A firm grasp of journalism's development and contribution to social and political debates is a cornerstone of any media studies education. This book teaches students that essential historical literacy, providing a full overview of how changes in the ownership, emphasis and technologies of journalism in Britain have been motivated by social, economic and cultural shifts among readerships and markets. Covering journalism's enduring questions - political coverage, the influence of advertising, the sensationalization of news coverage, the popular market and the economic motives of the owners of newspapers - this book is a comprehensive, articulate and rich account of how the mediascape of modern Britain has been shaped.