Milestones in Mass Communication Research (3rd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: An excellent summary text - good chronological review.
Review: I have been using this text for a number of years in undergraduate classes. It provides both an historical perspective to mass communication and a review of communication research methods. It can also be used to introduce students to mass communication theory.

Rating:
Summary: Informative
Review: This scholarly roadmap shows the path that has been taken by various writers from myriad perspectives. The milestone analogy is taken from ancient Roman times as a distance indication to travelers. This book seeks to do the same thing for mass communication scholars.

Chronologically various researchers and key projects are discussed and placed in historical context. Different elements of the communication model have been emphasized at various times in history. Furthermore, various media have been highlighted during different eras, e.g., sometimes film, other times radio, then later television.

This book provides an insightful overview of the field's development. Anyone interested in the cumulative growth of media studies as an academic area will find the plot to the story in this textbook.