Term
| Mass Communication Models: Synchronous |
|
Definition
| Requires audience to receive content when it is transmitted |
|
|
Term
| Mass Communication Models: Asynchronous |
|
Definition
| Allow audience to receive media at other times |
|
|
Term
| Mass Communication Models: Time Shift |
|
Definition
Recording of a live performance to be watched later
Turns synchronous media into asynchronous media |
|
|
Term
| Functions of Mass communications: Surveillance |
|
Definition
| Primarily the journalism function of mass communication, provide information about processes, issues events and other developments in society. |
|
|
Term
| Functions of Mass communications: Correlation |
|
Definition
| The ways in which media interpret events and issues and give them meanings that help individuals understand their role in society |
|
|
Term
| Functions of Mass communications: Cultural Transmission |
|
Definition
| The transference of the dominant culture and subcultures from one generation to the next, or to immigrants |
|
|
Term
| Functions of Mass communications: Entertainment |
|
Definition
| Performed by all of the above |
|
|
Term
| Elements of Mass Communication |
|
Definition
Sender (or Source)
Message
Channel
Receiver |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| )—a corporation or individual responsible for transmission of the messages: a sender can be a large complex media outlet like the New York Times or a movie producer like Paramount an individual sender can be a smaller operation such as an internet blogger or an independent music or movie producer subject to bias |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
content being transmitted by the sender and reacted to by the receiver:
a message requires encoding—the creation of the message, and the preparation for transmission
Words, pictures, objects – used to elicit a response in recipient’s mind |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
medium used to transmit the message:
print media: books, magazine, newspapers, billboards, posters
audiovisual media: radio, television, movies, music
interactive media: Internet, CD-roms, cell phones, games |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
audience for the mass communication message; i.e., the people who receive and decode the message:
decoding—process of translating a signal from a mass medium into a form that the receiver can understand.
traditionally has been seen as an anonymous audience not personally known by the sender
Communication doesn’t happen without a receiver
Subject to bias |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
interference in delivery and decoding of the message
could be a loud noise while trying to study or not understanding a foreign language |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
informs sender that the message has been received and processed
sender can adjust the message if it was not understood |
|
|
Term
| What is the importance of Media |
|
Definition
It is a fundamental part of our lives
It shapes and defines us and our culture
It influences us
It educates us
It entertains us |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Mass media is THE central force in contemporary societies
Informed and involved citizenry is only possible through mass media
Mass media effects all walks of life
We learn almost everything beyond our immediate environment through mass media
We use mass media to express our ideas
On average, we spend over 15 years of our waking lives just watching television. Films, videos and the time spent reading newspapers and magazines, listening to music and surfing the Net, means that we spend one-third of our lives immersed in the media. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
grew up with technology and the Internet
They regularly use Twitter, Facebook, smart phones, and other devices |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| are currently transitioning into the digital age |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Marshall McLuhan theorized that communication media that people use cannot be separated from the messages they create
In the 1960s, he predicted where mass media communication and technologies were headed |
|
|
Term
| Evolution of the Media World |
|
Definition
Pre-Mass Media Communication Networks:
first major communication network - Roman Catholic Church in the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries
began as group communication, evolved into mass communication
Books and printing as a mass medium:
development of movable type and the printing press in the 1450s
mass printing drove major social changes (spread of religion and growth in literacy)
the addition of steam power to the printing press in 1814 allowed for more rapid reproduction of print media
Modern” media world:
Telegraph, Gramophone, Radio, Movies and Television
electronic communication began in 1844 with the opening of the first telegraph line from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.
in 1866 the Atlantic Ocean was crossed by telegraph cable.
Electronic media demonstrated that boundaries such as distance and geographic features would no longer hinder timely communication
Radio invented in the late nineteenth century:
freed electronic communication from the limits imposed on it by telegraph wires
allowed people to enjoy entertainment produced outside their homes
First movies shown at nickelodeon theaters in the late 1890s and early 1900s:
helped shape a shared entertainment culture
Television quickly surpassed radio as the home medium of choice
Moving Ahead.....:Mass communication has been limited to only those few agencies with the vast means to launch a newspaper, radio station, or TV channel.
The arrival of world wide web has changed all that.
The Internet—a full-fledged mass communication network was developed by the 1990s:
allowed audience members to become message providers themselves
power is given to individuals, instead of large corporations
liberating AND threatening |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The coming together of computing, telecommunications and media in a digital environment.
Media and technology systems are converging to change the definition and role of mass communications.
Technological Convergence
Economic Convergence
Cultural Convergence |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The process of critically analyzing media content by considering its particular presentation, its underlying political or social messages, and ownership and regulation issues |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| allow for the exchange of information between users (e.g., the Internet) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| do not allow a direct exchange between the senders and receivers of content (e.g., movies and television) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
occurs when the mass media presents stories that frame the reality that they want the public to believe
This includes the way that news organizations pick their top stories
Framing affects the way audiences interpret stories and issues |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The underlying rules by which a medium presents itself and is used and understood by the audience |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Physical properties
Organization
Photos
Article length
Sections |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Techniques
Length
Genres
Power positions |
|
|
Term
| Film and Television media grammar |
|
Definition
Length
Editing techniques
Music and sound
Laugh tracks, other effects
Camera angles |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Hypertext
Logo placement and link
RSS, Digg
Icons for printing, etc. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Early dependence on government for funding
No criticism of government offered
Loyalist printers destroyed by mobs
Constitution and Freedom of the Press
Party mechanisms
Beginnings of catering to a small section of the public
Cheaper Papers
Greater numbers of readers
Catering to general public
Two Forms
Non Regulated - Newspapers, Magazines, Internet
Regulated - Television, Radio and Cable (to some extent)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Licenses Radio and Television Stations
Regulates Cable Rates if authorized by Congress |
|
|
Term
| The Airwaves Belong to the People |
|
Definition
Unlike most countries where the government asserts ownership of the airwaves, the United States Congress said that the airwaves belong to the public.
The ‘ether’ (airwaves) are thought to be a finite resource
Licenses should be given to those who would provide the best service to the community |
|
|
Term
| Federal Communication Commission (FCC) |
|
Definition
was established in 1934 through the Communications Act
The agency regulated licensing and restricted the number of television stations that one company could own
Until 1985, radio and television station ownership was very limited.
Broadcasters could own:
7 Television stations
7 AM Radio stations
7 FM Radio stations
Broadcasters could only own one type of station in each market.
Cross media ownership with television and newspapers in most markets was forbidden |
|
|
Term
| Media Ownership Rules 1985 - 1996 |
|
Definition
FCC Relaxed Rules during this period to help consolidate the radio industry.
Television ownership was still limited to about 12 stations (up to 25% of U.S. population) |
|
|
Term
| Telecommunications Act of 1996 |
|
Definition
removed restrictions on multi-station ownership
The trend of deregulation has lessened the federal government’s concern about blocking media monopolies |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Top 10 newspaper chains own 1/5 of the dailies
20 corporations control more than half of annual magazine revenue
ONE broadcast company owns more than 500 radio stations
More than half of the TV stations are network affiliates
The top six book publishing companies account for 40% of total annual publishing revenue
98% of cities are “one-paper” towns 24 media giants own over half the television, newspaper, magazine, movies and radio in the US.
Most of the remaining independently owned stations and news outlets are dependent on the media giants for all but purely local news coverage. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Concentration of ownership within one industry
Cross-media ownership - owning more than one type of medium
Conglomerate ownership - owning businesses other than the media
Vertical integration - controlling several aspects of a single media industry (e.g. production and distribution) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| When one company operates and controls the means of production, distribution, and exhibition for a type of mediaThis practice makes it difficult for smaller media companies to compete |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The act of increasing production levels of media and expanding business |
|
|
Term
| Concentration of Media Ownership |
|
Definition
Potential downsides of this continuing trend
Less diversity of media voices
Formation of media cartels
Media oligopoly: A marketplace in which media ownership and diversity are severely limited and the actions of any single media group substantially affects its competitors |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Pre 1800s: People in the United States lived in rural communities with people of similar ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds.
1800s: Industrial revolution – People move into cities, work for wages, interact with people of diverse backgrounds.
Fears: Media would replace church, family, and community in shaping public opinion |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
People feared strong, direct effects of World War I and World War II propaganda.
Direct effects—presume media messages are a stimulus that leads to consistent, predictable attitudinal or behavioral effects. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| recognize that people have different backgrounds, needs, values and so respond differently. |
|
|
Term
| Lazarsfeld - Limited Effects Model |
|
Definition
study of voter decision making in 1940 presidential election.
Found importance of opinion leaders (friends and neighbors) over mass media and campaigns.
Voters with strong opinions are unlikely to change them.
Voters who pay most attention to campaigns are those who start with strongest views.
The most persuadable voters are least likely to pay attention to campaigns.
Media content and campaigns had indirect effects; interpersonal influence was stronger. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Focus is on how people use media to construct view of the world; not effect of media on people’s behavior.
Examines creation of meaning and how communication takes place; not survey or experimental results.
Who controls the creation and flow of information? |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Led to the formation of the National Committee on Education by Radio
Purpose: To assess the influence of movies on child behavior.
Methods: survey, content analysis, laboratory experiments.
Found that the same film influenced people differently |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Message Effects
Medium Effects
Ownership Effects
Active Audience Effects |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
How are people affected by the content of messages?
Cognitive Effects Short-term learning of information.
Attitudinal Effects Changing people’s attitudes about a person, product, institution, or idea. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Behavioral Effects Inducing people to adopt new behaviors or change existing ones. Much harder than changing attitudes.
Psychological Effects Inspiring strong feelings or arousal in audience members. People often seek feelings such as fear, joy, revulsion, happiness, or amusement. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
How does the medium used change the nature of the message and the receiver’s response to the message? What are the social effects of each medium? “The medium is the message”—Marshall McLuhan
TV transmits emotional effects via visual and audio
Print media is better at transmitting complex rational information (review info at our own pace)/ segregates audience age gender race class
Web widespread obscure materials audience can respond to.
Electronic media cross demographic boundaries
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
How does ownership affect the media?
Owners determine which ideas will be produced and distributed
Six GIANT corporations control the majority of media outlets in the United States.
Critics argue that companies kill news stories that reflect poorly on its own organization. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Audience members seek out and respond to media for a variety of reasons.
People can be segmented by geographics, demographics, or psychographics.
Looks at audience members as selective consumers rather than naïve victims of the media |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The audience is homogeneous, gullible and passive
Media have powerful, immediate and direct effects.
Individuals that make up the audience are all different. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Individuals that make up the audience are all different.
Media have limited, or mixed effects, depending on individual differences.
The audience is not passive; it is active.
Individuals use the media, not the other way around. |
|
|
Term
| Conclusions (about media affects) |
|
Definition
There is no agreement as to the effects of mass media.
A major concern is the effect of media on children, and other vulnerable groups.
Common perceptions about media effects are that they are powerful.
Media researchers follow different traditions, use different methods, have different goals.
Research is often misconstrued to further an agenda. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Preconceived beliefs and ideas that consumers have may influence their perception of media bias
The presence or absence of media bias is in the eye of the beholder |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Media outlets attract viewers and hire people that agree with its political leanings.
Each side claims that the other side is 'more' biased.
With the myriad of media choices available today, extreme views on either side tend to balance each other out.
Nevertheless when polled about specific hot-button issues, the majority of people criticize media outlets that highlighted stories skewed toward whatever side of a debated those people opposed. |
|
|
Term
| Are the National Media Biased? |
|
Definition
Many studies have show that the media are biased – in both directions.
Accuracy in Media, a watchdog group claims its research shows media has a liberal slant
Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting says its research show mainstream media has a conservative bias
Studies by Gallup and the Pew Research Center have found the general public views media as generally balanced and reasonably accurate |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Partisan bias—deliberate and includes blatant endorsements
Propaganda bias—done by making a specific case for a point of view without telling the audience
Unwitting bias—results from choices made by editors due to space and time constraints |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Editors make choices about what stories to cover and how much coverage stories deserve
is particularly apparent from the stories the media chooses not to cover |
|
|
Term
| Bias by Extraordinary Experiences |
|
Definition
Reporters display unintentional bias in the way they cover extraordinary events
Stories about terrorism, war, genocide, and natural disasters can cause this bias
In these cases, reporters may use their influence to motivate audience action |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Opinion and controversy sells, so often bias is what consumers want
Biased voices get consumers’ attention and reinforce what the audience believes, or wants to believe |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Noam Chomsky (and others) believes that media bias is caused by economics—namely the corporate sponsorship of mainstream media and the use of advertising for revenue
News operations often reflect the views of their owners
The federal government can also influence bias when networks receive tax dollars |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Mass media disseminates messages to a large and often heterogeneous audience.
Messages are often simplified, stereotyped and predictable.
The Mass media can’t afford to tick people off by being too partisan.
Cable has allowed more ideological stations to emerge.
Internet has exploded the number of news sources |
|
|
Term
| Bias in Television and Film |
|
Definition
Much of the media that we consume—documentaries, investigative reports, dramas, and comedies—present skewed messages and agendas
Bias can be found in the work of Michael Moore, Aaron Sorkin, Jon Stewart, and Mel Gibson |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Blogs are platforms for individuals to voice their opinions and they are not expected to present balanced journalism
Political bloggers are usually upfront about their biases
These bloggers consider themselves a counterforce to an unreliable, dishonest mainstream media |
|
|
Term
| Drawing the Line Between Fact and Opinion |
|
Definition
Many media consumers have a hard time separating journalism from commentary
Audiences expect news programs to present an array of opinion and entertainment
Media does shape public opinion through both agenda setting and issue framing |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Process of deciding which issues to cover and how much time to give to them.
But, media does not have free reign.
Viewer interest and desire |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Issue Framing is essentially spin. The way an issue is framed effects the way it is perceived.
Media generally on balance tries to frame neutrally, while parties try to spin stories to their advantage. |
|
|
Term
| Where is Bias Likely to Happen? |
|
Definition
Broadcast v. Narrowcast
Broadcasts reach broad audience (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.) so less likely to be biased
Narrowcasts shown on specialty channels to provide information to specific, narrow audience (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, etc.) so more likely to be biased
24-hour news cycle
Difficult to fill airtime
Competition for viewers often results in sensationalism, scare tactics, or poorly researched stories |
|
|
Term
| Media’s Effect on Government |
|
Definition
Media enhances democracy
Watchdog
Linkage institution (enhanced access to info)
Platform for citizens
Media undermines democracy
“If it bleeds, it leads” allows media to profit from and worsen public fears
Sensationalism detracts from issues
Gatekeeper function could keep the public ill-informed
Attack journalism contributes to cynicism
More emphasis on speed than accuracy
TV contributes to “dumbing down” of America |
|
|
Term
| SMCR – Shannon-Weaver Model |
|
Definition
Source
Message
Channel
Receiver
Noise
Feedback |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| deliberate and includes blatant endorsements |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| done by making a specific case for a point of view without telling the audience |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| results from choices made by editors due to space and time constraints |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A theory of media effects that say that the media don't tell the public what to think but rather what to think about thus the terms of public discourse are set by what is covered in the media |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the process by which individuals learn by observing the behaviors of others and consequences of those behaviors (Bandura) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| George Herbert Mead 1934. The process by which individuals produce meaning through interaction based on socially agreed-upon symbols. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann. a theory that suggests that people want to see themselves as holding a majority opinion and will therefore remain silent if they perceive that they hold a minority opinion. This makes the minority opinion seem less prevalent than it actually is. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| (Altheide & Snow)approach to studying the mass media that says the forms the media use to present the world become the forms we use to perceive the world and to create media messages |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| (Gerbner TV violence researcher))an approach to analyzing the effects of TV viewing that argues that watching significant amounts of television alters the way an individual views the nature od the surrounding world. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| (gerbner) the perception of heavy TV watchers of violent programs that the world is a more dangerous and violent place than facts and statistics bear out. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| model of the effects of a political campaign that attributes a candidates success to how well his or her basic message resonates with and reinforces voters preexisting political feelings |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| model of the effects of a political campaign that looks at the campaign as a competition for the hearts and minds of voters |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the transference of dominant culture, as well as its subcultures, from one generation to the next or to immigrants, which helps people learn how to fit into society |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a theoretical approach broadly influenced from Marxist notions of the role of ideology, exploitation, capitalism, and the economy in understanding and eventually transforming society |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a framework studying theories of culture and communication that shuns the positivist scientific approach used by scholars in the empirical school that tries to examine the symbolic environment created by mass media |
|
|
