Media Literacy Flashcards
Informational Media
Media elements that seek to provide factual information to the audience. ex- News programs, newspapers, magazines, documentaries
Persuasive Media
Visual and media elements that seek to convince the audience to feel or believe a certain message. ex- Commercials, political ads, editorial cartoons
Wiki
online tool for creating and managing content collaboratively
Desired User Image
technique that plays upon the types of people viewers want to be–athletes, sex symbols, productive workers, caring mothers–and suggests that a particular product or service will help them achieve become that type of person. ex- car commercials featuring beautiful women, suggesting that if you own this type of car you too will be attractive to others
Appeal to Authority
using someone’s status, position, or background as a way to persuade an audience. ex- celebrity endorsements
Loaded Words
terms with strong positive or negative connotations. ex- saying “slashed prices” in a commercial instead of “reduced prices”
Emotional Appeal
using strong language to persuade an audience by evoking feelings. ex- commercials advertising animal welfare organizations might show ill or unhealthy puppies and kittens in an effort to engage the audience’s feelings
Testimonial
a person’s written or spoken statement that articulates the benefits of a product. ex- an advertisement featuring “average people” praising a new truck
Bandwagon Fallacies
appeals to popularity, suggest that the majority’s opinion or preference is valid. ex- “Four out of five people prefer lemon-lime soap!”
Realized User Image
an advertisement that recognizes who someone is and suggests that they fit the consumer role that product fills. ex- an advertisement targeting overworked moms
Logical Appeal
using figures, graphs, statistics, historical analogues, or studies to persuade an audience from a fact-based perspective. ex- an advertisement that claims a certain type of cleaner removes 99% more germs than their competitor
Entertainment Media
Visual and media elements purely for enjoyment of the audience. ex- Movies, TV programs, computer or electronic games
Multimedia Presentation
presentations that incorporate sounds, images, videos, and text to impart the speaker’s message
Expert Opinion
using a person or group that is considered knowledgeable to persuade an audience. ex- a toothpaste company claims that their toothpaste is the most recommended by dentists
Rhetorical Appeal
arguments using people’s desire to elevate their status. ex- a commercial suggesting that buying a certain smartphone will make the buyer popular
