This textbook for students and teachers of media studies in higher education takes the reader beyond introductory material. This is not a reader of previously published material but a collection with a instructional design built into its format. It is also web-enhanced, thanks to a collaboration with the UK university-funding councils' Joint Information Systems Committee. "Formations" leads the student into key areas of media studies organized around the broad themes of public knowledge, cultural identity, broadcasting, film, and pop tech. An introductory section explores the fundamentals of the field and a section on method examines how knowledge is constructed within media studies. Throughout, the material is structured into a combination of case studies and integrative essays, punctuated at key moments by "Stop and Think" advice aimed directly at the learner.