This edited volume explores the many intersections and interactions among the three themes of education, media, and society. Why these three themes? Education and media are key to maintaining and improving society. This is the base assumption of the book. Higher education, media and society form a highly dynamic set of topics with multiple interactions involving both traditional and new media technologies and leading, we hope, to social transformations that move the world forward, and toward more awareness, well-being, and equity. However, in the meantime, there appears to be worrisome upheavals such as the so-called crisis in academia and higher education, increasing social inequities boiling under the cover of neo-liberal market driven ideologies, and skilfully exploited media and mindless entertainment to preserve the existing power structure. Yet, at the same time, we can observe wonderful examples of innovative social evolutions enabled, among others, by new media technologies and a new sense of awareness and connection that arise from questioning the established order. The authors of this edited volume each consider some of the issues and opportunities associated with media and education as enablers of social progress.
