Media studies have developed as a field, in part, to the rapid digitalization, globalizing of communication, and trends regarding audience engagement. Media studies can be understood as cultural studies because it discerns how media shapes and constrains our understanding of public opinion, cultural identity, political discourse, and values in society. To this point, we could include everything from journalism to social media influencers, film to digital activism. The point is that media with all its forms is infused into the fabric of our contemporary existence. The purpose of this collection of dissertations has been to showcase important issues of the field which cover media ethics, political communication, representation, digital storytelling and emerging platforms while also considering how things inflect on each other within a networked space.