Mass Communication

This comprehensive reference source takes a broad look at the advertising industry. Its focus is primarily historical because, as the editors point out, "much of advertising's past remains buried, reported only in rare press accounts and other primary sources." Included are profiles of 120 ad agencies from around the world, 80 of them contemporary. Also covered are 40 U.S. agencies of historic interest that have either merged with other entities or gone out of business. In many cases, the encyclopedia provides an agency's first formal written history.
In addition to the agency histories, one finds entries for advertisers, brands, and campaigns ; individuals; practical and theoretical aspects of advertising ; and social, cultural, and historical issues. There are also 52 entries dealing with the history of advertising in specific countries or regions (Canada, Middle East). Ad agency profiles start with brief chronologies of key dates and alphabetical lists of major clients. Advertiser profiles include lists of principal agencies. - Booklist

This six volume set contains more than 350 signed entries under the direction of leading journalism scholar Christopher H. Sterling of George Washington University. In the A-to-Z volumes 1 through 4, both scholars and journalists contribute articles that span the field’s wide spectrum of topics, from design, editing, advertising, and marketing to libel, censorship, First Amendment rights, and bias to digital manipulation, media hoaxes, political cartoonists, and secrecy and leaks. Also covered are recently emerging media such as podcasting, blogs, and chat rooms. The last two volumes contain a thorough listing of journalism awards and prizes, a lengthy section on journalism freedom around the world, an annotated bibliography, and key documents.

The Handbook of Gender, Sex and Media offers original insights into the complex set of relations which exist between gender, sex, sexualities and the media, and in doing so, showcases new research at the forefront of media and communication practice and theory. Essay topics range from the continuing sexism of TV advertising to ways in which the internet is facilitating the (re)invention of our sexual selves.

This two volume groundbreaking handbook provides a comprehensive picture of the ethical dimensions of communication in a global setting. Brings together leading international scholars to consider ethical issues raised by globalization, the practice of journalism, popular culture, and media activities. - Wiley

"In the past 20 years, new media has emerged as one of the most dynamic research fronts in media and communication, address the diversity and proliferation of new information and communication technologies and their social contexts. This growing field is both international and transdisciplinary. The editors have mined a rich collection of published material covering the historical, economic, social and behavioral issues at stake to trace the development and implications of new media." - Sage Volume 1: Visions, Histories, Mediation Volume 2: Technology: Artifacts, Systems, Design Volume 3: Social institutions, Structures, Arrangements Volume 4: Practices: Interaction, identity, Culture .