Living in a Media World Chapter 1

Living in a Media World Who is Felix Kjellberg? He has 10 billion views on YouTube. Maybe you know him under his nom de plume, PEWDIEPIE. He’s known for his play with me video games that have him laughing, screaming, and acting out parts of the game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0v-A_UsECQ

What is Communication? The simple definition: the act of exchanging information between living organisms Everything communicates in some way, not just humans Examples Bees communicate to the hive where food is Whales and dolphins sing to each other Reproduction, i.e. the exchange of DNA is communication

Communication, Continued What makes Human Communication unique? The many ways humans have developed to communicate: Writing Speech Art Music Technology Dance Photography Body Language

Types of Communication Intrapersonal Communication Communication you have with yourself Interpersonal Communication Communication between two people Group Communication One person is communicating with an audience of two or more people. Mass Communication Communication between a sender and a large undefined large number of people

What is Mass Communication? When an individual or institution uses technology to send messages Messages sent to large, mixed audience not known to the sender Traditional methods of mass communication being replaced by social media & online reading and viewing

Players in the Mass Communication Process Sender The organization or individual responsible for the message being sent Message The content being transmitted by the sender to the receiver Channel The medium used to transmit the message Receiver The audience for the mass communication message

Mass Communication Models Transmission Model (SMCR) A dated model useful for identifying players in the mass communication process Ritual Model Media use is an interactive ritual by audience members. Looks at how and why audiences consume messages

Mass Communication Models Publicity Model How media attention makes a person, concept, or thing important Reception Model How audience members derive and create meaning out of media content

Evolution of the Media World 1100–1400 AD: Pre-mass media communication networks 1450s: Development of movable type, printing 1814: Steam-powered printing press 1844: First U.S. telegraph line 1866: First trans-Atlantic telegraph line

Evolution of the Media World 1880s: Invention of the gramophone Late 1800s: Development of radio 1890s: Development of motion pictures 1939: First television broadcasts 1990s: Internet becomes a channel of mass communication 2000s: Rise of social media

Media Literacy Audience members’ understanding of: Who/what the media are, and how they operate The messages delivered by the media The roles media plays in society How audience members respond to media messages

Basic Dimensions of Media Literacy Cognitive Dimension Ability to intellectually process information communicated by the media Emotional Dimension Understanding the feelings created by media messages

Basic Dimensions of Media Literacy Aesthetic Dimension Interpreting media content from an artistic or critical point of view Moral Dimension Understanding the values of the medium or the message

Seven Secrets “They” Don’t Want You To Know About the Media Truth One: The media are essential components of our lives. Truth Two: There are no mainstream media (MSM). Truth Three: Everything from the margin moves to the center. Truth Four: Nothing’s really new: Everything that happened in the past will happen again.

Seven Secrets “They” Don’t Want You To Know About the Media Truth Five: All media are social. Truth Six: Online media are mobile media. Truth Seven: There is no “they.” “Who is They?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0MlsBMpLR8