Introduction

The book positions itself as an invitation to explore media through the lens of practice theory, which emphasizes the dynamic interplay between transformation and reproduction in everyday media habits. Rather than focusing solely on technological innovation, a practice-based perspective values the stability and repetition that render media indispensable. Practice theory, drawing from thinkers such as Wittgenstein, Bourdieu, and Giddens, views practices as socially recognized and routinely enacted “doings and sayings.” It centers on how sequences of action construct social life, encompassing identity, culture, and power. Within media research, this approach highlights the material, embodied, and knowledgeable aspects of media use. Key concepts include agency, that is, the capability to act meaningfully within social contexts; materiality, which refers us to the role of artifacts, technologies, and bodies; and knowledge, both explicit (“knowing that”) and tacit (“knowing how”). The book situates practice theory within contemporary media research areas such as journalism, organizational communication, and digital culture. It seeks to clarify theoretical foundations, outline methodological implications, and demonstrate how media practices are formed, sustained, and altered. Across its chapters, the book addresses core questions: what conceptual insights does practice theory offer for understanding media's role in everyday life? How can it bridge traditions in communication research? And how might it guide empirical inquiry into digital environments? Ultimately, it establishes media practice theory as a vital framework for examining agency, materiality, and knowledge in an era defined by networked, datafied, and automated communication. This chapter reframes the traditional question of media influence—“What do media do to people?”— into “What do people do with media?”, reflecting a paradigm shift in communication studies from passive consumption to active engagement. This transformation, shaped by social and technological change, is once again being redefined by digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence.