This document provides an introduction to media and discusses how it interacts with race, gender, and history. It defines media as tools used to communicate, get information, stay informed, and be entertained. It then outlines the evolution of media from legacy print and broadcast forms to new digital and internet-based media. The document notes that media both reflects and influences our knowledge, behavior, attitudes, emotions, and political views, while also risking misinformation through the use of stereotypes.