Book excerpt: Explores the application of critical theory, communications and media theory to understanding digital information 3. Historical and critical perspective The Author: Luke Tredinnick is a Senior Lecturer in Information Management at London Metropolitan University and Course Director for the MSc on Digital Information Management. He teaches on a wide range of topics around the digital information area, including digital libraries, intranets and extranets, knowledge applications and technologies, cyberculture, and the social, political and theoretical aspects of digital information. He is the author of Why Intranets Fail (and How to Fix Them), also published by Chandos Publishing. Readership: Information management academics and students; information management professionals; allied academic fields, such as cultural studies, communications studies and media studies.