Each epoch has a dominant medium and develops a group of dominant media institutions. This course examines the development of media and communication technologies in contemporary society and explores their socio-cultural impacts. It also introduces the major media institutions in various media ages. It has several tasks: (1) to provide a basic understanding about media and communication technologies in historical and global perspectives; (2) to guide the students to evaluate the sociocultural impacts of these communication media, help them to understand the relationships between communication systems and social change; and (3) to familiarize students with representative media institutions and media organizations in contemporary society.