BR. Does the mass media play a big role in your life?

Instruments of the media. Print Media Audio Media Visual Media Online Media Cell Phone I pod I Pad Kindle Cable T.V. Video Games Web Cam Face book

Visual Media Movies Television DVDs Cable Internet Sports Cell Phones I Pads

Audio Media Sound recordings CD’s I pods MP3 Satellite Radio Radio Stations Pandora

Online Media E-mail Online Chatting Online Shopping Social Media Movies Games Newspapers, Magazines Libraries Web Camera School Research Information Directions Banking Bill Payments Photography Art / Animation Political Campaigns

Functionalist Perspective Believe that the mass media performs functions that support the stability and smooth operation of society. World Information Interpreting Information Transmitting Cultural Values School Textbooks Entertainment

Conflict Perspective Believe that the medias purpose is to maintain social order. It persuades people to accept the existing power structure. It does this by controlling the flow and interpretation of information. Media is controlled by the power elite and it presents the power elite’s view.

Conflict cont. Encourages the acceptance of the power structure by encouraging a culture of consumerism. If people are busy increasing their collection of material possessions, they have no time to think about societies inequalities. Knowledge gap hypothesis, say’s that when new information enters society, wealthy and better educated members acquire it at a faster rate then the poorer and less educated.

Digital Divide Gap between those with access to new technologies and those without exists and is widening. Access to the computers and online media is of particular concern. The groups that lack access include minorities, the children of single mothers, and people with lower incomes. School give most children access to computers and the internet.

Mass Media and Children Children watch an average of 28 to 30 hours per week. Television depicts a great deal of violence. Increases potential for aggressive behavior to solve problems. Viewer are less sensitive to suffering of others. Makes viewers fearful of the world around them.

Civic and Social Life Voting participation is low. Church attendance is down. Less family gatherings. Traditional social networks in neighborhoods, schools and sports are down. Americans spent as much as 40% of their free time in front of a television. Internet usage is also on the rise.

Social life The television, internet, I pod, cell phone and other new forms of technology are occupying more and more of people’s lives. Some isolation and disengagement from civil and social life may occur. Others argue that the social networks consist of more than people’s face to face relationships and that the internet provides a different form of life.

Power of the Media Some say the media has too much power. They have the power to shape public opinion. They tend to cover the same stories over and over with the same information and the same opinions. Some argue that the media tells people what to think about. Agenda setting is when the media sets the boundaries of public debate by deciding which issues to cover and which it will not.

Media Power cont. Some people argue that with so many news stations people will always be able to find alternative news. Others suggest that messages from the media do not directly influence or behavior. Nonetheless, mass media, whatever their real power is, play a large role in American society.