ABSTRACT

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book begins with the thesis that even though humans have done international trading for a long time, they only began to study business as a discipline in the late 1800s. It presents an overview of the transformation of the business of media as a result of digital technologies. The book provides examples from different regions and/or countries to illustrate how the media business is influenced by historical, political, economic, and social factors. It also introduces three approaches: media economics, critical political economy, and production studies, to study the media and communication industries by discussing the merits and shortcomings of each approach. The book helps readers to understand the media business through the lenses of economies, politics, technologies, civil societies, cultures, and labor. It also helps students to envision their careers in the communication industries.