In his beautifully balanced, clear and broad-ranging account of a fast-changing field, Paul Hodkinson has successfully brought together myriad perspectives with which to critically analyse today's media culture and media society
Sonia Livingstone
Professor of Media and Communication, LSE

Introductory texts are notoriously difficult to write; they have to be accessible, engaging, well organised and well written. Hodkinson has succeeded in writing a book which makes a distinctive and engaging contribution to the literature; it is a work which combines scholarship and imagination. The book is carefully organised and sets an agenda which will be useful to students in a wide variety of contexts. It manages to combine traditional approaches to understanding the media with new and emergent issues and areas. Contemporary examples and illustrations are used throughout to ensure that general analysis is always embedded in particular case studies and each section is rounded off with a summary conclusion which allows students to reflect on their reading. The book is fully supported by key references and succeeds in providing an introduction to which students will return throughout their studies
Tim O'Sullivan
Professor of Media, Film and Journalism, De Montfort University

Written clearly and accessibly, Media, Culture and Society offers a solid grounding in key theories and debates. From media technologies through to audience communities, Hodkinson is always a sure-footed guide
Matt Hills
Cardiff University

This book is suitable for pushing thinking at Masters Level

Ms Jenna Condie

Psychology , Salford University

Jun 04 2013

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An Excellent text book for any students interested in the complex relationship between media, culture and society

Mr Kenneth Sloane

Dept of Creative Media, Dundalk Institute of Technology

Apr 30 2013

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A perfect starting text for students new to the field.

Mr Andrew Wilson

Education, Derby University

Mar 27 2013

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This book covers a wide range of topics from traditional approaches to understanding the media to new emerging issues. It is written in a simple and user-friendly style. It gives examples of contemporary nature it and allows the reader to reflect at the end of each chapter. It also gives a brief guidance for further reading.

Miss Magdalena Marczak

Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Coventry University

Jan 02 2013

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An invaluable book, providing mind-opening insights on uneasy relationship of media with contemporary culture and society. Especially useful are parts focusing on aspects like ethnicity, gender and subcultures and how media changes and in turn is changed by them.

Mr ilkin mehrabov

Dept of Media & Communication Studies, Karlstad University

Oct 03 2012

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Excellent

Ms Angela Grier

Department of Social Sciences, Leeds Metropolitan University

Sep 12 2012

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A good introduction for postgraduates returning to study media and communications.

Dr Gauti Sigthorsson

Communication and Creative Arts, Greenwich University

Aug 17 2012

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Well-written, accessible introduction to key debates in the field.

Dr Gauti Sigthorsson

Communication and Creative Arts, Greenwich University

Aug 17 2012

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This is a great text which provides a really useful introduction to key media studies concepts. I really enjoyed the author's tone - he is happy to engage in explaining complex issues without recourse to over-simplification. The chapters proceed logically and usefully refer back to each other. Highly recommended for more able undergraduate students and postgrads.

Dr Lynne Hibberd

Cultural Studies and Humanities, Leeds Metropolitan University

Jul 24 2012

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The book is very well organised and structured. It is useful to students in a variety of contexts and courses. It could be used as the essential reading for the course as well as supplementary, as it combines traditional approaches with contemporary insights into the media studies.

Ms Vilmante Liubiniene

Facul, Kaunas University of Technology

Jun 27 2012

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This is the perfect title for my course in Media Sociology. Great balance between the media, culture and societal aspects. Also, it has a clear academic approach to its content without loosing track of making it apllicable to a professional context. I'm excited and I hope my communication design students will be too.

Mr Mikael Sorknaes

Business & IT, Business Academy South West

May 14 2012

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Excellent for level 3 undergraduates and tutors alike. Links nicely with other politics and sociology modules in social science programmes.

Mr Michael Mahadeo

Dept of Sociology & Appl'd Soc Studies, Ulster University

May 09 2012

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Good introductory reading for BA level students.

Mr Felix Seyfarth

KWA - Leitung Handlungskompetenz, University of St. Gallen

May 03 2012

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This is an excellent overview. I cannot make it essential since it does not cover enough on race and gender, but it is excellent background and has been ordered for the library and the bookshop

Professor Andrew Pilkington

Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, Northampton University

Apr 10 2012

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While the book would be a great resource for the class, the organization of the content did not fit the course topics. Also, I prefer text with additional teaching resources.

Dr Janet Kwami

Communication Studies Dept, Furman University

Oct 05 2011

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Very interesting and versatile overview of the key debates in media studies. Easy to read and interesting enough for students of all levels.

Dr Sylvie Magerstadt

School of Humanities, Hertfordshire University

Mar 08 2011

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A clear and lucid text that is a welcome addition to my students' reading list. I would however like to see greater acknowledgment of digitally mediated culture(s).

Dr Andrew McStay

School of Creative Studies and Media, University of Wales, Bangor

Feb 17 2011

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This book is certainly well written, accessible and comprehensive, but I have to say that its comprehensiveness has been bought somewhat at the expense of depth. I'll use it on the course listed for Chapters 3, 8 and 9, but it would have been good if these chapters could have been rather more detailed, even considering that this is being marketed as an introductory text.

Professor Julian Petley

Screen Media and Journalism, Brunel University

Feb 09 2011

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it is very useful for students.

Professor Mehmet Meder

Sociology , Pamukkale University

Feb 08 2011

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Astonishingly organized and delivered. A perfect, up-to-date 'teaching and learning kit' essential for freshmen, postgraduates and academic scholars around the world.

Ms Nur Kareelawati Abd Karim

Communication, Islamic Science University Malaysia

Jan 12 2011

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This may also become the key text for the the module.

Dr Barbara Mitra

Media & Cultural Studies, Worcester University

Dec 20 2010

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Excellent text; up to date and interestingly written.

Dr Sarita Malik

Mass Communications , Brunel University

Dec 20 2010

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A well written and well organised introduction to the field - perfect for first year undergraduate students.

Dr Paul Smith

Media Studies, De Montfort University

Dec 15 2010

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This is a book I have been waiting for for quite some time: a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the role of the media within and for society. It manages to summarize both theoretical approaches as well as material phenomena and to provide an overview for freshmen and experts alike. I will recommend this book to my students as a guide, not only for my introductory class, but for the whole bachelor programme.

Professor Marian Adolf

Communication and Cultural Management, Zeppelin University

Dec 09 2010

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