Mass Media : Introduction and Schools of Thought

• After a brief discussion on the varying nomenclature applied to the field, this article discusses the two basic orientations: academic and applied. From there, the discussion takes up the sprawling character of the field, underscoring that the field can be conceptually organized in a variety of ways. The main part of the discussion consists of a presentation of four major schools of thought. These are defined as: (1) the mainstream perspective, which derives from the postwar US social sciences; (2) the critical tradition, which comprises several different strands; (3) the culturalist approach, which also blends elements from various intellectual sources; and (4) policy horizons, which deals with central issues such as ownership structures, financing and regulation. The article concludes with brief reflections on possible future developments of the field.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap -- Medievetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications -- Media Studies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Cultural studies

Intercultural communication

Interpersonal communication

Mass communication

Publikations- och innehållstyp

kap (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)