Media Studies Introduction What is the Media? Where is the Media? Some Key Terms and Concepts Examples of Various Media forms (Television and Print Advertising)

What is Media? Simply put, Media can defined as the following: “Tools which allow us to communicate ideas and information to both small and large groups of people”

Where can we find the Media Television, radios, internet, billboards, magazines, movies, shopping malls, books, newspapers, flyers, direct mail, etc.

Key Concepts / Terms Mass Media: Media forms designed to communicate with thousands of people at a time Mass Marketing: Appealing to a wide audience by making a product, or piece of information that is almost universally recognized (e.g. Nike, Coca Cola, McDonalds, Microsoft, the Gap) Advertising: Using communication media to promote the sale of goods and services to project a company’s image Media Technologies: What kinds of communication tools exist? Who controls them? How are final products created?

Key Terms Continued Propaganda: The organized circulation of information designed to influence people about certain things by directly appealing to our emotions, prejudices, etc. and may contain huge distortions of the truth (e.g. War propaganda).

Key Questions to Consider Media Languages : How are the different forms of media able to produce meanings, codes, conventions? How do we “read” media? How is it persuasive? Media Audiences: How are audiences identified? How are they targeted? How do audiences find, choose and respond to media works? Media representations: What is the relationship between media texts and actual places, people, events and ideas? How is stereotyping an important element to consider?

“People don’t buy products; they buy brands” – David Oligvy Advertising What is Advertising? “People don’t buy products; they buy brands” – David Oligvy What does this mean? Is it true? Discuss

Class Questions # 1 What in your opinion are examples of effective advertisements? What factors must be taken into account to make an advertisement effective? Consider various mediums such as television, radio, internet, magazines, newspapers, etc). Consider audience, visual and oral characteristics, manipulative techniques, humour, etc. Make a list of all the advertisements that you like and you dislike and explain your opinions.

Class Question # 2 Television Magazines Newspapers Radio Internet What are the advantages and disadvantages of each of the following mediums?