William L. Benoit (Ph.D., Wayne State University, 1979) is Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. He created and applied image repair theory and the functional theory of political communication. He has published over 15 books; his H-index is 63.Andrew C. Billings (Ph.D., Indiana University, 1999) is the Ronald Reagan Chair of Broadcasting in the Department of Journalism and Creative Media at the University of Alabama. He has published over 200 journal articles and book chapters along with 20 book projects, the majority of which pertain to issues of media content and effects.

• List of Tables – List of Figures – Preface – Introduction: The Rise and Fall of Mass Communication – When ‘Mass’ Meant ‘Massive’: Cohesive Audiences and Heavy Impact – Partisan, Hostile, Fake, or Real: The Fragmentation of News – Not ‘Must See’ for Me: The Balkanization of Entertainment – The Customization of America: My Reality Is Not Yours – The Illusion of Modern Mass Media: False Cultural Barometers and Why Nothing Truly ‘Breaks the Internet’ – "Don’t Tell Me; I’m Not Caught Up!": Death of the Watercooler – Media Balkanization Theory: Axioms and Implications – Index.