Media Effects

by W. James Potter

Media Effects offers students an in-depthexamination of the media'sconstant influence on individuals and society. W. James Potterframes media's effects in two templates: influence on individuals and influence on larger social structures and institutions.By positioning the different types of effectsin the forefront, Potter helps students understandthe full range of mediaeffects, how they manifest themselves, and the factors that that are likely to bring these effects into being. Throughout the book, Potter encourages students to analyze their own experiences by searching for evidence of these effects in their own lives, making the content meaningful on a personal level.

400 pages, ebook

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.