Journalism: Books

For almost four hundred years journalism has played a central role in the evolution and development of societies across the globe. But in the 21st century and the age of information, exactly what journalism is, what it does, and what it means has become increasingly problematic. Understanding journalism today requires awareness of concepts and practices around the world, rather than just Western notions of journalism's social role. Information Age Journalism examines fundamental questions about what journalism in the age of information means in an international context. The book is both an introduction for students and a critical examination of the dominant theories in journalism studies.

This book examines newspapers on the Internet, and addresses the emergence of online newspapers and the delivery of news through this outlet. Utilizing empirical research, chapters explore the theoretical and practical issues associated with Internet newspapers and examine the process through which online newspapers have grown into a mainstream medium. Contributions to this work emphasize three key areas: the structure and presentation of newspapers on the Internet; the medium as an interactive process; and the ways in which the public interacts with Internet newspapers. This collection makes a substantial contribution to the understanding of newspapers on the Internet, covering their development and changes as well as the impact that news delivery through this medium has had on other media, audiences, and society.

While there is nearly universal agreement that the media play a vital and defining role in democracy everywhere it exists, ironically they are often unpopular. However, the media in a democratic system must be credible and reliable lest they lose their influence and authority. It is usually acknowledged that democracy almost never flourishes without an effective, independent media. The contributors to Media and Democracy discuss these issues with the clear recognition that generalizing about the media is often perilous.

This book explains what makes a news story effective today and how to recognize the best medium for a particular story. That medium may be the web, television, radio, newspaper, magazine - or, more likely, several of the above. This text will explain how a single story can fulfill its potential through any media channel. Convergent Journalism: An Introduction shows you, the news writer, editor, reporter, and producer, how to tailor a story to meet the needs of various media so your local news story can be written in a form appropriate for the web, print, PDA screen, and broadcast. In addition, this book explains the characteristics and best applications for print, broadcast, and web graphics.