When you begin researching, consulting a reference book (like an encyclopedia or handbook) to get an overview of the topic is often quicker and easier than trying to gather background information from various articles and websites.
Reference books can provide definitions, descriptions and explanations and identify keywords and terms for searching for articles in databases or for books in the Catalog about the topic.
Entries in reference books often include a list of sources for further reading. In the early stages of your research, tracking down these cited sources will lead you to relevant books and articles and save you time.
Communication, Cultural and Media Studies: The Key Concepts
Communication Research by 
Communication Research Measures II: a Sourcebook by 
Communication Research: Strategies and Sources by 
Communication Theories: Perspectives, Processes, and Contexts by 
Handbook of Gender, Sex, and Media
Handbook of Media and Communication Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies
Intercultural Communication: A Discourse Approach
Media Career Guide
Mediawriting: Print, Broadcast, and Public Relations
Ongoing Crisis Communication: Planning, Managing and Responding
Sage Handbook of Public Relations
Theories of Human Communication by Many books are now available with online full text as ebooks. Listed below are some online reference books in the field of Communication. For links to more ebooks see Milner's Reference (General/Multi-Subject) page or search Milner's Catalog and limit the search to "Electronic."
SAGE Handbook of Social Media Research Methods [ebook]
