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DetailedContents

Preface

Acknowledgments

PartIINTRODUCTION

Chapter1Media/SocietyinaDigitalWorld

TheImportanceofMedia

ModelsofCommunicationMedia

Interpersonaland“Mass”Communication

VariableBoundariesandActiveUsers

CommunicationToday:AFirstLook

ASociologyofMedia

TheSociologicalPerspective

StructuralConstraintandHumanAgency

Structure

Agency

StructureandAgencyintheMedia

RelationshipsbetweentheMediaandOtherSocialInstitutions

RelationshipswithintheMediaIndustry

RelationshipsbetweentheMediaandthePublic

AModelofMediaandtheSocialWorld

ApplyingtheModel:CivilRightsinTwoMediaEras

Mid-20th-CenturyCivilRightsMovement

BlackLivesMatter

Conclusion

DiscussionQuestions

PartIITECHNOLOGY

Chapter2TheEvolutionofMediaTechnology

TheHistoryofMediaTechnology

TechnologicalDeterminismandSocialConstructionism

TechnologicalDeterminism

Media’sMateriality

“AutonomousTechnology”and“TechnologicalMomentum”

MediumTheory

McLuhan’sOptimism

Postman’sPessimism

SocialConstructionism

FromPrinttotheInternet

ThePrintMedium

TheTelegraph

TheTelephone

SoundRecording

FilmandVideo

RadioBroadcasting

Television

TelevisionandDailyLife

CableTelevision

TheInternet

CreatingtheInternet

TheInternetGrowsUp

SomeCharacteristicsoftheInternetEra

Conclusion

DiscussionQuestions

PartIIIINDUSTRY

Chapter3TheEconomicsoftheMediaIndustry

MediaCompaniesintheInternetEra

Products

Platforms

Pipes

ChangingPatternsofOwnership

ConcentrationofOwnership

Products

Platforms

Pipes

ConglomerationandIntegration

StrategyinaNewMediaEconomy

ThePowerofPlatforms:FacebookandGoogleasNewMediaGiants Users

MediaContent

Advertising

Telecommunications

ConsequencesofConglomerationandIntegration

IntegrationandSelf-Promotion

TheImpactofConglomeration

TheEffectsofConcentration

MediaControlandPoliticalPower

MediaOwnershipandContentDiversity

MassMediaforProfit

Prime-TimeProfits

CheaperProgramsforSmallerAudiences

ControllingContentandDistribution

ProfitandtheNewsMedia

TheImpactofAdvertising

TheAdvertising-ContentConnection

AdvertisingandthePressinthe19thCentury

TheBritishPress

TheUS Press

AdvertisingandtheContemporaryNewsMedia

Conclusion

DiscussionQuestions

Chapter4PoliticalInfluenceonMedia

MediaandDemocracy

FreeSpeechtoFreeMarkets:TheEvolutionofUS RegulatoryPolicy

RegulateorDeregulate?

TheFCC’sVariableRole

RegulationinInternationalPerspective

RegulationinWesternDemocracies

RegulationinDevelopingNations

CompetingInterestsandtheRegulationDebate

IndustryInfluence:ElectionsandLobbying

CitizenAction:TheCaseofLow-PowerRadio

LeftandRight:DiversityversusPropertyRights

RegulatingOwnership

MediaOutlets

CopyrightandIntellectualProperty

RegulatingContent

Accuracy:Advertising

Diversity:TheFairnessDoctrine

Morality:ObsceneMaterials

Self-Regulation:CensorshipandRatings

MovieCensorshipandtheRatingsSystem

TelevisionRatings

MusicParentalAdvisoryLabelsandVideoGames

The“NationalInterest”:MilitaryCensorship RegulatingAccessandDistribution

NetNeutrality

TheConceptofNetNeutrality

ThePolicyBattle

TheImplications

VerticalIntegration:Movies,TV,andStreaming

TheHollywoodStudioSystem

Television’sFyn-SynRegulations

NetflixandtheStreamingWars

SocialMediaPlatforms

WhatArePlatforms?

SocialMediaRegulation

Self-Policing

InformalPolitical,Social,andEconomicPressure

Conclusion

DiscussionQuestions

Chapter5MediaOrganizationsandProfessionals

TheLimitsofEconomicandPoliticalConstraints

WorkingwithinEconomicConstraints

RespondingtoPoliticalConstraints

DecisionMakingforProfit:Imitation,Hits,andStars

HighCostsandUnpredictableTastes

ArtImitatingArt

Starsandthe“HitSystem”

CreatingHitsandProducingStars

UsingStarstoCombatUncertainty

BeyondStarstoaUniverseofProducts

TheOrganizationofMediaWork

Conventions

NewsRoutinesandTheirConsequences

TechnologyandtheNewNewsRoutines

IncreasedEconomicPressure

ExpandedVolumeandDiversifiedSourcing

IncreasedSpeed

PresentationandEngagementtoPromoteTraffic

NewsroomAutomation

Objectivity

TheOriginsofObjectivity

ObjectivityasRoutinePracticesandTheirPoliticalConsequences

RejectingObjectivity:AlternativeJournalism

OccupationalRolesandProfessionalSocialization

Roles

Photography

SocializationofPhotographers

Photographers’WorkRolesandOrganizationalGoals

EditorialDecisionMaking

TheWorkoftheBookEditor

ScholarlyPublishing

NormsontheInternet,NewMedia,andNewOrganizations

Conclusion

DiscussionQuestions

PartIVCONTENT

Chapter6MediaandIdeology

WhatIsIdeology?

Ideologyandthe“Real”World

DominantIdeologyversusCulturalContradictions

The“CultureWar”BattlesoverIdeology

IdeologyasNormalization

TheoreticalRootsofIdeologicalAnalysis

EarlyMarxistOrigins

Hegemony

NewsMediaandtheLimitsofDebate

ElitesandInsiders

EconomicNewsasIdeologicalConstruct

Movies,theMilitary,andMasculinity

Action-AdventureFilms

VietnamFilmsandRecentWarFilms

Television,Popularity,andIdeology

TelevisionandReality

TelevisionandtheChangingAmericanFamily RevisingTradition:TheNewMomism

RapMusicasIdeologicalCritique?

AdvertisingandConsumerCulture

SellingConsumerismintheEarly20thCentury

Women’sMagazinesasAdvertisements

AdvertisingandtheGlobalizationofCulture

InternetIdeology

Conclusion

DiscussionQuestions

Chapter7SocialInequalityandMediaRepresentation

ComparingMediaContentandthe“Real”World

TheSignificanceofContent

Race,Ethnicity,andMediaContent:Inclusion,Roles,andControl

RacialandEthnicDiversityinMediaContent

GrowingDiversityandAbundanceamidAudienceFragmentation

Race,Ethnicity,andMediaRoles

EarlyImagesofRace

SlowChangeand“Modern”Racism

RaceandClass

ControllingMediaImagesofRace

GenderandMediaContent

Women:PresenceandControlintheMedia

ChangingMediaRolesforWomen andMen

TheCaseofWomen’sSports

ClassandtheMedia

ClassandMediaContent

Family-BasedSituationComedies

TabloidTalkShowsandRealityTelevision

TheUnionTaboo

NewsMedia

Advertising

ExplainingClassImages:“SomePeopleAreMoreValuableThanOthers”

SexualOrientation:OutoftheClosetandintotheMedia

Conclusion

DiscussionQuestions

PartVUSERS

Chapter8AudiencesandCreators

TheActiveAudience:BalancingAgencyandStructure

Polysemy:Media’sMultipleMeanings

InterpretiveConstraint:Encoding/DecodingandSocialStructure

DecodingMeaningsandSocialPosition

ClassandNationwideNews

Gender,Class,andTelevision

Race,News,andMeaningMaking

ResistanceandFeministIdentity

InternationalReadingsofAmericanTelevision

MakingMeaningOnline:SecondScreens

SocialPositionOnline:BlackTwitter

ThePleasuresofMedia:CelebrityGames

TheSocialContextofMediaUse

RomanceNovelsandtheActofReading

WatchingTelevisionwiththeFamily

TheLimitsofInterpretation

FromActiveAudiencetoResistantActors

InterpretiveResistanceandFeministPolitics

CultureJamming

ContentCreationandDistribution

ParticipatoryCulture

ParticipationOnline

WhoAretheContentCreators?

WhyCreate?

MediaFans

UsersasGatekeepersandDistributors

Conclusion

DiscussionQuestions

Chapter9MediaInfluence

LearningfromMediaEffectsResearch

EarlyWorks:EstablishingtheAgenda

ThePressandDemocracy

EntertainmentandChildren

MassSocietyandMediaInfluence

MitigatingMediaEffects

LimitedEffectsandtheTwo-StepFlowofInfluence

ActiveAudiences

HighlightingMediaInfluence

AgendaSettingandFraming

Framing:Second-LevelAgendaSetting

NewAgenda-SettingPlayersintheInternetEra

TheSpiralofSilence

LearningfromMedia

CultivationTheory

Mediatization

TheConceptofMediatization

TheMediatizationofSocietyandMediaLogic

TheMediatizationofPolitics

ThePoliticsofImage

PoliticalActors

SettingtheStage

TheDeclineofPoliticalParties

CommunicationProfessionalsand“Post-Truth”Politics

WorkingwiththeNewsMedia

UsingtheInternet

SocialMovements

CitizenAlienation

TheInternet’sUncertainPoliticalFuture

DigitalDilemmas:OnlineMediaInfluence

SocialMediaLogicandAlgorithmicPower

TheCrisisinJournalism

InformationDistortions:MisinformationandEchoChambers

ComputationalPropaganda:TrollsandTwitterBots

HateandCensorship

ManagingourSocialSelves

Conclusion

DiscussionQuestions

PartVIAFTERWORD

Chapter10GlobalizationandtheFutureofMedia

WhatIsGlobalization?

CrossingLimitsofTimeandSpace

CrossingCulturalBoundaries

ThePromiseandRealityofMediaGlobalization

TheGlobalMediaIndustry

GlobalProducts,CentralizedOwnership

TraditionalMedia:DisneyWorldwide

TheNewGlobalMediaGiants:GoogleandFacebook

InterpretingGlobalMediaContent

CulturalImperialismandItsLimits

GlobalCultureClash?

HybridCulture

RegulatingGlobalMedia

ThePoliticsofInformationFlow

InternetGovernance

PreservingDiversity

GlobalMediaUsers:Limitsofthe“GlobalVillage”

TheUbiquityofChangeandtheFutureofMedia

DiscussionQuestions

References

Index

Preface

Apréstantdebouleversements,dechangements,ilseraittempsdes’apercevoird’unechose Plusçachange plus c ’estlamêmechose

Aftersomanyupheavalsandchanges,itwouldbetimetonoticeonething

Themoreitchanges,themoreit’sthesamething.

AlphonseKarr(1849:305)

Anepigramfrom170yearsagoservesasanaptreminderforustoday:Whenitcomestomedia,everything haschanged,yetmuchisthesame.

Thechangeisobvious.Theriseoftheinternet,mobilecommunications,andsocialnetworksformeda“Triple Revolution”(RainieandWellman2012)thatenabledthetransformationofthe“media”(andmuchmore)in oursociety It’simpossiblenottonoticethe“crisisinjournalism”(Curran2011;McChesney2007);thenew televisionlandscape(Robinson2017);theredesignedmusicindustry(Vonderau2017);theexpanding “connectivemedia”ofsocialplatforms(vanDijck2013);theintrusivecommercialonlinesurveillance(Turow 2011);theblurringbetweeninterpersonalandmasscommunication(Jenkins2006);andthepervasive“culture ofsearch”intheageofGoogle(Hillis,Petit,andJarrett2012),tonamejustafew.

Althoughchangeisobvious,persistenceiseasytooverlook Butwithmedia,themorethingschange,the moretheyreallydostaythesame Earlytechno-enthusiastswiththeir“digitaloptimism”(Turner2010) suggestedthattheinternetwassoexceptionalandtransformativethateverythingweknewaboutmediawas obsolete Butthematuringinternethastoldadifferent andmorefamiliar story Thenewsocialnetworks spendagooddealoftimereactingtotheagendassetbytheoldmainstreammedia(ReddenandWitschge, 2010).Internetaccessandsocialmediaspacehavecometobedominatedbyjustafewgiantcorporations, leadingtoold-fashionedcallsfor“arigorousdiscussionofthepoliticaleconomyofthesesocialmedia monopolies”(Lovink2013:11) Theonlinepostingofvideosdepictingbeheadingsbyterroristgroupsandthe RussianuseofFacebookandTwittertointerfereinthe2016U.S.presidentialelectionhavereignitedlegal andpopulardebatesaboutregulatingtheseonlinespaces(Roberts2017;Wu2015) Teenstetheredto smartphonesareraisingpanickypublicconcernaboutthesocialimpactofmediause(Twenge2017) Andso itgoes.Issuesofmediaownershipandcontrol,regulation,commercialization,andsocialimpact longamong thestapletopicsofmediastudies areasrelevanttodayasever.

WeoriginallywroteMedia/Societymorethantwodecadesagoinaverydifferentmediaenvironment,before the“threerevolutions”hadfullydeveloped Althoughsubsequenteditionshaveaddressedtheongoing changesinthemedialandscape,thissixtheditionfurtherintegratesthesechangesthroughoutthebook.Many ofthesechangesarevisible,includingaretitlingandreorderingofchapters,thestreamliningand reorganizationofmostchapters,andevenanewlytweakedsubtitletobetterreflectthebook’scontentand organization.Inaddition,thisneweditionfeaturesmanyless-visiblechanges,includingupdatestodata,

researchfindings,andexamples,allofwhichhelpthiseditionbetterreflectourcurrentmediareality.

Whilereflectingthechangingmedialandscape,wehavebeencarefultoretainthecoreframework,structure, andhistoricalexamplesinMedia/Society Thesehavemadethebookafavoriteinmasscommunication, sociology,mediastudies,andpoliticalsciencecoursesaddressingthemedia’sroleinsociety.Thefascinating developmentsoftherecentyearsraisefreshquestionsandissuesforstudentsofmedia Buttheydonot displacethesortsofquestionsthathavealwaysanimatedthestudyofmedia,includingthefollowing:

Howhastheevolutionoftechnologyaffectedthemediaandhowweusethem?

Howdoesthebusinessofmediaoperate,andwhydoesthismatter?

Howdotheprofessionalnorms,economicinfluences,andregulatoryconstraintsthatcharacterizemedia institutionsinfluencewhatwesee(ordon’tsee)inourmedia?

Howwelldoesmediacontentreflecttherangeofrealitiesinoursocietyandourworld?

Howarepeopletodayusingthemediaanddigitalcommunicationsintheireverydaylives?

Whatinfluencesdothemediaseemtobehavingonusandoursociety?

ThesesortsofquestionswereattheheartofMedia/Societyinitsfirstedition,andtheycontinuetoanimate thislatestedition

So,morespecifically,whatchangescanyoufindinthesixthedition?Keychanges andsomequestionsthey raise includethefollowing:

Areorderingofchapters Morethanever,weneedtounderstandhowchangesindigitaltechnology havehelpedtransformmedia Therefore,we’veexpandedourdiscussionofmediatechnology,deepened ourhistoricaloverview,andmoveditforwardinthebook.Thishelpsbetterframelaterdiscussions, whichemphasizehowsocialinfluencesultimatelydeterminethewaystechnologyisused

Abroadercastofcharacters Althoughcreatorsoftraditionalmedia print,radio,television,andfilm remainessential,today’smediaalsoincludesimportantplayersintheformof“platforms”(atermwe investigatecritically),searchengines,anddistributors.Facebook,Google,Twitter,Netflix even AmazonandApple areamongtheactorstobereckonedwithinthecontemporarymedia environment,asareolder andnowintegrated telecommunicationsfirmslikeComcast,AT&T,and Verizon.Whatroledothesecompaniesplayinthemedialandscape?Howdotheymakemoney?What aretherippleeffectsoftheirbusinessmodels?

Areconsiderationofcontentinaneraofabundance.Historically,mediawascharacterizedbyscarcity. Butfiniteairwaves,fixedairtime,andlimiteddistributionhavebeensupplantedbycountlessstreaming options,deepon-demandcatalogs,lowerproductioncosts,anddiversifyingproducers Whatisthe significanceofthisabundanceofcontent?Howrealisthenewdiversity? Afocusontheexpandedroleofusers.We’vealwaysacknowledgedthataudiencesareactiveparticipants inthemediaprocessandhavelongnotedthegrowthofuser-generatedcontent Thiseditionmarksthe fullembraceof“users”asencompassingeverythingfromconsumptionandinterpretationofmediato commentingonandcreatingmediacontent.Howdosocialmediaplatformsthatenableuser participationchangethemediaenvironment?Howdoesusers’digitallaborprovidetheenergythatfuels

theseplatforms?Howdousersnavigatetheirroles audience,creator,consumer,citizen inthis complexenvironment?

Alookatmediaaslivedexperience.Withsmartphonestofacilitatebothaccesstotraditionalmediaand communicationviasocialmedia,theubiquityofmediahasreachedunprecedentedlevels.Mediano longercompriseproductstoconsumebutinsteadarefullyintegratedintoalifestylewheredigitalmedia andface-to-faceinteractionsareinterwoven.Whatdoweknowaboutthepotentialimpactonusersof thisnewwayofliving?

Adeeperdiveintorecentissues Privacy,internetconsolidation,therisinginfluenceofalgorithms,new monopolies,“fakenews,”propaganda,andinvasivemarketingareamongthetopicsgivenathorough introductioninvariouspartsofthebook.Whatarethecautionaryredflagsoftoday’smedialandscape? Whatissuesremaintobegrappledwith?

Aclarificationofmedia.Thereusedtobeafairlycleardistinctionbetweeninterpersonal communicationand“massmedia.”Now,though,thelinesareblurred oratleastarevariable.In response,Chapter1hasanexpandedintroductiontosimplemediamodelsthatconsiderswhat“media” areandwhatconstitutes“mass”mediainourtime.

Aglobalperspective.We’vealwaysincludedalookatmediainaglobalcontextandtheissuesraisedby globalization Wecontinuethistradition,sometimesintegratingthesediscussionsintoachapterand returninginmoredepthtothemintheafterwordonglobalizationandthefutureofmedia Theglobal mediaindustry,regulationofmediaglobally,socialmediausearoundtheworld,andsoon,arealltopics weexplore

Streamlinedwriting.We’vestreamlinedmanysectionsofthebook,trimmingnonessentialmaterialand relaxingthelanguageabittowelcomestudentsmoreeasily.

IfyouarealongtimeuserofMedia/Society,wehopeyou’llfindtheframeworkandfocusofthetext comfortablyfamiliar,whilethenewcontentservesasastimulatingupdateandmakeover Fornewadopters, you ’vechosenaperfecttimetocomeaboardaswetakeafreshlookatourcontemporarymediaandconsider thefascinatingchangesstilltocome

Intheend,wehopeMedia/Societycontinuestobeavaluabletooltohelpstudentsthinkcriticallyaboutthe mediaandtheirroleindailylife.Thatcriticalframeworkisonethatwillalwaysberelevant,whateverthe futureofmediaturnsouttobe.

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Acknowledgments

Therearecountlesspeoplewhohavehelpedmakethesixeditionsofthisbookpossible Weareespecially gratefultoUdbhavAgarwal,KassiaArbabi,HenryBartlett,JohannaBuchignani,MatthewDillard,Dave Gray,DavidHurley,MarilynKennepohl,CarolineLee,KristinMonroe,CorrinaRegnier,MollieSandberg, JacintheSasson-Yenor,HeatherTomlins,andKateWoodfortheirresearchassistanceovertheyears Thanks toClaytonChildressforhisvaluablesuggestionsduringtheearlystagesofpreparingthefourtheditionandto StefaniaMilanforhercontributionstothefourthedition.ThankstothefolksatVirginiaCommonwealth University’sAcademicLearningTransformationLab(ALTLab),especiallyTomWoodward,forprovocative discussionsaboutthepromise notjusttheperils oftheinternet ThankyoutoPineForgefounderSteve Rutterforhisassistanceandencouragementonthefirsttwoeditionsofthebook.Weappreciatethesupport andassistanceofthestaffatSAGEaswepreparedthisnewedition WearegratefultothemanySAGEand PineForgereviewers,whohaveprovidedveryhelpfulcommentsonpreviouseditionsofMedia/Society:

TerriL.Anderson,UniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles

RonaldBecker,MiamiUniversity–Ohio

VinceCarducci,CollegeforCreativeStudies

VictorP Corona,PolytechnicInstituteofNewYorkUniversity

JiskaEngelbert,ErasmusUniversityRotterdam(TheNetherlands)

PaulMasonFotsch,NewYorkUniversity

DonnaL.Halper,LesleyUniversity

JohnHochheimer,SouthernIllinoisUniversity–Carbondale

AnikoImre,UniversityofSouthernCalifornia

NickJankowski,UniversityofIllinoisatChicago

DanaKaufman,DePaulUniversity

GholamKhiabany,LondonMetropolitanUniversity

OsmanKoroglu,FatihUniversity

MartinLang,GustavusAdolphusCollege

LindaLevitt,StephenF AustinStateUniversity

EricLouw,UniversityofQueensland

MichaelH.McBride,TexasStateUniversity–SanMarcos

RyanMoore,FloridaAtlanticUniversity

LisaM Paulin,NorthCarolinaCentralUniversity

JeffRitter,LaRocheCollege

GabrielRossman,UniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles

MatthewSchneirov,DuquesneUniversity

FredTurner,StanfordUniversity

PhyllisS Zrzavy,FranklinPierceUniversity

Andthankyoutothereviewersofthecurrentedition:

JaneBloodworthRowe,OldDominionUniversity

StephenHagan,McKendreeUniversity

Seong-JaeMin,PaceUniversity

OlaOgunyemi,UniversityofLincoln,UK

AbhijitSen,Winston-SalemStateUniversity

Wewouldalsoliketothankthestudentswhohavetakenourmediacoursesovertheyears.Theirquestions andconcernshavekeptushonestandprovidedwonderfulfuelforthought

ThankstoBenandNickHoynesforprovidingtheirfatherwithacontinuinglessonaboutthecomplexroleof themedia.Finally,specialthanks,asalways,fromDavidtoCeceliaKirkmanandfromBilltoDeirdreBurns foreverything

PartIIntroduction

Chapter1servesasanintroductionandoverviewofthebook Wenotethecentralrolemediaplayinourlives andpresentamodelforunderstandingthemediathathelpsorganizethebook Thisframeworkhighlightsthe push-pullrelationshipsamongelementsofthemediasystem theindustry,users,content,andtechnology allofwhichareembeddedinalargersocialcontext Understandingtheseelementsandhowtheyinteractis crucialfortacklingenduringquestionsaboutthemediainanyera

1Media/SocietyinaDigitalWorld

iStockcom/fizkes

Inthe21stcentury,weroutinelynavigatethroughadensemediaenvironmentunprecedentedinhuman history.Oureverydaylivesaresaturatedwithwords,pictures,videos,andsoundsthatweaccessthrough smartphones,tablets,laptops,televisions,streamingdevices,radios,gameconsoles,MP3players,newspapers, books,magazines,movietheaters,andmore Notonlyareweaudiencesforthisvastseaofmediacontent,but sometimeswealsohelpcirculateandevencreatesomeofitthroughoursocialmediaposts,photoshares, “likes,”Tweets,texts,videouploads,onlinereviews,blogposts,andotherefforts Yetformostofus,allofthis isutterlyunremarkable We’recomfortablewithmedia,soweoftentakethemforgranted Theyarelikethe airwebreathe,everpresentyetrarelyconsidered.

Thisbookasksyoutostepbackandseriouslyreflectonimportantquestionsaboutthemediaenvironmentin whichwelive Itinvitesyoutobetterunderstandyoureverydaymediaactivitiesbyplacingtheminabroader social,economic,andpoliticalcontext Inthisbook,wedon’tlectureaboutthe“evils”ofmedia,nordoweget caughtupinthehypeaboutthelatestwondersofourdigitalage.Instead,weaskenduringquestionsabout howthemediaworkandwhythismatters:

Howhavemediatechnologieschangedthewaymediaoperate?

Whatcanwelearnabouttoday’smediabyrevisitingmediafromyearspast?

HowdocompanieslikeGoogleandFacebookshapewhatwesee anddon’tsee?

Howaretraditionalmediacompanies inprint,radio,television,film stillcentraltoourmedia experiences?

Whyaresomeimagesandideassoprevalentinthemedia,whileothersaremarginalized?

Howdogovernmentsregulatemedia,andhowdoesthataffectmedia’soperation?

Howdoessocialinequalityinfluencebothwhatweseeinthemediaandhowweusemedia?

Howhastheinternettransformedpoliticsandjournalism?

Whatisthesignificanceoftheever-increasingglobalizationofmedia?

Whatimpactaremediahavingonoursocietyandonourworld?

Thesequestionsandotherslikethemarenotsimpletoanswer Indeed,oneoftheargumentsinthisbookis thatpopularanswerstosuchquestionsoftenoverlookthemorecomplicateddynamicsthatcharacterizethe mediaprocess.Butthesetoughquestionsraiseimportantissueswithwhichweneedtograppleifweareto understandthemediaandtheirimportantplaceinoursociety

TheImportanceofMedia

Torealizethesignificanceofmediainourlives,weonlyneedtonoticeallthemediadevicesthatsurroundus (seeFigure11):

RadioisanearlyuniversalpresenceinUS householdsandautomobiles,reachingmoreAmericansin anygivenweekthananyothermediaplatform(Nielsen2017d).

Televisionisinalmostallhomes,with82percentofTVhouseholdspayingforprogramming through cable(44%),satellite(30%),orafiber-opticlinefromtheirphonecompany(8%) and13percent relyingonfree,over-the-airbroadcasttelevision.Theremaining5percentofTVhouseholdsforgo traditionalbroadcastorcabletelevisionandrelyexclusivelyonabroadbandinternetconnectionfor videocontent ManyTVhouseholdsalsohaveadditionaltelevision-relatedelectronicdevicesincluding DVD/Blu-Rayplayers(73%),DVRs(54%),videogameconsoles(43%),andmultimediastreaming devices(31%)suchasAppleTV,Roku,orGoogleChromecast(Nielsen2017e).

Figure11■US AdoptionRatesofSelectMedia,2017

Sources: 1Nielsen(2017e); 2PewResearchCenter(2017a;2017b).

Devicesthatcanconnecttotheinternetareavailabletomost althoughnotall Americans About95 percentofadultshaveacellphoneofsomesort;77percenthaveasmartphone(PewResearchCenter 2017b).Morethanthree-quarters(78%)ofU.S.adultshaveadesktoporlaptopcomputer,and51% haveatablet Seventy-threepercentofadultshavebroadbandinternetaccessathome(PewResearch Center2017a) Teens,too,usemedia-relatedtechnology,sometimesatahigherratethanadults For example,aboutnineoutof10(88%)U.S.teensages13to17havesometypeofcellphone,andabout three-quarters(73%)ofthemhaveaccesstoasmartphone;87percentofthemhaveaccesstoadesktop orlaptopcomputer(PewResearchCenter2015)

Asusersembracenewtechnology,theycontinuallychangethelandscapeofmediaequipment.Forexample, theproliferationofsmartphonesledtothedeclineoftelephonelandlines Morethannineout10US householdsoncehadalandline;fewerthanhalfnowdo(NationalCenterforHealthStatistics2017).The growthof“connectedtelevisions”(TVswithinternetaccess)andvideostreamingservicesledtoarisein “cord-cutters,”peoplewhodonotsubscribetotraditionalpayTVviacable,satellite,orfiberoptics(Dawson 2017).Voice-activated“smartspeakers,”suchasAmazon’sEchodevicesandGoogleHome,aremostlyused nowformusicstreamingandtheirdigitalassistants(ConsumerIntelligenceResearchPartners2017). Increasingly,though,suchdeviceswilllikelybethehouseholdhubforthe“internetofthings”(IoT) the networkofinternet-connectedobjectsthatenablesmachine-to-machine(M2M)communication thatwill linkmediadeviceswitheachotherandwithnon-mediagadgets,alteringthelandscapeagain.

AllofthesemediadevicesareanindicatoroftheenormousamountoftimeAmericansspendwatching, listeningto,reading,orotherwiseusingvariousformsofmedia Forexample,Nielsen(afirmthatmeasures mediaaudiences)estimatesthat,onaverage,Americansspendmorethan7hoursadaywatchingtelevision, includingliveTV(4:21),recordedprograms(:34),andstreamingviamultimediadevices(2:19) Obviously, peopleareoftendoingotherthingswhiletheTVison cookingmeals,gettingreadyforwork,andsoon Still,overthecourseofayearthatamountstomorethan110daysofTVexposure!Thosenumbersvaryby age;olderAmericanswatchmorethandoubletheamountoftelevisionthatyoungadultsdo(seeFigure12) (That’sjustoneofthewaysthatmediausevariesbysocialgrouping)Withvastexposuretomediaatallages, itcanbearguedthatthemediaarethedominantsocialinstitutionincontemporarysociety,supplantingthe influenceofolderinstitutions,suchasschools,religion,andsometimeseventhefamily

Figure1.2■DailyTimeSpentwithSelectMediabyGenerationinHoursandMinutes,UnitedStates, 2017

Source:Nielsen2017e

Withthepervasivepresenceofmediathroughoutourlives,ourmediaandoursocietyarefused: media/society Ifthatseemsanoverstatement,thenconsiderthissimplethoughtexperiment:Envisionlife

withoutmedia.Imaginethatyouwakeuptomorrowinasortofparalleluniversewhereeverythingisthesame exceptthatmediadonotexist:nosmartphone,internet,orsocialmedia;notelevisionorradio;norecorded musicorvideogames;nobooks,magazines,ornewspapers.

Ifthemediadisappeared,nothingelsewouldbethesame.Ourentertainmentwouldbedifferent.Wewould notwatchsportsonTV,catchvideosonline,orgotoamovieforfun Wewouldnotlistentorecordedmusic forrelaxation Wewouldnotuseourphonestotextorcallfriends Wewouldnotpostpicturesorupdates aboutourselves orlookatothers’posts onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,orothersocialmediasites.Our understandingofpoliticsandtheworldarounduswouldbevastlydifferentbecausewewouldnothave websites,newspapers,radio,television,andbookstoexplainwhatishappeninginourworld Indeed,our worldwouldbemuch“smaller”becausewewouldknowlittlebeyondourdirectexperienceandmuch“slower” becausethepaceofinformationreachinguswouldbegreatlydecreased Evenourperceptionsofourselves wouldbedifferentbecausewewouldnothavesocialmediaposts,televisioncharacters,andadvertisingimages tocompareourselvesagainst.Forexample,wemightnotconcernourselvessomuchwiththelatestfashions andcelebritiesifadsandsocialmediapostsdidnotimplythatweshouldbeconcernedwithsuchthings

Withnomedia,wewouldhaveagreatdealoftimeonourhands,andlikeearliergenerations,wewould probablyspendmuchofitinteractingwithotherpeopleface-to-face.Wemightentertainourselvesbyplaying musicalinstrumentsorgames Wemightattendmeetingsandlecturesordiscusspoliticsandcurrenteventsto learnwhatwasgoingon Wemighttakeuphobbiesorlearnnewskillstopassthetime Oursociallives howandwithwhomweinteract wouldchangeradicallyintheabsenceofmedia.Wewouldlikelydevelop moreintenselocalrelationshipswhilelosingtouchwithpeoplewhoarephysicallyfartheraway

Ofcourse,changeswouldreachwellbeyondourpersonallives Thebehaviorofpoliticians,business executives,andleadersinotherfieldswouldchangewithoutmedia Presidentswouldn’tTweet,campaignads wouldn’texist,andgovernmentwouldoperatedifferently.Withoutadvertising,businesswouldbe fundamentallydifferent Education,religion,andeveryothersocialinstitutionwouldalsobedifferentwithout media,aswouldsocialmovementsandcitizens’organizations

Weliveinamedia/society Mediaaresocentraltoourdailylivesthatweoftenusemorethanoneform atatime.Multitaskingiscommon,andmediadevices manyofthemportable aredeeplyintegrated intosociallife

iStock.com/beer5020

So,yes,ourmediaandsocietyareintertwinedandfusedtogetherinwaysthatmakeitdifficulttoimagine theireverbeingseparated Instudyingmedia,weareexaminingacentralfeatureofoursocietyandourdaily lives Butbeforewegoanyfurtherinourdiscussion,let’sconsideraquestionthatisnotassimpleasitseems: Whatare“themedia”?

ModelsofCommunicationMedia

Whatarethemedia?Answeringthatseeminglysimplequestionhasgottenmorecomplicatedinrecentyears asmediahaveevolved Butlet’strytoclarifysometermsandtheirsignificancebyreviewingsomebasic communicationmodels(McQuailandWindahl1993)

Interpersonaland“Mass”Communication

Thewordmediaisthepluralofmedium.ItisderivedfromtheLatinwordmedius,whichmeansmiddle. Communicationmediaarethedifferenttechnologicalprocessesthatfacilitatecommunicationbetween(and areinthemiddleof)thesenderofamessageandthereceiverofthatmessage(Figure13) Print,telephony, radio,televisionbroadcasting,cabletelevision,film,andtheinternetareamongthemanytypesofmediathat exist

Thisbasiccommunicationprocessappliestoyoutalkingonacellphonetoafriend Italsoappliesto,say,a radiostationbroadcastingaprogramtolisteners.Buttherearecrucialdifferencesbetweenthesetwotypesof communication Yourphonecallisaone-to-oneinterpersonalcommunication;youarecontactingasingle personthatislikelyknowntoyou Bycontrast,radioisaone-to-manyformofmasscommunication;astation usesairwavestosendaradiosignaltoanunknownandpotentiallymassaudience(SeeFigure1.4).Various massmediainvolveaknownsenderandgenerallyanonymousreceivers.Forexample,readerstypicallyknow theauthorofthebooktheyarereading,butauthorsclearlycannotknowwho,exactly,isreadingtheirbook Whenwewatchatelevisionprogramorgotothemovies,thenamesoftheproducer,director,andactorsare prominentlydisplayed,whereasthemoviegoersandtelevisionaudiencesareunknowntothecreators.

Furthermore,yourphoneconversationislikelytobehighlyinteractive,featuringaback-and-forthdialogue; youarebothaproducerandreceiverofmessages Unlessitincorporatesadifferentmedium aswithcall-in programs amodernradiobroadcastisnotinteractive;mediapersonnelsenda“message”outtoanaudience Theseone-waycommunicationchannelscreateacleardistinctionbetweenproducersandreceiversofmedia content Withtraditionalmassmedia,theproducersofmostcontentareprofessionalsincommercial companies,nonprofitmediaorganizations,andgovernments,whereasmembersofthepublicarelimitedto

Figure13■BasicCommunicationMediaModel
Figure1.4■TraditionalMassMediaModel

beingintheaudience Audienceshavealwaysbeenactivein“reading”orinterpretingmassmediacontent (somethingwe’llexploreinmoredetaillaterinthebook),buttraditionalmassmediaallowforonlyvery limitedinteractionbetweenreceiversandthesender.

Sothedistinctionsbetweeninterpersonalandtraditional“mass”mediaarefairlyclear.Personal communicationtendsto(a)beone-to-one,(b)involveasingleknownreceiver,and(c)beveryinteractive Traditionalmassmediatendto(a)beone-to-many,(b)involveapotentiallylargeandunknownaudience, and(c)featurelimited,ifany,interaction.But,today,suchdistinctionshaveeroded.

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