Perpustakaan UIN Jurai Siwo Lampung

Communication is one of the most popular college majors in the country, suggesting that students are interested in the way in which messages are created and exchanged. We are surrounded by media and media technology today that con¬tinually mediate our experiences with ourselves, with others, and with the broader group we identify as "society." We've moved from traditional "mass" media that operated with large institutions sending messages to a large, heterogeneous audience to using media forms to interact in real-time with others, or just to amuse, entertain, or inform ourselves. Large-scale media producers have had to change business models to also cater to niche audiences, as well as maintain¬ing their former practices and battling for the attention of audiences.
Today, people have the capacity to become produc¬ers of mediated content that can be shared online, through blogs, websites, social networking sites, and podcasts. Never before have we had the capacity to consume mass media, as well as produce our own forms of media and have a platform for low-cost or free distribution over the Internet.
This book addresses a number of controversial issues in media and society. The purpose of these readings and indeed, of any course that deals with the social impact of media is to create a literate consumer of media—someone who can walk the fine line between a naive acceptance of all media and a cynical disregard for any positive benefits that media and media technologies may offer.
The study of media and society is very much a part of the way in which we live our lives by blending technolo-gies and services, public and private media uses, and pub¬lic and private behaviors. In the near future, many of the technologies we use today may be subsumed by yet newer technologies, or greater use of those that we already use. Film, television, music, radio, and print all come to us today over the Internet (through wired or wireless means), and we expect that cell phones may soon replace laptop computers as the "all-in-one" portable technology.
Since many of the topics for these readings are often in the news (or even constitute the news), you may already have opinions about them. We encourage you to read the selections and discuss the issues with an open mind. Even if you do not initially agree with a position or do not even understand how it is possible to make an opposing argu¬ment, give it a try. Remember, these problems often are not restricted to only two views; there may be many. We encourage you to discuss these topics as broadly as possi¬ble, and we believe that thinking seriously about media is an important goal.
These readings have been chosen to be used for stu¬dents in introductory courses in media and society. We know that some instructors have found these selections

useful for courses in writing about communication topics, ethics, and public speaking. The topics are such that they can be easily incorporated into any media course regard¬less of how it is organized—thematically, chronologically, or by media form.
Each issue includes an introduction to set the stage for debates argued in the YES and NO selections. We also pose a number of Learning Outcomes to help guide read¬ing. We offer a starting point for discussion in the section titled, "Is There Common Ground?" We also offer sugges¬tions for further reading on the issue and suggested Inter-net References to expand upon the material in each section. The introductions and the suggestions for addi¬tional resources and Internet sites do not preempt the reader's task: to achieve a critical and informed view of the issues at stake.
In reading an issue and forming your own opinion, you should not feel confined to adopt one or the other of the positions presented. Some readers may see important points on both sides of an issue and may construct for themselves a new and creative approach. Such an approach might incorporate the best of both sides, or it might pro-vide an entirely new vantage point for understanding.