Exam 1 Flashcards
Which of the following is true about a mass?
It has been argued that it could not physically be possible until the start of early print media.
It is a large group of people spread across a large distance.
It is heterogeneous in its make-up.
It was a concept that was of interest to sociologist Harold Blumer.
A feedback loop was an important part of the traditional mass communication process.
False
The displacement of a nation’s customs with those of another country is known as:
Cultural Imperialism
In the economy of mass media, what is the product being sold?
Members of the audience
Which of the following is a way to categorize an audience based upon their habits, purchases, and way of life?
Lifestyle Categories
As the number of media choices increases, the size of each individual audience for each individual media outlet decreases. What is this phenomenon known as?
Audience Erosion
Which of the following is NOT a lifestyle category?
Learners
During the recent Winter Olympics advertisements were aired every night that promoted the upcoming film “Captain America: Winter Soldier” and also featured footage of athletes winning their sporting events at the Sochi Winter Olympics. What is this an example of?
Cross merchandising based on a contract
The bigger a company gets the less money it can make, as explained by the economic concept of Economies of Scale.
False
The Disney Corporation is interested in purchasing the newest expansion team in the Major League Soccer league: The Orlando Mighty Kickers. What is Disney’s acquisition of this major league sports team an example of?
Horizontal Integration
Who is specifically prohibited, as it was originally written, by the First Amendment of the Constitution from making laws that violate freedom of speech, expression, and the press?
U. S. Congress
At the heart of the Supreme Court case New York Times v. Sullivan was which legal issue?
libel
Which of the following violations of privacy law occurs when there is an exhibit of an offensive invasion of someone’s private space or solitude?
intrusion
Obscenity is anything depicting sexual and excretory activities in a patently offensive manner, as measured by contemporary standards for the broadcast medium.
False
The Federal Communications Commission has the power to regulate and enforce laws for all television and radio stations, regardless of how they are transmitted.
False
The copyright sign (© / the letter “c” in a circle) is not necessary to ensure a work’s copyright protection.
True
Which of the following is true about gatekeepers?
Thanks to digital convergence, companies who provide cable, Internet, and phone into our homes all at once can be considered one of the ultimate gatekeepers.
They are a barrier that message sources have to overcome.
They are often large media corporations/industries.
They determine was issues and topics are and are not broadcast in our media
State and federal legislatures, executive agencies, and the courts all have the power to create the laws that govern mass media industries.
False
Censorship is
Any action that prohibits an act of expression from being made public.
Communication is
the process of sharing messages.
Conglomerates are
HUGE companies that have their hands in a lot of cookie jars. In other words, they are involved in lots of businesses and lots of industries
Convergence is
• When multiple forms of media (movies, TV, Internet,
radio, phone) all share the same pipeline. They all
share the same mode of distribution.
– Convergence is made possible through compatible digital
media.
– Oftentimes ONE pipeline to the home brings in
EVERYTHING. (Verizon Fois, Comcast Xfinity, etc.)
– This now about the idea of GATEKEEPER again
Cross-Merchandising is
A concrete example of
synergy)
– The promotion of products, brands, or services in
one form so that it can be sold more in another form
– Two types of Cross Merchandising
• Cross Merchandising based on a contract
– Anytime you see characters from cartoons marketed
on food products, fruit snacks, Happy Meals…THIS is
cross merchandising, likely based on a contract
• Cross Merchandising made possible by media
conglomerates
–When a giant corporation owns multiple channels, outlets, publications, and theme-parks, cross-merchandising becomes super easy and cheap.
Cultural Imperialism is
– The displacement of a nation’s customs with
those of another country
–Often blamed for anti-Americanism overseas
Economies of Scale is
the idea that savings grow with mass production
• The bigger a companty gets, the MORE money it can make exponentially thanks to the economic concept of Economies of Scale
Feedback is
• A pathway for message recipients (the audience) to directly communicate back to the sender
First Amendment is
The parts of the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights that guarantee freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
Fourth Estate is
The press as an unofficial fourth branch of government.
Gatekeepers are
• People or organizations that determine what messages enter the flow of information
Horizontal Integration is
When a conglomerate buys all kinds of other
businesses
• One company owns TV stations, newspapers, radio stations, movie companies, magazine publishers, book publishers, record labels, theme parks, sports teams, etc.
Mass Communication is
Mediated communication messages transmitted to large, widespread audiences
Media is
• A conduit through which a message is communicated – Also used to refer to a person used to relay messages between dead people to living people…through this individual these ‘messages’ are communicated –NOTE: the plural of medium is media
Media Criticism is
• Being able to critique mass media messages
– The analysis used to assess the effects of media on individuals, on societies, and on cultures
Media Literacy is
– To be a better, smarter consumer of mass media
– To be a better, smarter producer of mass media
Mediated communication is
Messages conveyed through an interposed device rather than face to face. Source ↓ Message ↓ Channel/Medium ↓ Receiver
Medium is
An interposed device used to transmit messages.
Synergy is
• Synergy – the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
– Disney isn’t just an amusement park or a funny mouse. It’s a brand. It can promote itself across its empire: ABC, parks, movies, toys, etc.
Vertical Integration is
• When a conglomerate owns different parts within the same industry
– If a clothing company buys the textile distributors, the sewing mahcine companies, etc. This restricts access to other clothing companies.
– Is when a company controls BOTH production and distribution and is allowed as long as it engages in fair practices and lets others in
– 1940s: a few companies buy all movie houses and restricts what’s shown. Laws brought in to stop this.
Correlation is
A situation in which two things occur at the same time, or in close succession, more often than chance would lead one to expect.
Laboratory Experiment is
Scientific method of isolating and observing variables in a controlled environment.
Random Sampling is
Method that ensures that every member of the population being studied has an equal chance of being chosen.
Selective Exposure is
– Selectively seeking out messages that are consistent with what we like or believe to be true
Selective Perception is
– Interpreting things in a way that is consistent with our preexisting beliefs
Selective Retention is
– Remembering things in a way that is consistent with our preexisting beliefs
Survey Methods are
Research methods that rely on questionnaires to collect research data.
Theory is
a set of related statements that seek to explain and predict behavior.
Third Person Effects are
The belief that media affects other people more than oneself.
Actual Malice is
Reckless disregard for truth or knowledge of falsity
Artistic Speech is
Creative work, such as painting, dance, and literature.
Chilling Effect is
Tendency of reporters to self-censor because of fear of possible legal action.
Commercial Speech is
Advertising.
Copyright Law is
Law that entitles the owner of a work to make and distribute reproductions of it. – Copyright Act of 1976 – Does not protect ideas – Only protects the expression of ideas – First-Sale Doctrine – © (the copyright sign)
Defamation is
A highly disreputable or false statement about a living person or an organization that causes injury to the reputation that a substantial group of people hold for that person or entity.
• Two types of defamation
– Libel: written or broadcast (not news)
– Slander: spoken
Deregulation is
The repeal of government rules and regulations.
Fair Comment is
Defense against a charge of libel based on opinion or criticism.
Fair Use is
Doctrine that allows the copying of a portion of work for a noncommercial use.
First Amendment is
• Only specifically prohibits Congress from
making laws that violate these freedoms
– Now applied to all branches of local, state &
federal government
Congress shall make no law abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press;
First-Sale Doctrine is
The doctrine that allows purchasers of a copyrighted work to resell it or rent it out.
Indecency is
- Offensive content with possible social value
- Term invented for broadcast TV and radio
- Anything “depicting sexual and excretory activities in a patently offensive manner, as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium.”
Libel is
written or broadcast (not news)
Obscenity is
–Offensive media content with no social value –Not constitutionally protected speech Miller’s Three Part Test 1. An average person, applying contemporary community standards, finds that that work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest 2. The work depicts in a patently offensive way sexual conduct specifically defines by state law. 3. The work in question lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value, (SLAPS)
Political Speech is
Messages about the meaning and correct course of government.
Privilege is
Exemption given public officials to speak without fear of being sued for libel.
Shield Laws are
It allows confidentiality; Journalist can protect source by this law.
Slander is
a defamation that occurs in a transitory form, such as speech.
Sunshine Laws are
Laws that ensure that public meetings are conducted in the open
Trademark is
A word, symbol, or device that identifies a seller’s goods.
Absolutist Ethics are
Position from which there is a clear-cut right or wrong (no grey area) response for every ethical decision.
Accountability is
The obligation to take responsibility, or account for, the consequences of one’s actions. In media ethics, accountability involves the questions of who controls media practitioners and who has the power to punish them for ethical lapses.
Categorical Imperative is
Kant’s term for the ethical guideline to look for principles that hold true in all situations.
Conflict of Interest is
Outside relationships (financial, personal, etc.) influence activities of a media professional
Ethics are
The study of guidelines that help people determine right
from wrong in their voluntary conduct
Golden Mean is
Aristotle’s term for describing ethical behavior as a midpoint between extremes.
Machiavellian Ethics are
The idea that the end justifies the means.
Prescriptive Codes are
Guidelines that stipulate specific behaviors to be followed.
Prosprictive Codes are
Guidelines that stress the things that should not be done.
Situation Ethics are
Principle that ethical choices can be made according to the situation, without a rigid adherence to set rules.
Stereotyping is
Representing a member of a group by using oversimplified characteristics.
Utilitarian Principle is
Mill’s idea that actions are ethical only if they result in the greatest good for the most people.
Veil of Ignorance is
Rawls’s idea term associated with the idea that ethical behavior is possible only if everyone is treated equally.
