It is always a problem bringing out a media studies textbook - the materials so quickly appear dated and quaint.

This new publication, which is based on the EDEXCEL GCSE media papers, goes a long way towards solving the difficulty by providing a lively full-colour layout with a range of texs from the very recent to the earliest days of advertising, and with a teaching approach which links a focus on media techniques to the acquisition and application of language skills in textual analysis.

There is an exam practice section which tests andreinforces student skills, and gives advice for improving grades.

Sarah Matthews