ABSTRACT

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book recognizes the continuing utility of Daniel Hallin and Paolo Mancini's framework, but also calls into question the status of a number of key concepts in their work. It explicates the nature of mapping sentences and their utility, and provides examples regarding three specific "facets": domestication of foreign news, interest in foreign news, and regulation of news. The book focuses on the relevance of Communication for Development and Social Change (CDSC). By emphasizing ecological sensibility, comparative vision, and global orientation in media and communication research, it demonstrates that the city is not only a container of media and communications, but also a constitutive actor to their configurations. The book analyzes the trends of mobile communication based on a critical overview of existing literatures, empirical data on mobile adoption and use, and interviews with experts in mobile and related technologies and information services.