Widely praised for his ability to make learning interesting, the author excites readers as they explore the ever-changing subject of mass communication. This updated edition retains the emphasis on the challenges of today's media while building on its extensive coverage of media history, effects, and culture. The coverage of media literacy, an underlying theme since the first edition, has been enhanced with a new feature. The three part-organization–the media, media messages, and media issues–has been strengthened by the addition of a totally new chapter on entertainment to balance the coverage of other types of media messages.