Chp. 1 Living in a Media World

Question 1

Five Common Usages of “Fake News”

Answer 1

In 1700s, Britain covering parliament was illegal. Writer/satirist Samuel Johnson wrote fictitious stories about pretend parliament to bypass regulations. Stories were presented as fiction, but were, in fact true•
In 1860s, Mark Twain wrote “hoaxes & quaints.” Sometimes entertaining stories, sometimes designed as allegories. Anything presented as a ”true story” probably wasn’t
When Jon Stewart was host of The Daily Show, he called his satire “fake news”•When Donald Trump started running for president, he started using the term “fake news” to describe news he didn’t like

Question 2

Contemporary Meanings of Fake News

Answer 2

•Satire – fake news as ironic term to refer to satirical stories•Mistakes and fabrication – news stories can have errors that get corrected or were fabricated by unethical reporters•Partisan click-bait – sensational made-up or exaggerated stories designed to attract online attention

Question 3

What Is Communication?

Answer 3

•Gerbner’s definition: “social interaction through messages”•Communication is a process, not a thing

Question 4

How Can We Communicate?

Answer 4

•Writing•Speech•Art•Music•Technology•Dance•Photography•Body language

Question 5

Types of Communication

Answer 5

•Intrapersonal communicationCommunication you have with yourself•Interpersonal communicationCommunication between two people•Group communicationOne person is communicating with an audience of two or more people•Mass communication•Communication using technology between a sender and a large, undefined number of people

Question 6

Mass Communication Models

Answer 6

• Transmission model (SMCR)A dated model useful for identifying players in the mass communication process•Ritual modelMedia use is an interactive ritual by audience members. Looks at how and why audiences consume messages
• Publicity modelHow media attention makes a person, concept, or thing important•Reception modelHow audience members derive and create meaning out of media content

Question 7

Evolution of the Media World

Answer 7

• 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
• 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

Question 8

Media Literacy

Answer 8

•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

Question 9

Four Dimensions

Answer 9

•Cognitive dimensionAbility to intellectually process information communicated by the media•Emotional dimensionUnderstanding the feelings created by media messages•Aesthetic dimensionInterpreting media content from an artistic or critical point of view•Moral dimensionUnderstanding the values of the medium or the message

Question 10

Seven Secrets about the Media

Answer 10

• Secret 1: The media are essential components of our lives•Secret 2: There are no mainstream media (MSM)•Secret 3: Everything from the margin moves to the center•Secret 4: Nothing’s really new: Everything that happened in the past will happen again
• Secret 5: All media are social•Secret 6: Online media are mobile media•Secret 7: There is no “they”