Media Effects

by W. James Potter

Media Effects provides students with an in-depth understanding of how the media are constantly influencing individuals and society. W. James Potter guides readers through the extensive body of research on the effects of the mass media by organizing the book around two Media Effects Templates. The first template helps organize thinking about media influences on individuals, and the second focuses on media influences on larger social structures and institutions. Throughout the book, Potter encourages students to analyze their own experiences tby searching for evidence of these effects in their own lives, making the content meaningful.

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2012

Reviews

[Meghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a textbook. I read it for a graduate level class but it does not seem like a graduate level textbook. That, of course, is not the fault of the author but of the course designer. What is the fault of the author is that the book is rudimentary and more like a compilation of definitions. Concepts are introduced in the most basic terms but never expanded upon. Also, many pages (and trees) are wasted on Exhibits which are simply lists of concepts not explained in the text or names of sources that maybe a person could look up but the list does not provide really enough information to find. Also, the binding of the book was terrible and halfway through my use of it the cover completely separated from the book.

This might be an acceptable companion text for a entry-level undergraduate course on media but it is not successful as a stand-alone text, especially for the graduate level.

[Rod Pyle]

Any book by Dr. Potter is a good read. At the top of his form, he still can reach down to the layman and explain important facets of the modern media landscape.