The primary purpose of this book is to help the public become more aware and critical in their selection and appraisal of the media. Part 1 consists of a single essay by Theodore Peterson that gives a historical perspective on the development of the mass media in the United States. Part 2 deals with the print and electronic media: magazines, photo essays, newspapers, books, television, radio, popular music, and film. Part 3 examines the media from the point of view of their major roles as informers, entertainers, and persuaders. Part 4 treats the broader implications of the media and their impact on our society as well as the possibilities for the future. Most of the articles and illustrations reprinted in this edition were published in the 1970s. They present a variety of viewpoints on the mass media by such writers as Michael Arlen, Jack Anderson, Nicholas Johnson, Stanley Kauffmann, Richard Reeves, and Alvin Toffler. Among the new topics considered in this edition are media freedom and accessibility, sexism in the media, and sportscasting. Each section ends with questions designed to stimulate discussion or to serve as topics for composition. (TS)