Media and Communication traces the historical development of media and communication studies in the 20th century. Paddy Scannell explores how the field formed and developed in both North America and in Europe, expertly introducing and explaining a host of essential media thinkers, ideas and concepts along the way.Including a new chapter on media events, this second edition of a classic text provides a comprehensive yet personal - and always accessible - analysis of media and communication theory and history. It is an invaluable resource for students across media and communication studies, cultural studies, and sociology.