'As a lecturer in media studies, I have found Hargrave and Livingstone's work a useful resource for lecture-preparation, tutorial topics and further reading for students pursuing projects in media effects. As a researcher with a special interest in the impact of media on health (both the physical impact of using media channels and the attitudinal and behavioural impact of consuming media messages), I have found this work a useful portal to media effects research, particularly the impact of media on obesity. This review offers a wide-ranging introduction to research investigating how media content influences audiences (and the limits of these findings), a link to scholars active in this field and an excellent grounding for thinking about media and society. For new scholars, this work happens to provide a helpful introduction to a variety of approaches to media studies, particularly research into media effects. ' - Catriona Bonfiglioli, Discourse & Communication