The 9th edition of this textbook for hybrid introductory communication courses provides a balanced introduction to the fundamental theories and principles of communication. The book explores communication in a variety of contexts-including interpersonal, group, organizational, and mass media-and provides students the theoretical knowledge and the research and critical thinking skills they'll need to succeed in advanced communication courses and communication professions. The first section exp...

Consistently examines the business of media through the paradigm of production-distribution-exhibition in a way that no other book does, giving students a more thorough understanding of how media industries work and the vocabulary they need to talk about them. Engagingly written with examples that are familiar to students, helping them better connect to the content and understand their role as media consumers and producers.

Coverage of convergence and its impact is incorporated into every cha...