Mass Media in a Changing World: History, Industry, Controversy

I was privileged to review the proofs of the first edition of this book prior to its first publication (by a different publisher) while in graduate school. One reason I was asked to do so was from my perspective of over 20 years in the radio and television industries, mostly on the network level. Another was I had met the author while applying to Brooklyn College for graduate school, although I eventually went somewhere else. The review process helped me to get inside Rodman's mind and see what he was trying to accomplish, and - hopefully, through my remarks in the review reports - help guide that process in a positive way. Several years later, I began teaching college myself and selected the text and accompanying workbook for my basic introductory course to mass media. I found that the three-fold approach in each chapter provided not only the encyclopedic knowledge necessary, but with the meshing of industry examples and discussion of controversies, the solid underpinnings of a good understanding of the mass media students need. I've used this book in two editions and in two colleges and find it well received for the most part, with a few who don't quite "get it" of course, and many of my students have said that combined with my lecture style of using the book to reinforce stories from my professional world experience, it helped them focus on a field within mass communications that really interested them. I really don't think you could go wrong with picking George Rodman's book for a class. Of the many, many texts for an introductory media course, this stands out with the best of them!