Contents: Preface. Part I: Beyond Media Effects to Constructing Social Reality. Interpreting Media Messages. From Media Effects to Constructing Social Reality. Part II: Constructing Media Messages. Attracting and Maintaining the Attention of the Audience. Persuading the Media Audience. Framing Media Information. Part III: Using Media Messages. Fundamentals of Media Information Processing. Children as Audience Members. The Radio and Television Talk Show Audience. The Internet Audience. Learning to Use Media Constructively.