What do you study? Something to do with media?” Communication science students often hear this sentence and are often laughed at. The future-oriented field of study offers many career opportunities: In contrast to disciplines such as teaching or law, which do not offer as much scope, as a media scientist you can specialize in many areas, for example journalism, PR, market research or graphic design. Of course, the right specialist literature for studying communication sciences/media studies should not be missing, which is why we present our top ten books to you below.
1. Communication Science – Klaus Beck
In this introduction you will be introduced to the most important basic terms and theoretical approaches for studying communication science. The specialist literature also provides a description of the media, research fields and sub-disciplines and supports you with practice questions in preparing for the exam.
2. Media Studies – Sven Grampp
This book offers you an overview of the different positions in media studies for your studies. Various areas such as media materialism or intermediality are compared and illustrated using mobile communication.
3. Basic knowledge of public relations – Robert Deg
If you want to specialize in PR, this practice-oriented reading is the right tool for you because you will learn how to work with media. In addition to important background knowledge, the requirements of journalists, social media and clear case studies are also addressed.
4. Propaganda: The Art of Public Relations – Edward Bernays et al
In this book for media studies students, Edward Bernays, Sigmund Freud's nephew, explains why it is important to control the opinion of the masses and how to go about it. In doing so, he created the foundations for corporate communications that are still valid today and that every aspiring PR professional should know.
5. Professional writing for journalism – Kerstin Liesem
Many people who start studying media studies/communication studies want to work as journalists. It is important to know the generally valid journalistic genres and to deal with the increasingly important online media. This specialist literature addresses all of this thematically and also offers practical exercises.
6. Methodical research – Michael Haller
In the age of the Internet and fake news, research is more difficult than ever. This textbook will help aspiring journalists use the right method when conducting research, regardless of channel or medium. This way you guarantee that your journalistic contributions are authentic and truthful.
7. Empirical social research – Helmut Kromrey et al
In every communication studies course, you also have to deal with empirical social research, because it is considered an essential tool for market research, among other things. The complex strategies used in data collection are clearly presented to you in this book: the individual steps of the real research process are shown, social science examples are given and references to further literature are provided.
8. Basics of media design – Christian Fries
Creativity is also very important in the media world, as courses that focus on graphic design or similar show. With this useful textbook you can acquire the necessary basics: It covers topics such as image composition, conception, visualization and correct presentation. Practical exercises also help you develop your skills.
9. Advertising Research Handbook – Gabriele Siegert
This specialist literature for media studies/communication studies is the first German-language work to provide an excellent overview of the research field of advertising. It covers, among other things, both national and international advertising research as well as strategies, logic and research designs.
10. Television journalism – Axel Buchholz et al
Have you always wanted to be on television? As a video journalist you have the chance to do this, so it's best to get this manual. The content will help you to properly prepare for a TV internship or traineeship, to quickly familiarize yourself with digital television practice and to prove yourself with your contributions.
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