| Norm Goldman, Editor of the book reviewing and | | | | the media only serves the interests of the wealthy |
| author interviewing site, revies, Media Production. | | | | and powerful? Are media production organizations |
| Editor: David Hesmondhalgh | | | | propagandists? Is audience market research a means |
| ISBN: 0335218849 | | | | of exerting power over audiences? |
| | | | How dangerous are media concentrations? How can |
| The following review was contributed by: NORM | | | | we understand our relationships with media producers |
| GOLDMAN: Editor of Bookpleasures. CLICK TO VIEW | | | | and knowledge, values and beliefs? How accurate |
| Norm Goldman's Reviews | | | | and important is market research of audiences and |
| Media Production forms part of the series of courses | | | | what do they tell us? |
| and publications offered by The Open University | | | | How are change and continuity intertwined in media |
| pertaining to the understanding of the media. | | | | production? What sort of media system is best for |
| As the preface of the book states, the aim of the | | | | 'the people?' |
| series is to provide a cogent and wide-ranging | | | | Incorporated into the study of these topics are |
| introduction to the study of media. | | | | several readings from key researchers along with |
| According to its editor, David Hesmondhalgh, "even | | | | recent case studies, including The Simpsons, CNN, |
| though much of the communication that goes on | | | | BBC and Al-Jazeera. As an example, British writer |
| around us is created and distributed by relatively small | | | | Raymond Williams provides an analysis of four |
| numbers of people," it is still vital that we know who | | | | different kinds of media systems, authoritarian, |
| these people are, their working practices and | | | | paternal, commercial and democratic. Hesmondhalgh |
| conditions, and how media products are made, as | | | | compares five different approaches to the study of |
| they do dominate much of our communicative | | | | media organizations, in terms of their distinct |
| environment. | | | | perspectives pertaining to the relationship between |
| Three major themes are examined and explored in | | | | media production, texts and power. He further |
| Media Production, power knowledge, values and | | | | studies the tension between knowledge and |
| beliefs and change and continuity. These themes are | | | | uncertainty about the audience that as he states, "to |
| divided into four chapters, wherein a wealth of | | | | be so characteristic of mediated communication." |
| information is provided pertaining to four crucial | | | | In addition to the selected readings, the book also |
| issues: the media industries: do ownership, size and | | | | contains questions and activities permitting readers to |
| internationalization matter media organizations and | | | | apply what they have learned and may also serve as |
| media texts: production, autonomy and power the | | | | guides for further research. Each chapter ends with a |
| media's view of the audience working in the media. | | | | brief resumé of the principles examined, as well |
| Readers are asked to consider such questions as: if | | | | as suggested readings and references. |