A stimulating introduction to the key debates and dimensions in media studies, this Reader is a valuable resource for first level students. Posing questions about the nature of culture in modern society, it looks at the historical development of the various media, their relationship with modernity and the critical commentaries that have evolved as a result of their public and private presence. The readings encompass a wide range of media forms, from television, radio, film, magazines, newspapers and advertising to emergent and changing media forms focusing on media production, media texts and media reception. The comprehensive selection of both short and complete extracts is set in context and linked throughout by means of an engaging, student-friendly commentary, a set of questions to promote discussion and suggestions for further reading, making this an essential introduction to studying of the media in its public, private and popular forms.