This course emphasizes changes in the means of communication, the control of media systems, the audiences for media products, and the changes introduced into North American life (Canadian, Mexican, U.S.) by the press, telegraph, telephone, phonograph, photograph, cinema, wireless, radio, television, cable and satellite, and computers. It concentrates on the history of technological development, programming, audience development, representation of constituent groups in society ? especially minorities ? and changes in law and regulation that have affected media institutions.