Media Sociology: A Reappraisal

Book Details

• Author: Silvio Waisbord

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Binding: Hardcover

• Release Date: 01-11-2017

• ISBN: 9788131608326

• Pages: 304

• Sale Territory: India Only

• Languages: English

About the Book
"Media Sociology: A Reappraisal" examines the evolving role of sociology in the study of media, exploring how sociological questions and methods have shaped the understanding of media across various disciplines. Historically, sociology has played a foundational role in defining the boundaries of media studies, particularly in analyzing news, public opinion, media effects, and community relationships. Since then, media sociology has undergone significant shifts, generating new theoretical questions and focusing on emerging thematic areas.

This timely volume brings together contributions from leading scholars to reassess the relationship between media studies and sociology. It explores the intersection of sociology with media economics, industries, journalism, and the study of media audiences. It also highlights the relevance of race, gender, and class in media studies, offering a fresh perspective on these areas.

This book presents a comprehensive and critical analysis of media sociology, taking a retrospective view of its history while looking forward to the new directions in current research. The contributions reflect on key issues such as media representation, digital technologies, social media, and their broader implications on society and the self.

Contents

• Introduction: Reappraising Media Sociology

Part I: Media, Institutions, and Politics

• Strategy Follows Structure: A Media Sociology Manifesto

• Linking Media Sociology to Political Development in Trans-Legislative Democracies

• Back to the Future? The Sociology of News and Journalism from Black and White to the Digital Age

Part II: Media Industries and Audiences

• Agency, Social Interaction, and Audience Studies

• Media Industry Sociology: Mainstream, Critical, and Cultural Perspectives

• The Political Economy of Media Work and Watching

Part III: Media Representations

• When Media Representation Met Sociology

• Too Little But Not Too Late: Sociological Contributions to Feminist Media Studies

• Media Sociology and the Study of Race

Part IV: Digital Technologies, Self, and Society

• Digital Media Technology and the Spirit of the New Capitalism: What Future for “Aesthetic Critique”?

• Mobile Communication and Mediated Interpersonal Communication

• Sociology and the Socially Mediated Self

About the Author
Silvio Waisbord is a Professor of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. He specializes in the relationship between media, politics, and society, focusing on how media influences public life and policy. His research includes media industries, political communication, and the impact of digital technologies.