Book excerpt: "We live in increasingly promotional times. States, political parties and corporations as well as new social movements and diverse cultural interests today seek to put their message across via the media and in pursuit of disparate aims, enhanced public understanding and legitimacy. Introducing theoretical ideas and the latest empirical findings in this fast-developing field of media communication study," this book addresses such issues as: "the rapid growth of public relations in its impact on news production ; state information management strategies in times of internal political dissent ; political parties and mediated 'spin' conducted at national and local levels ; the historically changing nature of war journalism ; environmental activism and pressure group communication" and much more - back cover.