Paul J. Traudt, an associate professor in the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, has brought his 30 years of teaching and studying media content and audiences together in a book.
Media, Audiences, Effects looks at the impact of the media, particularly television, on their audiences in 12 key topic areas such as advertising, violence, and politics. Regardless of the area, Traudt concludes, “Mass media are a very small part of the total sphere of influence in terms of attitudes and behaviors surrounding these issues.”
He also comments, “These findings clearly contradict claims often advanced by scholars, politicians, and public interest groups.”
Media, Audiences, Effects examines more than 300 research studies published since 1990 and gives students not only background in the topic areas, but also a framework for understanding how researchers study media effects and the relationship between media and society.
Traudt, who came to UNLV in 1996, has also taught at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, the University of New Mexico, and the University of Iowa. At UNLV he teaches introduction to mass communication and effects of mass communication.
The “Books” section is written by Barbara Cloud, a professor in the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies.
