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The 1980s were a terrible time for Africa. The decade began auspiciously enough — Nigeria had returned to civilian rule, the Tanzania People's Defence Force had sent Idi Amin packing, and the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe was about to win independence. But this promising beginning was quickly transformed and Africa sunk into its 'lost decade'.

Media growth trends over the past 20 yrs (1950-70) are examined to determine whether they can be interpreted via the 3-stage theory (Colin Clark, CONDITIONS OF ECONOMIC PROGRESS, London: Macmillan, 1957, & others, eg, Daniel Bell). According to this theory, the US entered the 3rd stage (marked by a rapid shift of the work force away from the mfg sector toward the service sector) after WWII. The service sectors are great consumers of specialized media, but do not further the rapid growth of mass communication. On the basis of the theory's propositions, a rapid growth in specialized media & a slowing of the growth of the MM can be expected. Data on volume & growth rate of the gross nat'l product, educ, personal message & mass media systems in the US for 1950-70 support the 3-stage theory. In every case, the growth rate of the more specialized media increased relative to the growth rate of the mass media. The masss media are actually shrinking in size relative to the total economy. The study of modern communication systems should broaden into an analysis of the telephone system, the office communication system, & the perspectives of a total communication system in which the individual in our society is a communicator with a very powerful set of media tools. 7 Tables. Modified HA.

Ghanem reviews 'Media Making: Mass Media in a Popular Culture' by Lawrence Grossberg, Ellen, Wartella, and D. Charles Whitney.

According to some, the modern mass media have a malign effect on modern democracy, tending to induce political apathy, alienation, cynicism and a loss of social capital – in a word, 'mediamalaise'. Some theorists argue that this is the result of media content, others that it is the consequence of the form of the media, especially television. According to others, the mass media, in conjunction with rising educational levels, help to inform and mobilize people politically, making them more knowledgeable and understanding. This study investigates the mobilization and mediamalaise hypotheses, and finds little to support the latter. Reading a broadsheet newspaper regularly is strongly associated with mobilization, while watching a lot of television has a weaker association of the same kind. Tabloid newspapers and general television are not strongly associated with measures of mediamalaise. It seems to be the content of the media, rather than its form which is important.

According to some, the modern mass media have a malign effect on modern democracy, tending to induce political apathy, alienation, cynicism and a loss of social capital - in a word, 'mediamalaise'. Some theorists argue that this is the result of media content, others that it is the consequence of the form of the media, especially television. According to others, the mass media, in conjunction with rising educational levels, help to inform and mobilize people politically, making them more knowledgeable and understanding. This study investigates the mobilization and mediamalaise hypotheses, and finds little to support the latter. Reading a broadsheet newspaper regularly is strongly associated with mobilization, while watching a lot of television has a weaker association of the same kind. Tabloid newspapers and general television are not strongly associated with measures of mediamalaise. It seems to be the content of the media, rather than its form which is important. (British Journal of Political Science / FUB)