An ethnographic study of The New York Times' business desk provides a unique vantage point to see the future for news in the digital age.

The Fifth Edition addresses ongoing changes in mass communications and new developments in mass communications theory. The book also applies communication theories to the mass media with current examples from journalism, broadcasting, advertising and public relations to clarify the concepts. A new chapter on cyber communications explores the influential new medium, using discussions of mediamorphosis, hypertext, multimedia, interface design, Intenet addiction and Internet dependency. An extensively rewritten chapter on media chains and conglomerates addresses key developments in the field. The book also includes unique coverage of media uses and institutions, meant as an alternative way to think about mass communication.