Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

The term “print media” can be defined in different ways. In its broadest sense the term is used for a whole range of publications that can be subdivided into two main categories in terms of their format and content: media published at regular intervals such as → newspapers and → magazines , and media for one-time publication such as → books in their different genres (→ fiction , nonfiction, and textbooks). For the purpose of this entry, we will narrow down the definition of print media and concentrate on the periodically published mass media newspaper and magazine and their use, with a focus on dailies. The print media are significant players in the development of a society. They are, at the same time, reflections of that society as well as social artifacts and, as such, are subject to societal change. They are seen as agents of social change or agents of social control ( Demers & Viswanath 1999 ). Generally speaking, people use print media in many different ways. Print media are used as sources of → information , they provide models of behavior and serve as a frame of reference for possible dissociation and → identification , differentiation, and participation in everyday life. Additionally, they provide content for personal communication (→ Interpersonal Communication ; Media Content in Interpersonal Communication ), relaxation, and emotional relief. International ... log in or subscribe to read full text