"Whether we like it or not, communication technologies -- ever smaller, more convergent, and comprehensive -- are tightly woven into the cultural fabric of our everyday lives. How did we get here? And what exactly does it mean to be 'literate' in this new media era? Media Literacies: A Critical Introduction traces the history of media literacy and grapples with the fresh challenges posed by the convergent media of the 21st century. The book explores...

"To thrive in a media-saturated society, people need to ask critical questions about what we watch, see, listen to, read and use. Covering topics from news and information to the internet to media consumption and addiction, this key textbook provides the tools to both empower and protect students as they navigate our increasingly complex media environment"--

"Fake news is a . . . problem that affects everyone. It can undermine democracies, negatively impact public health, and destroy reputations. How fake news spreads, the problems fake news causes, how to recognize and keep from spreading it are discussed."--

"Talk of so-called fake news, what it is and what it isn't, is front and center across the media landscape, with new calls for the public to acquire appropriate research and evaluation skills and become more information savvy. But none of this is new for librarians and information professionals, particularly for those who teach information literacy. Cooke, a Library Journal Mover & Shaker, believes that the current situation represents a golden opportunity...

"Jobs in the media, media diversity, and identifying fake news are all explored in this unique look at the role of the media in our lives. A handy timeline makes it easy to track historical change and important innovations in media"--