)
Summary	200	(3)
Related Web Sites	201	(1)
Key References	201	(1)
Study Guide	202	(1)
The Structure and Role of Ownership	203	(31)
Individual Freedom, Public Interest, and the Free Market	205	(3)
Market Economics and Cultural Production	207	(1)
Function and Ownership of Media: A Historical Background	208	(2)
Free Press, Free Market	209	(1)
Organizing Structures	210	(9)
Public Ownership	219	(3)
Forms of Public Ownership	221	(1)
Private Ownership	222	(4)
Forms of Private Ownership	223	(3)
Tempering the Profit Motive	226	(2)
Implications of Private Media Ownership	228	(4)
Concerns and Future Trends	229	(3)
Summary	232	(2)
Related Web Sites	233	(1)
Key References	233	(1)
Study Guide	233	(1)
Journalists as Content Producers	234	(26)
News as Content Production	234	(3)
Ideals of Journalism	237	(2)
Newsmakers	239	(2)
The Legal and Policy Contexts of News Production	241	(4)
The European Context	242	(1)
The American Context	243	(2)
Canadian Law and Journalism	245	(4)
Access to Information	246	(1)
Libel	247	(1)
Privacy	248	(1)
Contempt of Court	249	(1)
Making News (and Profits?)	249	(3)
Ownership and Control	252	(5)
News as Storytelling	257	(1)
Summary	258	(2)
Related Web Sites	259	(1)
Key References	259	(1)
Study Guide	259	(1)
Communications Technology and Society: In Theory and in Reality	260	(33)
Technology and Society	260	(1)
Technology Defined	261	(1)
Technology and Technological Determinism	262	(2)
The Limitations of Technology	263	(1)
The Nature of Communications Technology	264	(1)
Technology and the Communications Industries	265	(4)
Technological Convergence	266	(1)
Technology and Policy	267	(2)
Technological Development: Rationales and Realities	269	(2)
Technology Transfer	270	(1)
Regulating Communications Technology -- The Fundamentals	271	(1)
Technology at the Beginning of Millennium III	272	(2)
Pure Magic	273	(1)
Achievements in the Information World	274	(10)
Increased Flexibility in Personal Communications	275	(1)
Increased Flexibility in Producer Communications	275	(3)
Increased Flexibility in Sourcing Through Easy Communications	278	(1)
Increased Ability to Perform Tasks	278	(1)
New Services and Products	279	(3)
Capturing and Changing Behaviour	282	(1)
Creating Virtual Reality	283	(1)
Nuisances, Problems, Dangers	284	(4)
System Vulnerability	284	(1)
Hypes	285	(1)
Crime	286	(1)
The Bizarre	286	(1)
Espionage	287	(1)
Information Wars	287	(1)
The `So-What' of Technological Development	288	(1)
Reflections on Our Technological Society	289	(1)
Summary	290	(3)
Related Web Sites	291	(1)
Key References	292	(1)
Study Guide	292	(1)
Globalization	293	(20)
Globalization Defined	293	(2)
Mass Media as Agents of Globalization	295	(2)
Global Trade in Information	297	(6)
Theories of Imperialism and Dependency	301	(2)
A New World Information and Communication Order	303	(4)
From NWICO to Now	307	(2)
Changing Notions of Place	309	(2)
Summary	311	(2)
Related Web Sites	311	(1)
Key References	312	(1)
Study Guide	312	(1)
Communication in a Digital Age	313	(14)
From Mass to Public Communication	314	(1)
Communication and Democracy	315	(2)
Content and Audiences	317	(3)
Four Influences on Media Operations	320	(5)
Policy	320	(1)
Ownership	320	(1)
Professionalism	321	(1)
Technology	322	(1)
Policy Trends	323	(2)
Globalization	325	(1)
Summary	326	(1)
Key References	326	(1)
Study Guide	326	(1)
Glossary	327	(9)
References	336	(14)
Index	350