Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Critical Political Economy of Media provides a clear, comprehensive and insightful introduction to the political economy analysis of contemporary media. Political economy approaches argue that to answer some of the most important questions about communications in modern life we need to examine how media services are organised, provided and paid-for. Jonathan Hardy undertakes a critical survey of political economy scholarship encompassing worldwide literature, issues and debates, and relationships with other academic approaches. He assesses different ways of making sense of media convergence and digitalisation, media power and influence. 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 a reflexive, revitalised critical media studies for the 21st century. Topics covered include: - media ownership and financing - news and entertainment - convergence and the Internet - media globalisation - advertising - alternative media and policy Explaining key concepts and research, this book illustrates the vital contribution of critical political economy for studies in media and communications, and demonstrates how political economy can assist students, researchers and citizens to investigate and address vital questions about the media today"--