"Instead of describing typical systems in their entirety ...," says Head in his foreword, "I decided to organize the text on the basis of the common problems faced by all systems" to show the basic, universal demands and dilemmas they all must face as each interacts with its particular national setting. His purpose is to enable students, after allowances for limitations imposed by national settings, to appraise the system critically by comparing reality with the ideal possibilities. Thus, he discusses, in terms of the various systems, their origins, their politics of both ownership and access, their laws, regulation, economics, facilities, programming and programs, audience research, transborder broadcasting, and broadcasting and freedom. Although intended as a text, this has much wider uses." (Eleanor Blum, Frances G. Wilhoit: Mass media bibliography. 3rd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1990 Nr. 652)