Unit 1, the Media Flashcards
Define ethnocentrism
he belief that ones country, area or culture is naturally superior to others
Define socio-economic status
a measure of an individual or groups position in the community.
Define media
plural of medium, form of communication
What are the different types of media
Mainstream media and alternative media sources
Define mainstream/mass media
consumed by large about of people
Who owns mainstream media/mass media
generally owned by large corporations and have a wide public consumption
What does mainstream media include
mass communication organizations like newspapers and radio
What views are usually presented by mainstream media
the general populations views
Give examples of mainstream media
CBC, FOX, CNN, Toronto Star
What percent of the media is considered mainstream
95%
What is alternative media sources
Organizations that are generally smaller, not affiliated with large corporations, and offer alternative views to those found in mainstream sources
What point of view do alternative media give
They may provide points of view that advocate for a specific social perspective or political learning
Give examples of alternative media sources
Democracy Now!, New Internationalist, Mother Jones, The Briarpatch
Is the media powerful, and if so, why?
Absolutely– it shapes the economic, political, social, cultural and environmental makeup of the world
Define proliferation
rapid increase of numbers
What critical thinking skills do we need to ensure that we have accurate and complete info about global issues?
Analysis and synthesis
Define analysis
examination of the parts of a whole to discover their nature and their relationship with each other, to interpret patterns and recognize their meaning
Define synthesis
a cognitive skill that combines, integrates and rearranges information from a variety of sources and perspectives in order to make generalizations, draw conclusions and create new ideas
Are facts objective or subjective
objective
Are opinions objective or subjective
subjective
When are facts and opinions used together
Being able to use facts to develop an informed opinion is good
What questions should be asked in order to determine the reputability and reliability of media sources
How did they get the info? How much was included how much was left out? What form is it in?
Define impunity
Exception from punishment
When did the earthquake hit Haiti
January 12, 2010
What are some numbers that support the devastation in Haiti
230 000 dead 300 000 injured 1 million displaced 250 000 houses destroyed 30 000 businesses collapsed
What does the earthquake in Haiti teach us?
The power of the media
Everyone cares about natural disasters
Many global crises are invisible to us
What was the earthquake in Haiti a result of
The staggering death toll from the earthquake was a symptom of the country’s deeper disease — widespread poverty
What was the poverty in Haiti a result of
A lack of decent medical and emerge services
Shoddy infrastructure
Poor sanitation
Overcrowding
Why do people love focusing on natural disasters?
Because it is no ones fault, no one will get in trouble for it
What is sensationalism
(especially in journalism) the use of exciting or shocking stories or language at the expense of accuracy, in order to provoke public interest of excitement. “media sensationalism”.
Why is sensationalism a concern
The change in how info is presented and what info is selected to be covered can actually trigger events and turn events in to crises
Analysis is often conducted, conclusion drawn and opinions fried without accurate info which shapes public opinion
Increased fear or panic can ensue in the public
What is the root cause for sensationalism
The battle for attention; they want to be the first to break the news and in doing this, they can get info wrong and cause even more problems
Could certain media outlets have motives other than informing the public?
They could have a foot in with oil, artillery, etc., so they don’t want to cover problems that will stop people from giving money to certain things
There is only so much money to go around. When a crises like the one in Haiti is covered extensively by the media, how does that impact peoples donations to other causes?
Harms others… less money to go around to other issues
How was Haiti before the earthquake?
Poverty had forced over 225 000 children into slavery
58% of the population used improved/clean drinking water
19% of the population used sanitation facilities
One of the world poorest and least developed countries (poorest country in the America’s)
80% of the population lived in poverty
50% illiteracy rate
50% of primary children went to school
Fewer than 30% of these children would have made it to grade 6
14% of the population had phones
Hw much money (UDS) was pledged for aid?
$13 000 000 000
What shift involving the ownership of media has occurred
There has been a big shift from publicly owned media to huge media conglomerates controlled the media
Give examples of huge media conglomerates
TVO, CBS, PBS
What forms of media do the conglomerates have control over
All forms–books, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, and the internet
In the US, about how many organizations own and control the media
In the US 5 or 6 media conglomerates control almost all forms of mainstream media (90% of what we consume)
What is the danger in only a few organizations owning all the media
fewer and fewer people are determining what we watch, hear and read —compromising our access to accurate and unbiased info
Many people say that we cannot live in a vibrant democracy unless people get divergent sources of info so, this trend in media ownership compromises the democratic nature of society
What is the opposing argument to only a few organizations owning all the media
media conglomerates only have control over mainstream media, that there are a wide variety of alternative media sources that exist today that offer plenty of divergent views and perspectives
What is the media conglomerates’ focus’
Media conglomerates’ focus is to make profit NOT to educate the public by providing intelligent, balanced commentary on issues
Media owners claim that they what
Media owners say they are giving people what they want
What factors could hinder the role of a journalist
Sensationalism
Need for employment
Limited funding by the company for whom the journalist works
Media ownership
Uncooperative/secretive government officials
War or Natural Disasters
Totalitarian Governments and Tourist organizations
Censorship/Death threats
What is the role of a journalist
To be fair, balanced and responsible
reporting all aspect of stories and conveying information in easily understandable ways
to maintain ethical standards in reporting the news
endeavouring to remain unbiased and to report facts as opposed to offering personal opinions
to show people what is happening in the world
Define greenwashing.
Greenwashing is a term used to describe the practices of companies or groups attempting to promote a positive environmental or social image to undermine and minimize the damage done to their brand or reputation by public criticism (when they advertise that it is good for the environment, but it is not)
What is commercial pollution
the presence of excessive advertising media and messages that shape and promote a rampant consumerism by creating an image of necessity
What does the term McWorld refer to?
The term McWorld refers to the spread of Western culture all across the world (more specifically, McDonalds)
Why is consumerism harmful
Consumerism is harmful because buying more than we need increases pressure on Earth’s resources and the size of our ecological footprint, and it contributes to environmental degradation.
What is consumerism
Consumerism is a largely 20th-century movement that seeks assurances that what is sold to the public is of good quality
What are the positive effects of cultural diffusion?
The positive effects of cultural diffusion are that is can bridge cultural divides to foster greater understanding among people exposed to foreign lifestyles, providing a greater mix of worldview, ideas, music, etc
What are the negative effects of cultural diffusion
The negative effects may be that corporate attempts to commercialize many aspect of culture and spread the consumer lifestyle have reduced diversity. Local skill is outdone by the presence of the new people, and culture can even be assassinated as the other culture takes over, instead of assimilating
Define opinion
a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty
Define values
relative worth, merit, or importance
Define subjective
based on feelings or opinions rather than facts
define objective
dealing with facts without allowing personal feelings to confuse them
Define facts
something that actually exists; reality; truth
Define mass media
any of the means of communication, as television or newspapers, that reach very large numbers of people
Define publicly funded media
Funded by the publics many, not a private corporation
Define digital divide
the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the Internet, and those who do not
Define podcast (Not on review)
a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player, typically available as a series, new instalments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.
Define alternative media
media that differ from established or dominant types of media in terms of their content, production, or distribution
Define propaganda
information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
Define jargon (not on review)
special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.
Define spin
form of propaganda, achieved through providing a biased interpretation of an event or campaigning to persuade public opinion in favour or against some organization or public figure
Define doublespeak (not on review)
deliberately euphemistic, ambiguous, or obscure language.
Define euphemism (not on review)
a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing
Define soundbite (not on review)
a short extract from a recorded interview, chosen for its pungency or appropriateness
What does “Making news into theatre” mean? (not on review)
“Making news into theatre” means that the news is made into an entertainment source. Instead of just giving out facts, the producers and directors ensure that there is drama, and suspense in the story to make the news more interesting for viewers
What are some sensationalism techniques
False novelty (making something look like news when it has been knows for a long time), False urgency (creating a sense that things are happening quickly to add to the story), exaggerated risk, leaving out details, emotional language and imagery, naming news (giving criminals a nickname)
What is a single story
A single story is when people associate a group of people with only one aspect of who they are, eliminating all the other parts that make them who they are
What is public relations
A multibillion dollar industry that is devoted to selling messages to the public. It has been called “propaganda for hire”, it influences the public’s opinion immensely
What is slacktivism
actions performed via the Internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or personal involvement,
Give examples of slacktivism
signing an online petition or joining a campaign group on a social media website, tweeting
Define citizen journalism
the collection, dissemination, and analysis of news and information by the general public, especially by means of the Internet.
Define fixed mindset
People in a fixed mindset believe you either are or aren’t good at something, based on your inherent nature, because it’s just who you are.
Define growth mindset
People in a growth mindset believe anyone can be good at anything, because your abilities are entirely due to your actions.
Who is Julia Bacha
Director and producer of the documentary “Budrus”
Why is the documentary “Budrus” so important
It shows the peaceful protests and how it is having a positive impact
the Palestinian village of Budrus mounted a 10-month-long nonviolent protest to stop a barrier being built across their olive groves. Did you hear about it? Didn’t think so. Brazilian filmmaker Julia Bacha asks why we only pay attention to violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict — and not to the nonviolent leaders who may one day bring peace.
Why does Bacha think it so important to show people the documentary
Because the media is so sensationalized, only showing violent images, and leaving out the positive impact of the peaceful movements… showing people the success of peaceful movements inspires even more people to also take part in peaceful movements and not violent ones
Where does the Budras film take place
in Palestine… covering the palestine-isreal conflict
Why is concentrated media ownership a problem
Promotes only a few perspectives
Company that owns it may encourage employees to only report on certain stories
People will not have access to other opinions
Why is concentrated media ownership not a problem
People have the choose to look at alternative media sources (blogs, podcasts, etc)
People are educated enough to ignore bias reports
There are public organizations that monitor what is being told to the public
Who is Noam Chomsky
American linguist, political activist, philosopher cognitive scientist, author and MIT professor of linguistics
What book did Chomsky write that gained much popularity
Manufacturing Consent– The Political Economy of the Mass Media in 1988
What is Manufacturing Consent
Basically the argument that the medias primary function is to mobilize public support for the special interests that dominate the government and private sector
According to Chomsky, who controls most of America’s decisions
The major decisions in America are in the hands of a relatively concentrated network of major corporations and conglomerates and investment firms
Who’s consent is being discussed in Manufacturing Consent
2 targets;
Political Class (20% of population)
The remaining 80%
What model does Chomsky outline in Manufacturing Consent that explains that the propaganda is filtered down to the public
The National Media sets a general agenda that others more or less adhere to
The Elite Media are sort of the agenda setting media (EG. New York Times), they set the general framework
The local media just follow suit
According to Chomsky, Manufacturing the public’s concert is accomplished by setting the national news agenda using various techniques such as?
Emphasizing and framing issues
Filtering info
etc
What happened in Rwanda
Rwandan genocide, known officially as the genocide against the Tutsi, was a genocidal mass slaughter of Tutsi in Rwanda by members of the Hutu majority government. … An estimated 2,000,000 Rwandans, mostly Hutus, were displaced and became refugees.
Who is James Natchway
A war photographer
What places were discussed in War Photographer
Kosovo (ethnic cleansing), Goma (Where refugees from the Rwandan genocide went), Ramallah (lynching of IDF soldiers), Jakarta (main targets were Chinese Indonesians)
Who is James Foley
Journalist who went to Syria to document what was happening, got captured, head was cut off as a statement by ISIS
What is the New Media Landscape
Basically, the new technological developments, the fact that news does not just come from official news sources but from citizens as well, people are less restricted in what information gets to them
Who is Clay Shirky
Did TED talk, discussed New Media Landscape
What is the current issue in Syria?
The war in Syria has gone on for over five years and has claimed the lives of more than a quarter of a million people.
It is being fought between soldiers who support the president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, and a group of fighters known as rebels, who don’t want him to be in power anymore.
Because it is being fought between two sides within the same country, it is known as a civil war.
Why was the media coverage of the Boston Bombing such an important lesson
Because CNN, one of the most respected news sources, let out incorrect information that let to a hunt for THE WRONG PERSON, showing that not all media information is accurate as they rush to be the first to tell people about stories, not checking to see if it is accurate
What is frontline Journalism
Journalism that is done in the middle of the event, when the even is taking place. Not just receiving and reporting the aftermath, but actually being in the situation
Why is consumerism a problem
Because the products we think that we “need” come from the Earth, and the Earth only has so many resourced so we put a massive strain on it to gives us an excessive amount of things that we really do not need, but the media makes us think we do
Who is Malcolm Gladwell
A man who believes that social media encourages people to take part in lazy activism that will only extend as far as “liking” a cause but not actually doing anything about it. He believes that people are not taking part in “true” activism, when in reality if the definition of activism is actually being int he streets then he would be right, but it is actually when people change the minds of others and spread awareness as well
What is media literacy
the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media (basically knowing to take news with a critical eye)
What is the difference between digital activism and slacktivism
They are the same thing, just two different perspectives; slacktivism people support a cause with the animal effort plausible
Digital activism is people that take activism on line and spread awareness via the internet and raise awareness to people who can make a change
What is rhetoric
Language that is used to persuade an audience
Why is the New Media Landscape so great for people in places like china? According to Clay Shirky
Because the government cannot suppress it; for example before the new media landscape, an earthquake devastated the land and the government denied it for 3 months. But another earthquake hit and the people posted it all over social media even before the government knew about it… and eventually the fact that government officials took bribes and allowed for faulty infrastructure of schools and they were held accountable for that thanks to the social media awareness
What happened in Lybia
The Arab Spring, James Foley was captured and held hostage for weeks, eventually released
What is the Arab Spring
The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings and armed rebellions that spread across the Middle East in early 2011… many countries and people wanted different government, but no ones could agree with what type
What do investigative journalists/photojournalists do
Seek to find out the truth, hold people accountable and tell people what is happening as they find it out
