CMNS 201: Introduction to Mass Media (Rev. C5) Report a Broken Link

Front Page


Athabasca University. (2017). CMNS 201 Course Introduction

Unit 1: Defining Communication


Hamilton, S. N. (2014). Considering critical communication studies in Canada. In L. R. Shade (Ed.), Mediascapes: New patterns in Canadian communication (4th ed.), (pp. 4–24). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education.

Note: You must access this reading through the Mediascapes eText link provided in the course. 

Unit 2: Defining Mass Media


Unit 3: Media Audiences


Savage, P. (2014). Audiences are key. In L. R. Shade (Ed.). Mediascapes: New patterns in Canadian communication (4th ed.), (pp. 127–149). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education.

Note: You must access this reading through the Mediascapes eText link provided in the course.

Orson Welles - War of the Worlds (Youtube Video)

Unit 4: Media Policy


Shtern, J., & Blake, S. (2014). Power and politics at the CRTC: The recent past and uncertain future of Canada’s communications regulator. In L. R. Shade (Ed.). Mediascapes: New patterns in Canadian communication (4th ed.), (pp. 84–106). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education.

Note: You must access this reading through the Mediascapes eText link provided in the course.

Nair, M. (2014). The system of copyright. In L. R. Shade (Ed.). Mediascapes: New patterns in Canadian communication (4th ed.), (pp. 321–340). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education.

Note: You must access this reading through the Mediascapes eText link provided in the course.

Unit 5: Critical Approaches and the Political Economy of Media


Shade, L. R., & Lithgow, M. (2014). Media ownership, public participation, and democracy in the Canadian mediascape. In L. R. Shade (Ed.). Mediascapes: New patterns in Canadian communication (4th ed.), (pp. 174–203). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education.

Note: You must access this reading through the Mediascapes eText link provided in the course.

Unit 6: Cultural Studies and Media Representation


Please read pages 15 to 29 (to the end of 1.6 Summary, before Activity 4).

Unit 7: Digital Media and the Internet


Please read the Introduction to this book, which begins on page 13 of the PDF and ends on page 40.

Unit 8: Social Media


Werbin, K. C. (2014). Social media, commodification, and surveillance. In L. R. Shade (Ed.). Mediascapes: New patterns in Canadian communication (4th ed.), (pp. 258–277). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education.

Note: You must access this reading through the Mediascapes eText link provided in the course.

Steeves, V. (2014). Privacy in a networked environment. In L. R. Shade (Ed.). Mediascapes: New patterns in Canadian communication (4th ed.), (pp. 304–320). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education.

Note: you must access this reading through the Mediascapes eText link provided in the course.