The Media Student's Book is published by Routledge (now part of the Taylor & Francis Group) and written by Gill Branston and Roy Stafford. Although there is no direct relationship between itp and MSB, apart from the writers, the magazine and the book obviously share a great deal in terms of outlook and an approach to film and media education.

A short history

The 1st edition of MSB was mooted in 1994 and took two years to publication. When it finally appeared in 1996, media studies was just beginning its expansion in schools, colleges and universities. We were pleased that the book was very well received and we hoped that it offered something new in being accessible, easy to read and occasionally amusing without trivialising any of the serious issues we wanted to cover. A key feature was that we didn't address any particular syllabus or organise a programme of work like a traditional textbook. We wanted the book to be like a student's friend – something to turn to when a new area of work or a definition of a tricky term was required. Many people still refer to the 'Media Student's Handbook', which is how we would like it to be seen. We organised the book around the key concepts with case study examples and stressed the need to link the concepts with margin references to other parts of the book.

The 2nd edition was published in 1999. We determined that this should be a genuine 'new edition' and as well as updating material and outlining concepts such as Globalisation, we changed some of the case studies. Bob Marley was replaced by Global Music in one Case Study. Science Fiction replaced the Western as a genre case study. Pulp Fiction, TV police series, digital publishing, News Corporation and Independent Cinema were also new. This edition also added a comprehensive index to the existing Glossary and Reference section.

For the 3rd edition, which was published in December 2002, more radical changes were necessary. Curriculum 2000 altered the way in which A Level Media Studies was taught and we decided that MSB should more clearly target A2 and 1st Year undergraduates. We felt that AS Media needed an approach which could be better handled elsewhere, in a different kind of book. MSB was completely re-structured to present a 'theory' section, titled 'Key Concepts', a 'Media Practice' section and finally 'Media Debates'. All the chapters were re-worked and again case studies were changed: in came Buffy, the music industry, '9/11', celebrity, Viacom, The British film industry and new chapters on Research, Globalisation and Regulation. MSB3 was almost a new book. These changes were necessary to keep MSB ahead of the increasing number of competing titles at this level.

Endorsements for MSB 3

". . . now in a class of its own", David Lusted, Southampton Institute

"This is simply the best introduction to media studies we have." Toby Miller, New York University

". . . even better than the last for clarity of expression and systematic coverage of key concepts", Tessa Perkins, Sheffield Hallam University

MSB4

The 4th edition was published on March 17, 2006 as the first full colour edition. Again the contents have been thoroughly updated and as much as 33% of the book is completely new with rewritten chapters and some new case studies. There is now a 'companion website for the book at www.routledge.com/textbooks/0415371430 which includes material on how to use the book and also extra material both newly written and updated versions of case studies from previous editions.