Each chapter opens with Learning Objectives and an Overview and ends with a Review of Learning Objectives and Critical Thinking Questions. Preface Chapter 1. Understanding and Evaluating Mass Communication Theory Defining and Redefining Mass Communication Science and Human Behavior Defining Theory Postpositivist Theory Cultural Theory Critical Theory Normative Theory Evaluating Theory Flexible Social Science Mass Communication Theory Four Trends in Media Theory The Mass Society and Mass Culture Trend in Mass Communication Theory The Media-Effects Trend in Mass Communication Theory The Critical Cultural Trend in Mass Communication Theory The Meaning-Making Trend in Mass Communication Theory Revitalized Effects Research Chapter 2. Establishing the Terms of the Debate over Media: The First Trend in Mass Communication Theory--Mass Society and Mass Culture Theories Mass Society Critics and the Debate over Media Assumptions of Mass Society Theory Early Examples of Mass Society Theory Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft Mechanical and Organic Solidarity Mass Society Theory in Contemporary Times The Origin of Propaganda Propaganda Comes to the United States Behaviorism Freudianism Harold Lasswell's Propaganda Theory Walter Lippmann's Theory of Public Opinion Formation Reaction against Early Propaganda Theory Modern Propaganda Theory Libertarianism Reborn and Challenged Chapter 3. Normative Theories of Mass Communication The Origin of Normative Theories of Media The Origin of Libertarian Thought on Communication The Marketplace of Ideas: A New Form of Radical Libertarianism Government Regulation of Media Professionalization of Journalism Social Responsibility Theory of the Press: A Postwar Compromise Using Social Responsibility Theory to Guide Professional Practice Limits of Professionalization The Dual Responsibility Model Is There Still a Role for Social Responsibility Theory? The Public Interest in the Internet Era Other Normative Theories Chapter 4. The Emergence of the Media-Effects Trend in Mass Communication Theory The Development of the Postpositivist Effects Trend From Propaganda Research to Attitude-Change Theories Carl Hovland and the Experimental Section The Communication Research Program Do Mass Media Influence the Way People Vote? The Strengths and Limitations of the Effects Trend in Media Research The Selective Processes Chapter 5. The Consolidation of the Media-Effects Trend Theories of the Middle Range and the Rise of the Functional Analysis Approach Information-Flow Theory Personal Influence: The Two-Step Flow Theory Joseph Klapper's Phenomenistic Theory The Entertainment Function of Mass Media Systems Theories of Communication Processes The Rise of Systems Theories Modeling Systems Applying Systems Models to Human Communication Adoption of Systems Models by Mass Communication Theorists Functionalism's Unfulfilled Promise Chapter 6. The Emergence of The Critical Cultural Trend in North America Changing Times The Critical Cultural Theory Trend Macroscopic Versus Microscopic Theories Critical Theory Comparing the Media Theory Trends The Rise of Cultural Theories in Europe Marxist Theory Neo-Marxism Textual Analysis and Literary Criticism The Frankfurt School Development of Neo-Marxist Theory in Britain Political Economy Theory The Debate between Cultural Studies and Political Economy Theorists Cultural Studies: Transmissional Versus Ritual Perspectives Research on Popular Culture in the United States Research on News Production in the United States Critical Feminist Scholarship Marshall McLuhan: The Medium is the Message and the Massage Harold Innis: The Bias of Communication McLuhan: Understanding Media Chapter 7. Theories of Media and Social Learning Focus on Children and Violence Television Violence Theories Catharsis Social Learning Theory Social Cognition from Mass Media Aggressive Cues The Context of Mediated Violence Active Theory of Television Viewing The Developmental Perspective Video Games Reignite Interest in Media Violence The General Aggression Model Chapter 8. Theories of Media and Human Development Media and Children's Development Gender Issues Advertising to Children Loss of Childhood Growing Up Connected: New Personal Technologies and Development Social Media and Well-Being Chapter 9. Audience Theories: Uses and Reception Audience Theories: From Source-Dominated to Active-Audience Perspectives Limitations of Early Audience-Centered Research Confusion of Media Functions and Media Uses Revival of the Uses-and-Gratifications Approach The Active Audience Revisited Entertainment Theory Uses-and-Gratifications and Social Networking Development of Reception Studies: Decoding and Sensemaking Feminist Reception Studies Chapter 10. Theories of Media Cognition and Information Processing Information-Processing Theory Processing Television News Schema Theory Hostile Media Effect Elaboration Likelihood Model Narrative Persuasion Theory and the Extended Elaboration Likelihood Model Health Communication The Delay Hypothesis Affective Intelligence, Motivated Reasoners, and the Backfire Effect The Neuroscience Perspective Chapter 11. Theories of the Effect of Media on Knowledge, Information, and Perception of Social Issues Knowledge Gaps, Digital Divides, and Digital Inequalities Information (Innovation) Diffusion Theory Social Marketing Theory Agenda-Setting, Priming, and Agenda-Building The Spiral of Silence Chapter 12. Theories of the Effect of Media on Community And Everyday Culture Media and Social Capital/Community Research Cultivation Analysis The Products of Cultivation Analysis Media Literacy Elements and Assumptions of Media Literacy Media Literacy Interventions Chapter 13. Media and Culture Theories: Meaning Making in the Social World Symbolic Interactionism Pragmatism and the Chicago School Current Applications of Symbolic Interactionism Social Constructionism Framing and Frame Analysis The Development of Theories of Frames and Framing Effects of Frames on News Audiences Postpositivist vs Critical Cultural Approaches to Framing Chapter 14. Media and Culture Theories: Commodification of Culture and Mediatization Media as Culture Industries: The Commodification of Culture Commodification of Culture in the Age of Social Media Advertising: The Ultimate Cultural Commodity Mediatization Theory References Index

"The new edition of Mass Communication Theory recasts old theories in the contexts of new technology and globalization. It also explores the possibility of integrating theories originally generated in different paradigms into new forms."--Koji Fuse, University of North Texas "This is a well-organized, engaging, and effectively updated textbook on mass communication theory and effects. It has been updated well in light of social media and the influence of political leaders on conceptions of mass communication and the role of journalists in particular."--Megan Hopper, Illinois State University "This is the most comprehensive book of mass communication theories available."--Dom Caristi, Ball State University "This book is good for first-year graduate students to get a sense for the diversity of theoretical approaches to mass communication as well as the overarching historical trends leading to the development of the theories." - Robin Johnson, Sam Houston State University

Selling point: Featuring vivid examples and graphics, this market-leading textbook offers the most comprehensive and authoritative introduction to mass communication theory available Selling point: Traces the emergence of three trends in media theory: mass society/propaganda, social/behavioral, and critical/cultural

Stanley J. Baran is Professor of Communication at Bryant University. He has won numerous teaching awards, including the AMOCO Teaching Excellence Award as the best instructor at the University of Texas at Austin and the College of Communication's Teaching Excellence Award as that college's outstanding professor. At San Jose State University he was named President's Scholar as the university's outstanding researcher. Dennis K. Davis is Professor Emeritus of Communication at Penn State University. His teaching and research center on mass communication theory, new media literacy, international communication, research methods, and political communication. He has headed divisions of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the National Communication Association.

Selling point: Featuring vivid examples and graphics, this market-leading textbook offers the most comprehensive and authoritative introduction to mass communication theory available Selling point: Traces the emergence of three trends in media theory: mass society/propaganda, social/behavioral, and critical/cultural