"A masterpiece... the one single indispensable book that all media students and scholars need to read to understand this vital and growing area of research."
- Robert W. McChesney, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

"A contemporary classic of media studies. Vincent Mosco, among the leading media scholars of our or any time, brings his searing insights and crystal prose to bear on the latest issues and debates of the field… An indispensable resource for researchers, activists, and students everywhere."
- Toby Miller, University of California, Riverside

Since publication of its first edition, The Political Economy of Communication has established itself as a true classic and one of the most important contributions to the field. This second edition has been thoroughly restructured, updated and expanded to make it an indispensable text for students and scholars alike. Putting the student at the centre of its updates, this book:

• Maps the definitions and foundations of political economy


• Adds 3 new chapters to explore current trends, from feminism and labour to new media, forms of resistance, media reform and democracy


• Illustrates throughout how power operates across the 21st century media landscape


• Explores key issues in how media power intersects with globalization, social class, race, gender and surveillance


• Shows media students why it is essential to understand political economy and its application to media and communication.

Vincent Mosco is Canada Research Chair in Communication and Society and Professor of Sociology at Queen¿s University, Canada

Overview of the Political Economy of Communication
What is Political Economy? Definitions and Characteristics
What is Political Economy? Schools of Thought
The Development of a Political Economy of Communication
The Political Economy of Communication: Building a Foundation
The Political Economy of Communication Today
Commodification: Content, Audiences, Labour
Spatialization: Space, Time, and Communication
Structuration: Class, Gender, Race, Social Movements, Hegemony
Challenges on the Borders ... and Beyond