Study Guide

Study Guide 

Vocabulary:

Communication: the creation and use of symbol systems that convey information and meaning (includes languages, codes, motion pictures, etc.)

Convergence: the overlapping process of growth or obsolescence of a media product as it is improved, reused, or rebranded again and again.

Culture (from a media studies POV): the symbols of expression that individuals, groups, and societies use to make sense of daily life and to articulate their values. A process that delivers the values of a society through products and meaning-making technologies.

Cultural Model: Individuals bring diverse meaning to messages, given factors and differences in their culture (age, gender, education, etc.) to interpret, accept, or reject messages.

Digital communication: Any exchange of data that transmits the data in a digital form.

High Culture: Identified with “good taste” and higher education, and supported by wealthy patrons and corporate donors, is associated with “fine art”, which is available primarily in libraries, theaters, and museums.

Hypertext: Text data-linked system that allows computer-accessed information to associate with, or like to, other information o matter where it is on the internet.

Linear Model of Mass Communication: Outdated model of communications. Senders transmit messages through mass media channels to a large group of receivers. Media functioned as a message filter. With more media (primarily the internet/digital sources), gatekeepers cannot regulate or control the spread of media easily.

Low Culture: Aligned with the “questionable” tastes of the masses, who enjoy the commercial “junk” circulated by the mass media

Mass Communication: the process of designing cultural messages and stories and delivering them to large and diverse audiences through media channels.

Mass Media: cultural industries (the channels of communication) that produce and distributes songs, novels, TV shows, newspapers, movies, internet services, games, & cultural products to large numbers of people (consumers).

Non-Traditional Journalism: Refers to participatory journalism, a.k.a. citizen journalism, where journalistic authority is based on the individual.

Selective exposure: People seek messages and produce meanings that correspond to their own cultural beliefs, values, and interests.

Social Media: programs (online) that allow people from all over the world to have ongoing online conversations, share stories/experiences, or sharing interests and information.

Traditional Journalism: Refers to mainstream media journalism, where journalistic authority is based on the institution.

Chapter 1:

- 5 eras of communication

- Linear Model of Mass Communication

-Culture Model of Mass Communication

-Stages in the evolution of Media

-Media Convergence (Dual meanings)

-Media Convergence in business

-Media Convergence in cultural change

-Media as a means of storytelling

-Culture skyscraper (High and Low Culture)

-Media Literacy and Critical Process


Chapter 2:

-Types of Social Media

-Impact of media convergence and mobile media (relationship with media and relationship with the internet)

-Social Media and Democracy

-Hacktivism

-Traditional Journalism and Non-Traditional Journalism

V for Vendetta:

-Use of Hacktivism

-Media and its relationship to oppression