Digital technologies have fundamentally altered the nature and function of media in our society. This book critically examines digital innovations and their positive and negative implications.

Ethnic media are media produced for, and frequently by, immigrants, ethnic and linguistic minority groups, and indigenous populations. These media represent a sector of the broader media industry that has seen considerable growth globally, even while many mainstream, legacy media have struggled to survive or have ceased to exist, largely due to the emergence of new communication technologies. What is missing in the literature is a careful examination of ethnic media in the digital era. The original research, including case studies, in this book 1) provides insight into how ethnic media are adapting to changing technologies in the media landscape of our times, 2) highlights the emergence of new trends in media production and consumption, and 3) underscores the enduring roles that ethnic media perform in local communities and in an increasingly globalized world. The ethnic media that authors discuss in this book are produced for broadcasting (television, radio), or distributed in print (newspapers, magazines), film, and the Web. Additionally, they serve numerous immigrant, ethnic, and indigenous communities, living in different regions of the world, including North America, Europe, and Oceania.

This comprehensive overview of digital media technologies and their impact on society is a user-friendly introduction for students trying to understand how technology is shaping the world around them. The Digital Age is already upon us and society is feeling its impact. Media and Society in the Digital Age explores both the positive and negative implications of living in a rapidly changing communications environment. This text not only helps lay the foundation for understanding the emerging and constantly changing digital media environment, it also provides readers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their future academic, personal, and professional lives.

Media Criticism in a Digital Age introduces readers to a variety of critical approaches to audio and video discourse on radio, television and the Internet. It is intended for those preparing for electronic media careers as well as for anyone seeking to enhance their media literacy. This book takes the unequivocal view that the material heard and seen over digital media is worthy of serious consideration. Media Criticism in a Digital Age applies key aesthetic, sociological, philosophical, psychological, structural and economic principles to arrive at a comprehensive evaluation of programming and advertising content. It offers a rich blend of insights from both industry and academic authorities. These insights range from the observations of Plato and Aristotle to the research that motivates twenty-first century marketing and advertising. Key features of the book are comprised of: multiple video examples including commercials, cartoons and custom graphics to illustrate core critical concepts; chapters reflecting today’s media world, including coverage of broadband and social media issues; fifty perceptive critiques penned by a variety of widely respected media observers and; a supplementary website for professors that provides suggested exercises to accompany each chapter (www.routledge .com/cw/orlik) Media Criticism in a Digital Age equips emerging media professionals as well as perceptive consumers with the evaluative tools to maximize their media understanding and enjoyment.

Social media and digital technologies are transforming what and how we read. Books and Social Media considers the way in which readers and writers come together in digital communities to discover and create new works of fiction. This new way of engaging with fiction stretches the boundaries of what has been considered a book in the past by moving beyond the physical or even digitally bound object to the consideration of content, containers, and the ability to share. Using empirical data and up-to-date research methods, Miriam Johnson introduces the ways in which digitally social platforms give rise to a new type of citizen author who chooses to sidestep the industry’s gatekeepers and share their works directly with interested readers on social platforms. Gender and genre, especially, play a key role in developing the communities in which these authors write. The use of surveys, interviews, and data mining brings to the fore issues of gender, genre, community, and power, which highlight the push and pull between these writers and the industry. Questioning what we always thought we knew about what makes a book and traditional publishing channels, this book will be of interest to anyone studying or researching publishing, book history, print cultures, and digital and contemporary literatures.

Written by two of the field's most eminent experts, this exciting new introduction to mass media makes connections between communication research and the reality of the media industry. Understanding Media in the Digital Age shows readers how to navigate the world of traditional and new media while fostering an understanding of mass communication theory, history, active research findings, and professional experience.

Social Media in the Digital Age: History, Ethics, and Professional Uses details how the growth and development of social media has influenced how people interact with one another, receive news, and form social bonds. Part I of the book focuses on the history and study of social media, addressing the rise of social media, theories used to study social media, the widespread impacts of user-generated content, and more. Part II examines the legal and ethical implications of social media with chapters covering the legalities of social and digital media use, user policies, and image and brand management. Part III addresses the professional uses of social media within the disciplines of public relations, advertising, marketing, journalism, mass media, nonprofit work, and U.S. politics, as well as the role of social media in national and global movements. The second edition features new content on fake news, disinformation, conspiracy theories, bots and trolls, social media influencers, the growth of Instagram and TikTok, the Communications Decency Act, podcasts, and the confluence of social media and the 2020 United States presidential election. Social Media in the Digital Age is ideal for undergraduate courses in mass communication, broadcasting, history, and popular culture. It is also a valuable resource for communication professionals.