Media education is an independent subject or an integral part of other subjects in curricula at all levels of education in numerous countries. These countries recognise that in the contemporary world our time and environment are fundamentally defined by the mass media. Recent media research indicates a clear predominance of the visual media and new technologies over other forms of media communication. The book as the oldest mass medium has been marginalised in use and excluded from media education courses. The author argues that the book should be introduced in media education syllabi and that an appropriate environment should be secured where the book will receive due attention. Media competence, which is the proclaimed aim of all models o...