Book Publishing (The Media) - Tapa dura

This illustrated series aims to encourage a critical awareness of the impact and power of the mass media. Each title examines the changing role of the media in society, the ways in which media texts are constructed and interpreted, the technical and theoretical terminology of the subject, and the financial structures behind the medium. In this volume, the author looks at the rise of publishing, from the invention of printing to the mass media industry of today. It opens with an historical chapter, looking at the invention of printing, the role of the printer as publisher and bookseller, the technological advances and the impact that these have had on modern-day publishing. The book then examines the cultural importance of books, looking in particular at the rise of the novel and political writings, and examining issues such as censorship. It also discusses how the industry is organized, looking at the popular image of publishing as a "gentleman's industry" and comparing this with the commercial intensification, as many publishers today become subsidiaries of large conglomerates. There is also a chapter on bookselling, and in conclusion, the book attempts to sum up the impact of the last decade, with the rise of women's publishing, computer text game publishing and possibilities for the future.