How the media are organized and funded is central to understanding their role in society. Critical Political Economy of the Media provides a clear, comprehensive, and insightful introduction to the political economic analysis of contemporary media. Jonathan Hardy undertakes a critical survey of political economy scholarship encompassing worldwide literature, issues, debates, and relationships with other academic approaches. He assesses different ways of making sense of media convergence and digitalization, media power and influence, and transformations across communication markets. Many of the problems of the media that prompted critical political economy research remain salient, he argues, but the approach must continue to adapt to new conditions and challenges. Hardy advances the case for revitalized critical media studies for the 21st century. Topics covered Introducing key concepts and research, this book explains how political economy can assist students, researchers, and citizens to investigate and address vital questions about the media today.

ISBN: 9780415544832
Publisher: ROUTLEDGE
Subtitle: AN INTRODUCTION
Author: JONATHAN HARDY