Archive for publications, 2010

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[ecrea] new book by Hesmondhalgh on work in the media industries

Wed Dec 22 21:41:17 GMT 2010



Creative Labour: Media Work in Three Cultural Industries

By David Hesmondhalgh and Sarah Baker



'A major new study of creative labour. This is an important book that will become a classic in the field. Required reading for anyone interested in the nature, experience and quality of work in the media and cultural industries.' Rosalind Gill, Professor of Social and Cultural Analysis, King's College London


'After a long drought we're beginning to see a welcome trickle of scholarship examining the production side of the media. But few if any of these have brought to bear the degree of theoretical subtlety combined with empirical engagement of this book, so it will immediately take a central place on the still too-short list of required reading for those wishing to understand the nature of creative labor. This will be a model for others to emulate, in its clarity of thought and expression, thoroughness of analysis, and respect for the particularities of the lives it explores. I can only hope that it receives ample flattery of imitation by inspiring others to follow in its footsteps'. Larry Gross, Professor and Director, The Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, University of Southern California


'The "creative industries" have become central to hopes for the reconstruction of western economies, and understanding how they work and what it means to work in them is a vital task for anyone interested in the future of culture, the media or employment. The authors have combined original research into 'creative labour' with a comprehensive theoretical and conceptual analysis to make a major contribution to this understanding. Anyone interested in the so-called creative or cultural industries will find this book essential reading. '
Peter Golding, Professor and Pro-Vice Chancellor, Northumbria University


'Hesmondhalgh and Baker's thorough and intelligent analysis of the nature and experience of work in television, magazine publishing and music, draws-out the characteristic features and the ambiguities of work inherent in these segments of the economy. Their close examination of the meaning of "good" and "bad" work takes the discussion onto another plane and makes the book of wide contemporary relevance across the economy as a whole'. John Storey, Professor of Human Resource Management at The Open University Business School



What is it like to work in the media? Are media jobs more 'creative' than those in other sectors? To answer these questions, this book explores the creative industries, using a combination of original research and a synthesis of existing studies.



Through its close analysis of key issues - such as tensions between commerce and creativity, the conditions and experiences of workers, alienation, autonomy, self-realisation, emotional and affective labour, self-exploitation, and how possible it might be to produce 'good work' - Creative Labour makes a major contribution to our understanding of the media, of work, and of social and cultural change. In addition, the book undertakes an extensive exploration of the creative industries, spanning numerous sectors including television, music and journalism.



This book provides a comprehensive and accessible account of life in the creative industries in the 21st century. It is a major piece of research and a valuable study aid for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of subjects including business and management studies, sociology of work, sociology of culture, and media and communications.



Table of Contents



Introduction: can creative labour be good work? Part 1 2. A model of good and bad work 3. The specificity of creative labour Part 2 4. The management of autonomy, creativity and commerce 5. Pay, hours, security, involvement, esteem and freedom 6. Creative careers, self-realisation and sociality 7. Emotional and affective labour 8. Creative products, good and bad 9. Audiences, quality and the meaning of creative work 10. The politics of good and bad work



Author Biographies

David Hesmondhalgh is Head of the Institute of Communications Studies at the University of Leeds, where he is Professor of Media and Music Industries, Director of Research, and Head of the Media Industries Research Centre (MIRC). His publications include The Cultural Industries (2nd edition, 2007).

Sarah Baker is Lecturer in Cultural Sociology at Griffith University, Australia. She has previously held research fellowships at The Open University and University.


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