J V Vilanilam

August 2005

According to the publisher, this "book traces the progress of mass communications in India and the West from a historical and sociological perspective, from primitive to modern times. Placing his argument in the global context within which mass communication takes place, the author:

• Emphasizes the distinction between communication and mass communication - the former being a two-way exchange and the latter mostly a one-way communication.
• Discusses the relevance of mass communication for the largely illiterate population of India, with particular reference to the type of media content and the inadequacy of conventional schooling.
• Discusses the rapid technological progress in the world in recent decades in the context of digitalization, computerization and media convergence, as well as the global nature of mass communication.
• Highlights that almost half the world's population remains untouched by the communications revolution even at the beginning of the 21st century.
• Examines the potential of EDUSAT, the educational satellite launched recently, as a means to bring education and information to all sectors of the Indian population."

Contents:

• Preface
• Communication and Society: An Overview
• Early Years of the Print Media
• National and International News Agencies - The Backbone of Modern Communication
• Gandhian Journalism and the Journalism of the 21st Century
• Image Up, Word Down - The Rise of Audiovisual Media
• Film: The Further Expansion of Audiovisual Wisdom
• Radio: The First Real Electronic Medium
• Television: An Endless Parade
• The New Media: Multimedia Born Out of Convergence
• Communication Technology with a Human Face: The Challenge of the 21st Century
• References and Select Bibliography
• Index

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