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-advanci...

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 concern...

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 commu...

European Media provides a clear, concise account of the structures, dynamics and realities of the changing face of media in Europe. It offers a timely and illuminating appraisal of the issues surrounding the development of new media in Europe and explores debates about the role of the media in the formation of a European public sphere and a European identity.The book argues that Europe offers an ideal context for examining interactions between global, regional and national...

The Political Communication Readergathers together key writings in a unique one-volume resource. The selected texts are grouped into thematic sections, each introduced by the editors, covering such areas as:the exercise of power, media and democracythe media and electionsmedia effectspolitical participation and the mediathe personalization of politicsnew technologies and the reshaping of political communicatio...

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 rese...

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 n...

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 co...