The great leap forward in mass communication and the media that has been witnessed in the past decade hs already begun to shape the thought processes that give a society its strengths and weaknesses. This is the central theme of all studies that are attempted in the area of mass communication. Technology and adaptation apart, an increasingly literate society with greater access to the mass media, especially in the context of the "invasion from the skies", will think more radically in times to come. The present collection of papers, articles, documents and reports, drawn from national as well as international sources, seeks to refresh the student's and researcher's familiarity with the broad parameters of modern mass communication, media dynamics and the social context within which it functions. The three divisions set out in the following compilations relate to the social context of the communications revolution witnessed in the past ten years; the international perspectives on mass media and the traditional print media, particularly the press and journalism; and finally, the enormous challenge posed by the great leap forward in the communications and media world. It is hoped that the materials will provide a basic structured reading exercise for communications and media students as well as researchers and academics.

The concept, in which media is expected to be a catalyst, stands on the premise that since communication today is a powerful instrument of social change, media should assist the state in accelerating the pace of growth by possible means; and it is capable of doing so without sacrificing professionalism and without debasing itself to the position of a subservient media. Sociology and Communication Revolution is a collection of articles, papers, reports and documents drawn from national as well as international sources. Policy Approach to Electronic Media; Invasion from the Skies; Understanding Emerging Challenges; Media and Change; Beyond Words; Media and Perceptions of Reality; Communications and Cultural Problems; Development, Traditional Media and Communication; Culture, Communication and Social Change; Media, Communication and Family; Consumerism and Conscience of Communication Media; Mass Media and Educational Technology; Television Age-Bridging Urban-Rural Information Gap; Sociology of the Information Age; Autonomy of Media: Issues and Objectives; etc. are the major contents of the book.

As is obvious from the name, this book contains reading material on modern media and journalism in global perspective. Media in Sociological Context; Communication Imperatives of Developing Countries; Strategy Planning for Media Research; the Technology Dilemma: Friend or Frankenstein; Multinational Systems and Information Flows and Human Well-being; Age of Satellite Television; Media Down Under; Adapting Media Technology in Africa; Relevance of Cultural Diplomacy: Dynamics of Inter-Community Relations; Primacy of the Press; Press and People in Asia and Pacific; Media and Social Consciousness; Approaches to Universal Media Training ; etc. are the major topics discussed in this volume. Students and teachers in journalism besides professionals in the field will find this book useful and informative.

Arthur C. Clark advocated in 1945 for a global satellite system for broadcasting as 'invaluable' and 'indispensable to world society' is now realizable. International television has arrived: national control of individual viewing habits is becoming unenforceable. The development of news distribution technologies-satellite, cable, MMDS and so forth-provides fresh opportunities to advance the democratic frontiers. Mass Media and Challenge of Change is collection of papers, articles, documents and reports, drawn from different authoritative sources. This will prove of utmost use for academics and professionals in the field alike.