Understanding Global Media offers a comprehensive overview of global media production and circulation, drawing insight from a range of perspectives, including politics, political economy, media and cultural studies, and creative industries. Grounded in extensive case study material in order to illustrate key debates, the book analyzes media industries, production, content, audiences, and policies on an international scale. It is both a comprehensive synthesis of existing academic work and an ambitious statement of new research directions. This book is an essential guide to understanding media today.