This course will look at the digital technologies that make up the new world of “digital convergence.” This course will also help students to develop necessary digital media production skills and use them critically to solve media development problems. The course will examine the effects of digital media convergence on psychological life, on industry, and on communities local and global through a variety of theories and paradigms.
Hi all, I will use the same grading rubric as Dr. Dewberry for the first reading on Agenda Setting:
1. Provide a quick over view or summary of the reading (3 - 5 sentences). (10 pts)
2. Clearly Identify what you feel are 3 key ideas in the reading. (8pts)
3. Support your summary and/or key points with three specific references to the reading. (8pts)
4. Identify the most difficult or challenging concept for you from this week’s readings. Saying “I don’t know” or “nothing was difficult” is not an adequate response. (8pts)
5. Provide 2 or 3 discussion questions for us to talk about in class (6pts)
6. Discuss how this week’s readings might relate to your upcoming presentation, paper or to the “real world.” Here too, saying "I don't know" or "it does not apply" is not an adequate response. (10 pts)
1.This article compares and contrasts personal information gathering, specifically about political campaigns. They make the argument that most of our society is not the “go getter” when it comes to political information nor are they really presented with the opportunity except through mass media. Mass media often agrees there is high significance in similar stories, leading many to report on the same issues, however personal point of views come into play, sometimes resulting in extreme prejudices. They have found this similar pattern trying to prove to us how agenda setting is present and backed it up with data. Finally the authors wrapped it up with the study on salience proving the majority of our society seeks information from newspapers, TV’s, and new magazines.
2. 1)p.177- Most seem to acquire (political beliefs) it, if at all, without much effort. 2)Mass media sets the agenda for each political campaign 3)State or quality and importance of various campaign topics
3. -They interviewed 100 people who had no already voted and found that a considerable amount of campaign news was not devoted to discussion of the major political issues but rather to analysis of the campaign itself. The found a strong relationship between the emphases placed on different campaign issues by the media and the judgment of voters as to the state, quality and importance of various political topics. -They then looked at those who were not committed to specific party in early campaign stages. Major news items, correspondences were more often higher between voter opinions of important issues reflected in the news. Minor news items, voters corresponded highly with the emphasis reflected in all news. -Looked at correspondences of voter emphasis on issues with media coverage. They found a high connection between significant issues of campaign.
4.I was trying to understand what age groups were being assessed here? I personally think you might see less interest in seeking the right information by researching etc. if you just turned 18 as opposed to someone who is in their 50’s or 60’s and thinking about retirement, social security, etc. Do we just assume they are surveying a representative group starting from age 18 all the way up?
5.1)In your opinion what other areas do newspapers, TV’s, and magazines often use agenda setting, besides political issues?
2)How could we apply agenda setting to social networking sites like twitter? Can we?
6.This article reminded me of something that happened the other night when I watching the Winter Olympics on TV. The first day we all heard of the awful accident claiming one young man’s life. We saw this highlighted by the news stations as breaking news flash, so important we must cut into what you’re doing to tell you about it. The TV told us that at that particular moment in time that story was most important, and then if you went out and bought your local paper the next day you saw as the front page story about the unfortunate loss of an Olympians life. The TV also decided what the front page story would be. TV told us that’s what we were supposed to care about tomorrow, they named by highlighting in red at the bottom of our TV’s breaking news, the front page story for every newspaper the following day and the topic of conversation for people everywhere.
1a. Joseph Epstein’s article addresses the fact of whether or not traditional newspapers are becoming essentially obsolete. He provides cultural examples of what newspapers mean to him, his father and society in general. Factors include the changing of demands and technologies; media, internet etc. 2a. Three main points of the reading: newspaper obsolescence, corresponding cultural/societal changes, technology (secondary) 3a. “the trouble with blogs and internet news sites, it has been said, is that they merely reinforce the reader’s already established interests and views, thereby contributing to our much lamented national; polarization of opinion” –pg 48. “My father took his paper seriously…he was in no great hurry to finish it” –pg 47. “We’re living in an age of transition…readership fell from 52.6% to 37.5%” –pg 46. 4a. I would like to think that with regard to the polarization of opinion that a larger percentage of the public because of the evolving culture would make a more extreme effort to think critically and analytically with regard to what they hear, see and read with respects to digital media communication/news feeds. 5a. Do you see a connection between decline in readership and evolving demands on our society i.e. work-life balance? Do you think they’re any ways our society can combat our evolving technological culture with regard to newspaper obsolescence? 6a. I can most definitely utilize this piece as part of my paper. There are many references to the changing/increasing demands on people today. It correlates to technology and speed and convenience of obtaining information. 1a. The agenda-setting piece discusses how candidates are using mass media more and more. The authors describe the corresponding agenda as being hypothesized. The question is posed whether or not they are swaying the public or simply aligning there messages to common audience interests. 2b. Three key ideas in this reading are political efforts by the public, the question of aligning messages towards specific groups, importance and/or effectiveness of media campaigning (does media skew/falsify) 3b. “It might also be argued that high correlations indicate that the media were simply successful in matching their messages to audience interests” – pg 185. “The press may not be telling people what to think but it is stunningly successful in telling its readers what to think about” – pg 177. “The political world is reproduced imperfectly by individual news media” – pg 184. 4b. The most challenging aspect of this piece was the statistics, there were so many and it took a great deal of time to interpret for myself. 5b. When does agenda setting not exist in mass media (generally and politically)? Do common audience interests, stressed in this piece align itself with Epstein’s article with regard to newspaper obsolescence? 6b. Agenda setting will not play a significant role in my paper however, I feel it is imperative to stress and discuss as it plays a huge role in our lives with regard to the decisions we make politically as well as socially.
Summary McCombs and Shaw’s paper ‘The agenda setting function of Mass Media’ discusses the role that mass media plays in setting an agenda for a population of undecided voters in Chapel Hill during the 1968 Presidential Campaign. They hypothesized that this agenda influences the perception of the people towards the political issues.
Key Ideas 1. We learn about how important an issue is, by how much importance is placed on it in the media. “Readers learn not only about a given issue, but also how much importance to attach to that issue from the amount of information in a news story and its position.” Page 176
2. When it comes to politics, people are strongly influenced by the issues covered in mass media. “Voters learn in direct proportion to the emphasis placed on the campaign issues by the mass media.” Page 177
3. Voter opinion on political candidates is less based on what each candidate highlights and more by that covered by the mass media. “The judgments of the voters seem to reflect the composite of the mass media coverage. This suggests that voters pay some attention to all the political news regardless of whether it is from, or about, any particular favored candidate.” Page 181
Challenging concept A challenging concept for me in this study was how they interpreted or took into consideration the different levels with which the respondents were already pre-disposed to a candidate at the time of the survey. Yes they were undecided, but to what degree were their responses influenced by their political leaning?
Discussion Questions
1. On Page 184, the authors point out that news media does have a point of view, sometimes extreme biases. To what degree are these biases reduced or increased by today’s increased sources and choice of mass media? (Multiple news networks, satellite & Cable TV from around the world, internet) 2. This study took place in 1968 when it appears that newspapers were the vital source of mass media. What role does printed newspapers play in mass media today, especially in terms of having an agenda setting function?
Relate reading to presentation paper
In my presentation paper involving the effectiveness of computerized video analysis between female and male athletes, it could be argued that how such technology is used, interpreted and how the feedback is delivered will significantly influence effectiveness. Those interpreting the analysis and delivering the feedback could have an agenda, distorting the results.
1. This article starts off with explaining that agenda setting and mass media influence can be explained through political campaigns which effect salience of voters. The authors, McCombs and Shaw further establish there argument through there implemented methodology of sampling 100 voter interviews that allowed to gather information on the major and minor items in mass media and their correlation with voters. They explain parties and party issues related to mass media content and mass media platforms (tv, radio, newspapers etc...) They found that voters are affected by the media in terms of what they considered major issues. In regards to salient conditions it was also found that agenda setting is found as a main function of mass media in relation to voters and politics.
2. Three main points: A. Mass media is an agenda setter for political campaigns. B. Defined major issues and minor issues define voter reaction according to the media platform they are used in (tv, radio, newspaper etc...). c. The political world is defined by mass media and voters tend to establish a definition of what is important which explains agenda setting.
3. A. Lang and Lang's observation: " The mass media force attention to certain issues. They build public images of political figures..." (pg. 177) B. " But as we move from major events in the campaign, upon which nearly everyone agrees, there is more room for individual interpretation, reflected in the lower correlations with the minor agreement among media. (pg. 184) C. "High salience of affect tends to block use of communication media to acquire further information about issues with high personal importance." (pg. 187)
4. Understanding the tables regarding major and minor importance including the table regarding salience was the most confusing thing for me.
5. A. To what level do you believe mass media shapes your own political beliefs? B. As mass media continues to change and grow in presence among politics and public opinion do you feel agenda setting will continue to grow with this?
6. This weeks readings will help me understand more about how the lack of mass media affects third world countries politically. It will also comparatively help me understand and consider that primary countries like the US, Russia, and China are also affected by this in terms of there communications strategies. Each countries involvement in digital media determines in many ways there mass media exposure which in turn affects political landscapes and consequently funding for technological development. If a country doesn't invest the so-called "wiring" to move from being a third world they will be limited in there shaping with mass media and politics.
1) The article by McCombs and Shaw examines the role of mass media in presenting ideas and agendas to the public, specifically during the 1968presidential campaign. Voters in the Chapel Hill area were used to gather information supporting their case and ultimately see if a correlation exists between voter focus on issues and the attention the mass media gives said issue. 2) For many, mass media is the only way people receive information about politics, "In our day, more than ever candidates go before the people through the mass media rather than in person." p.176
Mass media is responsible for the agenda setting of a political entity and what it feeds to the people. "It is hypothesized that the mass media set the agenda for each political campaign, influencing the salience of attitudes toward the political issues." p. 177
Mass media determines what the important issues are for the people. "For major news items, correlations were more often higher between voter judgments of important issues and the issues reflected in all the news (including of course news about their favored candidate/party) than were voter judgments of issues reflected in news only about their candidate/party." p. 182
3) For me the most confusing part of the article is the assumption that many of these issues were not on the forefront of voter's minds to begin with and may have not been predicated on the notion that the media introduced or saturated the issue.
4)In today's world of complete media exposure and multiple sources of media to choose from can the agenda setting of a news source be as effective.
Give some examples of how the media used agenda setting in the last presidential race.
5) The article definitely sheds light on the issue of agenda setting by mass media and certainly has implications on today's society where the media has more channels to reach the people. we should all be aware of the attempts to shape the minds of the masses and I would say in today's society we are more equipped to filter this agenda out and get down to the true ideas being sent out to us. This may mean that the media has to adapt and become even more cunning how they go about their agenda setting.
1. McCombs and Shaw’s article “The agenda-setting function of mass media” discusses the idea of agenda-setting and its influence on the public’s perception of political issues. Information was collected during the 1968 presidential campaign. The article also compares different forms of media and their impact.
2. Voters learn a great deal from the media
Different forms of media have a different impact. For example, news can have a bias.
The idea of agenda-setting
3. “The mass media force attention to certain issues. They build up public images of political figures.” (p. 177) “News media do have a point of view, sometimes extreme bias” (p. 184)
“The media appear to gave exerted a considerable impact on voters’ judgments of what they consider the major issues of the campaign” (p.180)
4. I don’t necessarily think there was anything challenging about this article; I think it was pretty straight forward. However, this was something I never really thought about. I find it very interesting how mass media can affect how people perceive things. I also think it’s interesting that the media chooses what we see.
5. Do you think your vote/opinion has ever been swayed by the media?
Have you ever notices news media bias?
6. In a way this can be tied into my paper topic. I plan on looking into the use of YouTube in education and this is only possible if the videos are online. The media can have an impact on what teachers are teaching and in turn this can impact what videos are available.
Rogers and Seidel’s study examines how news of the September 11th terrorist attacks spread through a small sample of people in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They looked at the sources / channels with which each respondent first heard of the news; what they first heard; where they were; how they gained further information; how they were affected by the news and what actions they took as a result.
Key Ideas
1. There are five important stages in the innovation–decision process, knowledge; persuasion; decision; implementation and confirmation. “Past diffusion research suggests five stages in the innovation–decision process: (1) knowledge; (2) persuasion; (3) decision; (4) implementation; and (5) confirmation.” Page 210
2. The channels involved in spreading the news event was influenced by the time of the day and time of the week that the attacks occurred. “People tend to hear of the occurrence of a major news event from another person when the event takes place during a weekday, but from the media when the event takes place on a weekend” Page 212
3. The process of spreading information from person to person is influenced by an individual’s communication network and how important they perceive that information to be. “The news diffusion process is shaped by each individual’s interpersonal communication network, and how the previous person in the diffusion chain judges the news”. Page 215
Challenging concept I did not identify a particularly challenging concept in this week’s readings. For the first time however in reading the study I was able to sense how another community outside of the immediate New York City area experienced the attacks of 9/11/2001
Discussion Questions 1. Only 2.36% of the respondents in the study received the news of the attacks via the internet. How much has that changed today. As a class where do we hear our breaking news?
2. One of the factors influencing the diffusion of news is situational, whether someone is at home or at work. With immediate twitter / facebook / email / updates common place in this area how much of a factor is being at work or home today, in the diffusion of news?
3. With the cell phone being more than just a phone, are these methods of news diffusion (twitter / facebook / email) considered telephone or person to person.
Relating to the ‘Real World’ Reading this paper really highlights how the sources involved in the diffusion of news has rapidly changed since 2001, and for that matter how much communication has changed in just 10 years. I am aware that yesterday during the snowstorm even though I had the choice, I got the majority of my weather reports and updates from online weather broadcasts as opposed to television broadcasts. I got the news when I wanted it, not waiting to get it on television - highlighting the changes in the diffusion of news today.
1. The Rogers and Seidel article searched to explain the diffusion of news through the example of the salient events of September 11th. They chose to use a questionnaire format to uncover the way the news of the event had traveled to people in the US. They looked at mass media and interpersonal communication over a several hour period after the events had begun and continued to transpire. The used a sample of over one hundred individuals, both male and female, in New Mexico of different ages, backgrounds to gather data. They found that diffusion had occurred regardless of where the subjects were at the time the found out about the attacks.
2. The reading had many key ideas, but if they were to be narrowed down to three key points they would be the following:
A. Past and present research regarding diffusion, innovation, and the innovation and diffusion process can help explain in terms of the first news communicated to individuals on the September 11th terrorist attacks. B. The different channels of communication i.e. TV, radio, interpersonal, telephone, internet, and other forms of communication explain how salient the event really was to Americans. This also explained how the news travelled at first to these people. C. The impact of interpersonal network diffusion and how the phenomenon of salient news can travel quickly through massive face-to-face interaction and how people can be personally affected by an event of this magnitude.
3. Three key ideas supported by the text are as follows:
A. “ Diffusion is the process through which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system. An innovation is an idea, practice, or object perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption.” (Pg. 210 paragraph 2) B. “ Some 116 of our 127 respondents (91%), after first hearing of the terrorist attacks, searched for further information.” (Pg. 214 paragraph 3) C. “One respondent said that he/she told between 50 to 60 strangers about the terrorist attacks…” (Pg. 215 paragraph 6)
4. The most difficult item for me with this weeks reading is the very last paragraph in the article. The author’s state in the last sentence that they, “conclude that many interesting research questions are available for study in future news event diffusion research.” I understand they must implore others to further this area of study, but what did they find was their conclusive evidence or supportable finding. Was it their intent to have the reader decide based on their research?
5. Two discussion questions:
A. Do you believe the sample they selected, from New Mexico, was adequate to support their claims? B. How do you think work might affect your receipt of salient news? Do you think this has changed much since 2001 with the evolution of digital media?
6. Relevance to my final paper:
This relates greatly to how parts of the world are positively or negatively affected by the digital divide in regards to the diffusion of news. For instance, it would be interesting to conduct the same survey in a country that is much smaller in population, less wired for communication, and with different values for what is salient news. I feel we might get much different results, and in many cases individuals might not receive news of this enormity in the same week let along same morning.
1) The article we were tasked with reading this week dealt with the diffusion of information following the Sept 11 terrorist attacks amongst residents in New Mexico. The authors examine the time line when all 127 participants in the study became aware of the attacks. The method of communication the participant used to find out the news was also examined. The actions of the participants was also looked at after they heard about the attacks in order to see their reactions.
2 & 3). A) The important item in the article was the time and speed of the diffusion of knowledge of the attack. "By noon on Tuesday Sept. 11 more than 99% of our 127 respondents were aware of the news event, and most were aware of the news by 9:30 am."
B) The second point of importance was the source by which the respondents found out about the news and the inaccuracies they may have taken from those sources. "Television and radio broadcast every item of information that they could obtain during the first hour or two of the terrorist attacks, even information coming via telephone from the public. As a result, certain information was broadcast that later was found to be incorrect."
C) The third key item is the existence of interpersonal network diffusion. "The news diffusion process is shaped by each individual's interpersonal communication network, and how the previous person in the diffusion chain judges the news. When people in a network think that the news is not very salient, the interpersonal diffusion process can slow or stop.
4) The most challenging part of the article would have to be the context in which the study took place. It would have been nice to have more detail on the respondents and what access they had to different media outlets. I think by knowing these things we could see the diffusion take place more clearly.
5) A) If the study took place 5 years later or today what would the diffusion look like.
B) Did the magnitude of the event and the complete media attention contribute to the results of the study.
6) This article has much relevance to today's digital media saturated environment. If this happened in the present tense, between TV iphones and twitter the diffusion of information would be astounding, considering the importance of the event. Even today when there are fluff news events such as a celebrity cheating on their spouse or a new movie coming out, the speed in which that information travels is mind boggling.
1. This article talks about how news travels and which channels we tap into as human beings to get the information, especially pertaining to 9/11. They take a look at how people found out about 9/11, depending on different times of the day as a result of living in different geographic locations and or just finding out later. They look at the differences of using TV and Radio as our channel for information while at home when at work we look to other people and word of mouth information. This make complete sense in the morning most of us have on the TV turned to the news while were getting ready, we also tend to listen to the radio on the way to work, therefore anyone finding out at 8:30 used these channels. On the other hand those people who found out later or after they already arrive at work (This area of the country) we were more likely to find out from a co worker we passed by after the 2 hours meeting we just got out of. 2. 3 Keys Ideas a. American Patriotism b. Mass medias devotion to new events like these c. Interpersonal Diffusion 3. a. American Patriotism i. Colleges/ high schools/ business/ towns all still hold candle lights rituals for victims of 9/11 every year. Never forget is the slogan! ii. 86% of the 127 respondents engaged in some activity as a result of the terrorist attacks. iii. 82% of the respondents either donated money, attended memorial services, prayed for the victims, gave blood, or displayed an American flag proud b. Mass medias devotion to new events like these i. TV and Radio broadcast every item of information that they could obtain during the first hour or two of the attacks ii. 59% of the respondents report hearing about the attacks first from either TV or Radio iii. Broadcast media has a complete dominance of new coverage for events like these c. Interpersonal Diffusion i. Less then 3 hours after the plane crashed into the towers more then 99% of the respondents heard of the news ii. One respondent said that he/she told between 50 and 60 strangers about the terrorist attacks (a teacher at University of New Mexico) iii. 88 or the 127 respondents told others about the terrorist attacks
4. I don’t think this concept was challenging I actually found it extremely interesting and fun to read about. I was wondering actually what the study would look like if you did it in other geographic locations for example, NJ, CA North Dakota, North Carolina. I personally went to undergraduate school down south and found that a lot of the students down there didn’t share the same connection they are expressing here or that I had being from the area and living here when it happened. 5. A) How much have we as a society backed off of these strict rule and policies we implemented after 9/11? Are we beginning to get lazy again? Hence the attempted bombing on Christmas Day. b) Did you think that a survey would have these results? Did you think that people so far removed would feel and express and actual connection to the people in NY, unless the personally knew someone involved? 6. I had a paper on Facebook and I just honestly and not connecting with it at all and can not find a research paper out of it so I am currently looking for something new. I like this topic and this kind of research and wonder if maybe I couldn’t look and compare 9/11 media coverage to Katrina, to the earthquake in Haiti, to the newest earthquake that still many haven’t heard about in Chile. If I could find a connection or maybe a lack of coverage due to location of Haiti or condition of the disaster I might have something to report on? I don’t know I am look for any and all new ideas my old idea just wasn’t working and you can’t force it, I tried, it isn’t working!
1) This piece hones in on how media coverage is released and communicativley how we process it. The September 11th attacks were the focus in that research conducted explained how long it took and through what sources various subjects to find out about the incidents occuring or that occured. Geography and other individual circumstances were took into consideration.
3) "The September 11th attacks represent a spectacular news event that the public percieved as highly salient, and that diffused rapidly" / "Diffusion is the process through which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system" / "The diffusion of news depends on (1) situational factors (such as if someone is at home or work); (2) Salience (how important that news is to the respondent; and (3) time, such as the day or day of the week when the event happend."
4) The most challenging concept for me to grasp was the concept of salience because I feel that the 9/11 events were essentially forced upon the public and if you were not discussing the occurance you were "out of the loop" or "un-patriotic"
5) Do you think the concept of salience differed with regard to this specific event than any other terrorist related event? / Do you think if 9/11 happend today in 2010, media coverage would be different? If so, how specifically and what impact would it have on society?
6) This interesting article will not relate to my paper per say, but I think it is very important to understand how news is distributed and the impact it has on the variety of people involved in the encoding and decoding of the information.
1. Rogers & Siedel’s study “Diffusion of News of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001” looks at how and when news of the attack was diffused to a small, non-random population in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Data was collected through survey questionnaires. The study looked at TV, radio, person-to-person communication, and telephone as sources of information diffusion.
2.Diffusion, Innovation, and the idea that the September 11 was the first even to be studied in where different forms of digital media were used.
3. A. Diffusion is the process through which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among members of a social system (p.210). B. An innovation is an idea, practice, or object perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption. In this study the innovation is the news event (p.210) C. “The September 11 news event was the first to be studied in which cellular telephones and the internet were widely available to the public (p.210).”
4. What I found challenging about this article was the lack of information regarding the survey and the sample population. As a reader of a study I want to know who was asked and what they were asked. This would make the study more credible. I feel like it was missing key information.
5. What kind a role do you think the media played in Americans perception of the attacks? How would have the diffusion of information occurred without the media? Would that be positive or negative?
6. This relates to the real world because the media is so prominent in our lives. This was the first study done where cell phones and internet were widely used. Therefore this study looks at media diffusion in a new way which relates to the world now. Media always changes and upgrades, research needs to keep up.
1). The article we were assigned to read this week deals with the concept of uses and gratification between society and the media. The authors try to investigate what needs are being met by the media and how the consuming public satisfies certain aspects of their lives. For instance a person who wants to feel more informed to hold casual political conversations with others will use the media as a tool to gain knowledge.
2 & 3).
A) First topic of importance is the concept of uses and gratification theory and the role media plays. "The needs served by mass communication constitute but a segment of the wider range of human needs, and the degree to which they can be adequately met through mass media consumption certainly varies (p. 511)."
B) The next important point the authors make is the needs to which the media satiates. "Mcquail, Blumler, and Brown (1972) have put forward a typology consisting of the following categories: diversion(including escape from the constraints of routine and the burdens of problems and emotional release): personal relationships (including substitute companionship as well as social utility): personal identity (including personal reference, reality exploration, and value reinforcement): and surveillance (p. 513)."
C)The next key idea addresses the reason why society uses the media as a way to satisfy these needs. "It is difficult to conceive of a general theory that might clarify the various processes that underlie any such specific relationships. A preliminary structuring of the possibilities suggests that social factors may be involved in the generation of media-related needs...(p.517)."
4)It was difficult to follow the author's intentions when reading the article. It seemed that many concepts were not proven or could not be specified more clearly. Perhaps the author were pointing out areas that should be looked into more clearly. Also I had difficulty understanding the side the authors were taking, I wasn't sure if they felt that this gratification of needs was a good or bad thing and how they felt about the topic.
5) Do you feel that the pursuit and consumption of media satisfies a certain need for people to escape from reality? Does reality tv prove the point that people use media as a way to fulfill personal needs?
6) I feel the topic is very relevant to my paper topic because people use and cite music as a way to satisfy a variety of personal needs. I feel that we as a society use media to satisfy a number of needs we naturally have as people and often times rely to heavily on that use. I will look into this topic as a possible insert into my paper.
Katz, Blumer & Gurevitch’s paper “Uses and Gratification Research” examines a wide variety of studies conducted between the 1940’s and 1970’s discussing the role of media in fulfilling the needs of the population and the gratification people gain from exposure to different media.
Key Ideas 1. We seek out the media in order to fulfill a need. “One cluster of gratifications that emerged from and English study of listeners to a long running daytime radio seriel (The Dales) centered on the tendency of the program to uphold traditional family values (Blumler, Brown, and McQuail, 1970)” Page 519
2. The gratification we get from media, comes from more than just the content. “The need to structure one’s day may be satisfied merely by having the radio “on” (Mendelsohn, 1964)” Page 514
3. Social factors may influence our need to be fulfilled by media. “Social situation produces tensions and conflicts, leading to pressure for their easement via mass media consumption (Katz and Foulkes, 1962)” Page 517
Challenging concept In the paper much of the discussion in the studies revolves around the use of books, newspapers, radio, television and cinema. Since this article was written the role of these media forms in society has changed significantly, so it was challenging to buy into the notion of the gratification theory with respect to these media forms today.
Discussion Questions 1. The authors question at the end, the extent to which media actually creates the needs they satisfy. With today’s media available through different sources, to what extent do we feel as a class media may create our needs today? 2. If so does this ‘new media’ satisfy our needs, as is suggested in these early studies?
Relating to the ‘Paper’ My paper will involve the effectiveness of computerized video feedback on performance. There is a connection to this study by the needs for athletes and coaches to seek quantitative data on performance as soon as possible. The fact that advanced technology means previously unavailable information and feedback is now available to fulfill the gratification and need of players for immediate feedback, it could be argued in this situation, that media (new information) is actually creating the need it is satisfying.
1.The article “Uses and Gratifications Research” is about audience uses and gratifications from the media and this subjects varying research. The article looks at the needs of people and how and if they are being met by the media. The author also describes different media sources and different models of research.
2/3. A-There are different sources of media- “studies have shown that audience gratifications can be derived from at least three distinct sources: media content, exposure to media, and social context (p.514)”
B- Lundberg and Hulten’s uses and gratifications model- 1. Audience is conceived as active 2. In the mass communication process much initiative in linking need gratification and media choice lies with the audience member 3. The media compete with other sources of need satisfaction 4. Many of the goals of mass media use can be derived from the data supplied by the individual audience members themselves 5. Judgments regarding cultural significance should be suspended while audience orientation s are explored on their own terms
C-The last significant point it that concept mass media use and how it is not as significant as one might think. Yes, in today’s society we are flooded with media 24/7, but its not a necessity. “Maslow’s (1954) proposed hierarchy of human needs may hold more promise”
4. For whatever reason I actually had a hard time following this article. I often found myself going back to reread something because I couldn’t follow the authors’ thoughts.
5. Do to the ambiguity of the authors arguments; do you buy into the gratification theory? Do you think this article would have been more convincing if it was done today?
6. This article correlates to my paper topic. Again, I plan on looking at YouTube as an educational tool. The use of YouTube would simply feed into our need for gratification through use of media.
1. This week’s article related to the media and our society. The authors look at many different pieces of research involving certain theories and how they relate to many social qualities for example the needs of society and how media fulfills those needs. They try to look at many different human needs in a variety of ways, involving different people, individuals, and groups, from different backgrounds, with different needs. The one big thing about this article is you see often mentioned how the research isn’t enough we need to do more.
2. Key points a. Four-functional interpretation b. Students of uses and gratifications might want to try and work backwards c.Literature refers to some consequences of audience functions that conventional effects designs may be unable to capture
3. Supporting key points from literature a. P. 512 Lasswell and Wright look at media on macro- and micro-sociological levels. In this case media serves as functions ie: surveillance, correlation, entertainment, and cultural transmission for society as a whole, individuals, and co-groups within our society. b. P. 513 Future research could benefit from maybe working backwards from gratifications to needs. The surveillance function may be traced to a desire for security of the stratification of curiosity and the exploratory drive; seeking reinforcement of ones attitudes and values may derive from a need for reassurance that one is right or attempts to correlate informational elements may stem from a more basic need to develop on cognitive mystery of the environment. c. P. 519 1) Feedback, from media use to the individuals performance of his social roles. 2) Child uses of pictorial media that might “preclude more realistic and lasting solutions” 3) Child uses of media for fantasizing might either drain off discontent caused by the hard blows of socialization or lead a child into withdrawal from the real world 4) Some individuals the substitute companionship function may involve use of the media to replace real social ties while for other it may facilitate an adjustment to reality.
4. I personally didn’t really enjoy reading this article I felt that the lack of research and missing pieces left me confused and not able to link one idea to the next or follow the authors thoughts. Unlike the other articles this one was unclear and left me confused at the end wondering what the heck they were really trying to say.
5. Do you agree more research must be done in a more concrete way before being able to agree and take a position on this article? Since we talked about the younger generations and the fact hat they don’t even pick up a news paper what do you think this research would focus on instead of books and newspapers? TV, Radio, and internet? Internet is a broad term, how could this research even be done?
6. This weeks article will not relate to my paper unlike last weeks article, however I think its interesting research to look at and important to understand how news is distributed and the impact it has on our society. This article was written in 2001, I would be interested to see if the research would be extremely different today, my guess would be yes! As we discussed the first week with Dr. Kildea how newspapers are on their way out and younger generations feel completely different about newspapers and what purpose they serve to them.
1. This weeks reading on Uses and Gratifications describes the relationship between mass media messaging and the audience. The authors explain this relationship in terms of methodology, typology, and theoretical frameworks. They are able to explain that the needs of the audience are a main determinant in what the mass media produces. After uses are thoroughly explained the authors determine that gratifications have great impact on media both intrinsically and extrinsically.
2/3
A. Our need to be gratified, and in what areas of gratification we need, determine what is fed to us by mass media outlets. We see this when the authors state, " In the mass media communication process much initiative in linking need gratification and media choice lies with the audience member." (pg 511) We see how the audience is the true propenent in uses and gratifications.
B. Uses and gratifications can be explained on a more functional level, in that our everyday tasks can be where we find most of our media usage. For instance, the authors refer to the media audience spending time with friends and family can be done by, "watching television at home with the family or going to the cinema with ones friends." (pg. 514) If we think about how often we do this, it is easy to see the impact it has on uses and gratifications.
C. The social implications of uses and gratifications is the third and final key point of the article. The authors explain, in terms of social situation, and explain generational needs, which lead to uses and gratifications. The authors state a list of social situations that are prefaced with the statement, "social factors may be involved in the generation of media-related needs in any of the following ways..." (5 point list on pg. 517)
4. The most challenging concept in this article is believing that we, the audience, are the ones who determine what is needed and thats how mass media reacts and gratifies. This seemed to be the authors message, and it would seem to me that the mass media has more impact on the audience than they let on.
5.
A. Do you believe that the audience really has as much impact on uses and gratifications as the authors lead us to believe?
B. How do uses and gratifications relate explain digital media as an important tool for communication now and in the future?
6. This article might relate to my paper in that I could tie in uses and gratifications and their presence in the digital divide. I am also debating on bringing in Wikipedia as an example of how the digital divide misrepresents the actuality of reporting and information on the internet. Perhaps I could find that the way and audience in Paraguay finds/looks up information might determine their media exposure different then one whom is from the states. I might use this if it becomes apparent in my research.
1) This piece focused on uses and gratifications. It attempts to forge a connection between was the audience wants and will get from mass media communication. The methodology, typology, and theoretical frameworks are utilized. Ultimately it is audience needs that motivate mass media. 2) Uses of mass media, gratification in mass media and audience needs/incentives via mass media. 3) 5 point list on pg. 517 regarding social factors and media related needs / "Watching television at home with the family or going to the cinema with ones friends." – Pg. 514 / "In the mass media communication process much initiative in linking need gratification and media choice lies with the audience member" – Pg. 511 4) A challenging aspect of the article was getting passed the lackluster factor of the material. Class discussion was much more to the point and the article made it seem like more difficult a concept than it actually is. 5) Does this article (uses and gratification) correlate to realist perspectives? / Does digital/mass media in turn actually dictate our uses and gratifications from it? 6) I could certainly utilize this work in my paper as people use and find gratification fro PDA’s in a variety of ways in both their personal and professional lives.
1) The article we read this week dealt with the internet and the world wide web and some tools and services associated with its use. This article explained how somebody could use these services to work on the web and use the web more efficiently.
2) Three main points are file transfers, RSS feeds and web design
3)
a) "when you subscribe to RSS feeds you create a convenient one stop information shop tailored to your needs and interests." p. 15
b) "although those methods do more than transfer data-web sites and e-mail programs also display the information- FTP is a one-trick pony, it simply moves a file from one computer to another." p 21
c) "Learning to code opens up opportunities; when you have an idea for something new on your web site you don;t want to wait until the "web person" can get around to it." p. 23
4) The most difficult concept was understanding how the RSS feeds help a person to become more efficient when working at home, I guess it might depend on the line of work one works in.
5) One question for discussion is how companies will manage their workers if more people are logging in to work and what challenges this presents to supervisors. Another question is how this move to web commuting will affect interpersonal skills for workers going forward.
6) This article doesn't pertain to my paper topic but I feel the topic is very relevant to my real life because I do telecommute at my present job and I absolutely love it. It gives me more time to spend with my child and saves on gas and lunch money, so for me I love that my company endorses this practice and hope more companies adopt this practice.
1. This reading explains the necessity of the web and being familiar with web language as a journalist or any communication professional. The author explains how servers, RSS feeds, FTP's, basic web design in relation to html coding, CSS, and XML. After providing a basic tutorial of these formats and codes the author explains the opportunity understanding and using the knowledge presented. In short, the understanding of these ideas will allow you to operate and advance in a digital world that is growing everyday.
2/3. Key Ideas and examples from the text
A. We are all expected to operate effectively and efficiently in a digital world as communication professionals unlike in years past. The author states, " We are all web workers now. Previous generations of journalists-and other workers in all industries- had the luxury of expecting some supergeeks in their organizations to take care of the digital duties for them. For better or worse, those days are gone." (pg. 9)
B. Understanding and using RSS feeds and FTF protocol is the key to staying informed and searching the web regularly. The author shares the necessity for RSS by stating, "The bottom line is that using RSS is the most efficient way to consume massive amounts of information in a structures and organized way." (pg. 14)
C. Web designing and html code and language can be simple and should be understood and used by journalists. The author talks about the implications of not understanding basic code by stating, " So, even though it is possible to lead a digital life without learning basic code skills, a journalist's ability to execute ideas and a better journalist, will be limited." (pg. 23)
4. Can someone explain better what a CSS is? I am not sure I understood what the author was trying to say about the fonts, styles, etc...
5. Questions for the class
A. Do you believe that you need to have a basic understanding of code and web design to be successful in your job now? Perhaps your job in the future?
B. Does anyone in the class use RSS feeds currently? Is this really as great as the author makes it seem?
6. I could use this information in my study of the digital divide and how technologically advanced and "connected" nations can use information feeds like RSS to further the communication gap with developing nations.
1) The chapter gives a basic overview of different internet and World Wide Web terms, for example HTML, XML, CSS, etc. The article explains that the more you know about the basic terms of the internet the more successful you will be at using and taking full advantage of its benefits. It also bring attention to the fact that we are all web users now and it’s important to learn about what were doing on the internet so we can grow and expand on the world wide web. 2) 3 Main points: a. Web browsers b. FTP c. CSS
3) Web browsers- The tool that people use to access over the internet information that is published as part of the WWW, at Rider we mainly use the web browser Firefox (p.12). It does three important things: searches and finds information on Web servers, retrieves the information and brings it back to you, and renders the information for display on your computer or mobile device (pg.12). Web browsers in themselves are limited in their ability to handle the massive amount of information available online (p.14).
File Transfer Protocol- Simple process for moving big files that e-mail can’t handle. FTP is a one trick pony, it simply movies a file from one computer to another. You should use FTP when you have shot some photos or video recorded some audio and want to publish the material online (p.21). It’s the primary method for uploading web pages onto a web server to publish them online (p.21).
Cascading Style Sheets- CSS makes websites look cool. It enables you to edit, modify and troubleshoot existing web pages and designs (p.33). The Key to CSS us the ability to set a style for a group of elements on your web site or blog; for example, how the headlines of body text should be displayed (p.34).
4) This week’s most challenging concept is actually RSS even though the authors say sits Really Simple. I understand what its saying but can’t really get a picture of what this RSS feed looks like and I don’t think I have ever seen someone using one. Maybe I have and just don’t realize that’s what it is? I am interested more in these and really how many people are using them, the article make it seem like your missing out if you don’t use it.
5) Does anyone use the RSS function; if yes what do you think of it? How many people before reading this article paid attention to the MB and GB of each file the email out?
6) This article relates to the real world because we use the internet and World Wide Web on a daily basis for almost everything now. It also can open up doors to flex schedules and geographically dispersed cross functional teams. Companies can now be more time and cost efficient now thanks to the internet and all its components. The topic relates to my article in a sense that we now access most of our news through the internet and websites, my paper is about agenda setting and the political race happening right now down in south Florida. I think its important in the fact that I would be able to write this paper so easily without internet access. The WWW has allowed me to access newspapers down in the Miami area easily, helping me to gather the data needed to write my paper.
The chapter entitles “We Are All Web Workers Now” discusses the need to be for journalists (and other professionals) to understand how the web works, so that it can be utilized efficiently. The article discusses the basics such as digital information and size to how the internet works. The article also discusses more complex topics such as RSS, HTML, CSS, and XML. 2&3. As a journalist it is important to have an understanding of technology. This allows you to utilize the tools at your disposal and keep a competitive edge. “Let’s take a step back and break down the most basic web technologies so you can learn how to get the most out of your online existence (p.9).” Utilizing RSS technology can be a great help to journalist. “RSS enables you to subscribe to an information feed that gets delivered directly to an RSS reader or webpage. So, instead of visting several pages each day or performing the same web searches over and over, you can set up RSS to do that for you.” CSS is a tool journalist could use to help attract potential readers. Just like in stores, people are likely to pay attention to what catches their eye. “CSS makes web sites look cool.” “CSS enables you to edit, modify, and troubleshoot existing web pages, and designs.” 4. The most challenging concept for me was RSS or Really Simple Syndication. After reading the first few paragraphs I wasn’t sure if it was something that I had used or not, but once given the examples of Yahoo and Google homepages, I understood.
5. Do you think that knowing the basics of the web will help you utilize it more efficiently? After reading this article, do you think you it will alter how you use web technology? 6. To me the very basic information was more interesting then the info on CSS, XML, or RSS. I had no idea the internet was different then the World Wide Web. Also, the info on digital information was as simple as it gets, but is literally the building block of technological info. I think this article is very relevant to the real world. We are a technology driven society, but most people don’t even know the basics and that’s sad.
Summary The article provides the reader with a basic understanding of the various concepts involved with the internet and world wide web, so that they can maximize its usage and efficiency. Gaining as much as news information as possible through ‘new web browsers’, RSS feeds and readers; understanding file sizes and how to transfer files quickly and efficiently; and understanding basic coding to enhance web pages.
Key Ideas 1. Use RSS feeds to gain information - “You can use RSS feeds to dramatically increase the amount and improve the quality of information that interests you.” Page 14 2. Use FTP to transfer large files – “FTP is a one-trick pony. It simply moves a file from one computer to another.” Page 21 3. Develop knowledge of HTML, CSS & XML. – “Learning to code opens up opportunities when you have an idea for something new on your web site.” Page 23
Challenging Concept
The only challenging concept for me personally was not in the understanding, but rather in how I can best incorporate RSS feeds into my daily browsing experience to increase my efficiency with seeking the information I am looking for.
Discussion Questions 1. The article notes that although RSS feeds have been around for 10+ years it is still only emerging as an internet tool. Why is this so given the rapid growth and adoption of so many other features associated with the internet?
2. My initial reaction on reading the article was why do I need to know how the internet works. Do we need to know how the telephone or TV works? As there is a generation that has always known the existence of the internet, is it now taken for granted, like the phone and TV, and is an understanding of how it works required.
Application to The Real World
The last section in the reading, on knowledge of basic coding I feel is very appropriate to the real world. In developing a Twitter site and embedded html e-mails for the soccer program, my knowledge of this coding has enabled these features to be significantly enhanced and unique as compared to the basic default options.
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteI will use the same grading rubric as Dr. Dewberry for the first reading on Agenda Setting:
1. Provide a quick over view or summary of the reading (3 - 5 sentences). (10 pts)
2. Clearly Identify what you feel are 3 key ideas in the reading. (8pts)
3. Support your summary and/or key points with three specific references to the reading. (8pts)
4. Identify the most difficult or challenging concept for you from this week’s readings. Saying “I don’t know” or “nothing was difficult” is not an adequate response. (8pts)
5. Provide 2 or 3 discussion questions for us to talk about in class (6pts)
6. Discuss how this week’s readings might relate to your upcoming presentation, paper or to the “real world.” Here too, saying "I don't know" or "it does not apply" is not an adequate response. (10 pts)
1.This article compares and contrasts personal information gathering, specifically about political campaigns. They make the argument that most of our society is not the “go getter” when it comes to political information nor are they really presented with the opportunity except through mass media. Mass media often agrees there is high significance in similar stories, leading many to report on the same issues, however personal point of views come into play, sometimes resulting in extreme prejudices. They have found this similar pattern trying to prove to us how agenda setting is present and backed it up with data. Finally the authors wrapped it up with the study on salience proving the majority of our society seeks information from newspapers, TV’s, and new magazines.
ReplyDelete2.
1)p.177- Most seem to acquire (political beliefs) it, if at all, without much effort.
2)Mass media sets the agenda for each political campaign
3)State or quality and importance of various campaign topics
3.
-They interviewed 100 people who had no already voted and found that a considerable amount of campaign news was not devoted to discussion of the major political issues but rather to analysis of the campaign itself. The found a strong relationship between the emphases placed on different campaign issues by the media and the judgment of voters as to the state, quality and importance of various political topics.
-They then looked at those who were not committed to specific party in early campaign stages. Major news items, correspondences were more often higher between voter opinions of important issues reflected in the news. Minor news items, voters corresponded highly with the emphasis reflected in all news.
-Looked at correspondences of voter emphasis on issues with media coverage. They found a high connection between significant issues of campaign.
4.I was trying to understand what age groups were being assessed here? I personally think you might see less interest in seeking the right information by researching etc. if you just turned 18 as opposed to someone who is in their 50’s or 60’s and thinking about retirement, social security, etc. Do we just assume they are surveying a representative group starting from age 18 all the way up?
5.1)In your opinion what other areas do newspapers, TV’s, and magazines often use agenda setting, besides political issues?
2)How could we apply agenda setting to social networking sites like twitter? Can we?
6.This article reminded me of something that happened the other night when I watching the Winter Olympics on TV. The first day we all heard of the awful accident claiming one young man’s life. We saw this highlighted by the news stations as breaking news flash, so important we must cut into what you’re doing to tell you about it. The TV told us that at that particular moment in time that story was most important, and then if you went out and bought your local paper the next day you saw as the front page story about the unfortunate loss of an Olympians life. The TV also decided what the front page story would be. TV told us that’s what we were supposed to care about tomorrow, they named by highlighting in red at the bottom of our TV’s breaking news, the front page story for every newspaper the following day and the topic of conversation for people everywhere.
1a. Joseph Epstein’s article addresses the fact of whether or not traditional newspapers are becoming essentially obsolete. He provides cultural examples of what newspapers mean to him, his father and society in general. Factors include the changing of demands and technologies; media, internet etc.
ReplyDelete2a. Three main points of the reading: newspaper obsolescence, corresponding cultural/societal changes, technology (secondary)
3a. “the trouble with blogs and internet news sites, it has been said, is that they merely reinforce the reader’s already established interests and views, thereby contributing to our much lamented national; polarization of opinion” –pg 48. “My father took his paper seriously…he was in no great hurry to finish it” –pg 47. “We’re living in an age of transition…readership fell from 52.6% to 37.5%” –pg 46.
4a. I would like to think that with regard to the polarization of opinion that a larger percentage of the public because of the evolving culture would make a more extreme effort to think critically and analytically with regard to what they hear, see and read with respects to digital media communication/news feeds.
5a. Do you see a connection between decline in readership and evolving demands on our society i.e. work-life balance? Do you think they’re any ways our society can combat our evolving technological culture with regard to newspaper obsolescence?
6a. I can most definitely utilize this piece as part of my paper. There are many references to the changing/increasing demands on people today. It correlates to technology and speed and convenience of obtaining information.
1a. The agenda-setting piece discusses how candidates are using mass media more and more. The authors describe the corresponding agenda as being hypothesized. The question is posed whether or not they are swaying the public or simply aligning there messages to common audience interests.
2b. Three key ideas in this reading are political efforts by the public, the question of aligning messages towards specific groups, importance and/or effectiveness of media campaigning (does media skew/falsify)
3b. “It might also be argued that high correlations indicate that the media were simply successful in matching their messages to audience interests” – pg 185. “The press may not be telling people what to think but it is stunningly successful in telling its readers what to think about” – pg 177. “The political world is reproduced imperfectly by individual news media” – pg 184.
4b. The most challenging aspect of this piece was the statistics, there were so many and it took a great deal of time to interpret for myself.
5b. When does agenda setting not exist in mass media (generally and politically)? Do common audience interests, stressed in this piece align itself with Epstein’s article with regard to newspaper obsolescence?
6b. Agenda setting will not play a significant role in my paper however, I feel it is imperative to stress and discuss as it plays a huge role in our lives with regard to the decisions we make politically as well as socially.
Summary
ReplyDeleteMcCombs and Shaw’s paper ‘The agenda setting function of Mass Media’ discusses the role that mass media plays in setting an agenda for a population of undecided voters in Chapel Hill during the 1968 Presidential Campaign. They hypothesized that this agenda influences the perception of the people towards the political issues.
Key Ideas
1. We learn about how important an issue is, by how much importance is placed on it in the media. “Readers learn not only about a given issue, but also how much importance to attach to that issue from the amount of information in a news story and its position.” Page 176
2. When it comes to politics, people are strongly influenced by the issues covered in mass media. “Voters learn in direct proportion to the emphasis placed on the campaign issues by the mass media.” Page 177
3. Voter opinion on political candidates is less based on what each candidate highlights and more by that covered by the mass media. “The judgments of the voters seem to reflect the composite of the mass media coverage. This suggests that voters pay some attention to all the political news regardless of whether it is from, or about, any particular favored candidate.” Page 181
Challenging concept
A challenging concept for me in this study was how they interpreted or took into consideration the different levels with which the respondents were already pre-disposed to a candidate at the time of the survey. Yes they were undecided, but to what degree were their responses influenced by their political leaning?
Discussion Questions
1. On Page 184, the authors point out that news media does have a point of view, sometimes extreme biases. To what degree are these biases reduced or increased by today’s increased sources and choice of mass media? (Multiple news networks, satellite & Cable TV from around the world, internet)
2. This study took place in 1968 when it appears that newspapers were the vital source of mass media. What role does printed newspapers play in mass media today, especially in terms of having an agenda setting function?
Relate reading to presentation paper
In my presentation paper involving the effectiveness of computerized video analysis between female and male athletes, it could be argued that how such technology is used, interpreted and how the feedback is delivered will significantly influence effectiveness. Those interpreting the analysis and delivering the feedback could have an agenda, distorting the results.
1. This article starts off with explaining that agenda setting and mass media influence can be explained through political campaigns which effect salience of voters. The authors, McCombs and Shaw further establish there argument through there implemented methodology of sampling 100 voter interviews that allowed to gather information on the major and minor items in mass media and their correlation with voters. They explain parties and party issues related to mass media content and mass media platforms (tv, radio, newspapers etc...) They found that voters are affected by the media in terms of what they considered major issues. In regards to salient conditions it was also found that agenda setting is found as a main function of mass media in relation to voters and politics.
ReplyDelete2. Three main points:
A. Mass media is an agenda setter for political campaigns.
B. Defined major issues and minor issues define voter reaction according to the media platform they are used in (tv, radio, newspaper etc...).
c. The political world is defined by mass media and voters tend to establish a definition of what is important which explains agenda setting.
3.
A. Lang and Lang's observation: " The mass media force attention to certain issues. They build public images of political figures..." (pg. 177)
B. " But as we move from major events in the campaign, upon which nearly everyone agrees, there is more room for individual interpretation, reflected in the lower correlations with the minor agreement among media. (pg. 184)
C. "High salience of affect tends to block use of communication media to acquire further information about issues with high personal importance." (pg. 187)
4. Understanding the tables regarding major and minor importance including the table regarding salience was the most confusing thing for me.
5.
A. To what level do you believe mass media shapes your own political beliefs?
B. As mass media continues to change and grow in presence among politics and public opinion do you feel agenda setting will continue to grow with this?
6. This weeks readings will help me understand more about how the lack of mass media affects third world countries politically. It will also comparatively help me understand and consider that primary countries like the US, Russia, and China are also affected by this in terms of there communications strategies. Each countries involvement in digital media determines in many ways there mass media exposure which in turn affects political landscapes and consequently funding for technological development. If a country doesn't invest the so-called "wiring" to move from being a third world they will be limited in there shaping with mass media and politics.
1) The article by McCombs and Shaw examines the role of mass media in presenting ideas and agendas to the public, specifically during the 1968presidential campaign. Voters in the Chapel Hill area were used to gather information supporting their case and ultimately see if a correlation exists between voter focus on issues and the attention the mass media gives said issue.
ReplyDelete2) For many, mass media is the only way people receive information about politics, "In our day, more than ever candidates go before the people through the mass media rather than in person." p.176
Mass media is responsible for the agenda setting of a political entity and what it feeds to the people. "It is hypothesized that the mass media set the agenda for each political campaign, influencing the salience of attitudes toward the political issues." p. 177
Mass media determines what the important issues are for the people. "For major news items, correlations were more often higher between voter judgments of important issues and the issues reflected in all the news (including of course news about their favored candidate/party) than were voter judgments of issues reflected in news only about their candidate/party." p. 182
3) For me the most confusing part of the article is the assumption that many of these issues were not on the forefront of voter's minds to begin with and may have not been predicated on the notion that the media introduced or saturated the issue.
4)In today's world of complete media exposure and multiple sources of media to choose from can the agenda setting of a news source be as effective.
Give some examples of how the media used agenda setting in the last presidential race.
5) The article definitely sheds light on the issue of agenda setting by mass media and certainly has implications on today's society where the media has more channels to reach the people. we should all be aware of the attempts to shape the minds of the masses and I would say in today's society we are more equipped to filter this agenda out and get down to the true ideas being sent out to us. This may mean that the media has to adapt and become even more cunning how they go about their agenda setting.
1. McCombs and Shaw’s article “The agenda-setting function of mass media” discusses the idea of agenda-setting and its influence on the public’s perception of political issues. Information was collected during the 1968 presidential campaign. The article also compares different forms of media and their impact.
ReplyDelete2. Voters learn a great deal from the media
Different forms of media have a different impact. For example, news can have a bias.
The idea of agenda-setting
3. “The mass media force attention to certain issues. They build up public images of political figures.” (p. 177)
“News media do have a point of view, sometimes extreme bias” (p. 184)
“The media appear to gave exerted a considerable impact on voters’ judgments of what they consider the major issues of the campaign” (p.180)
4. I don’t necessarily think there was anything challenging about this article; I think it was pretty straight forward. However, this was something I never really thought about. I find it very interesting how mass media can affect how people perceive things. I also think it’s interesting that the media chooses what we see.
5. Do you think your vote/opinion has ever been swayed by the media?
Have you ever notices news media bias?
6. In a way this can be tied into my paper topic. I plan on looking into the use of YouTube in education and this is only possible if the videos are online. The media can have an impact on what teachers are teaching and in turn this can impact what videos are available.
Rogers and Seidel's Study
ReplyDeleteSummary
Rogers and Seidel’s study examines how news of the September 11th terrorist attacks spread through a small sample of people in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They looked at the sources / channels with which each respondent first heard of the news; what they first heard; where they were; how they gained further information; how they were affected by the news and what actions they took as a result.
Key Ideas
1. There are five important stages in the innovation–decision process, knowledge; persuasion; decision; implementation and confirmation. “Past diffusion research suggests five stages in the innovation–decision process: (1) knowledge; (2) persuasion; (3) decision; (4) implementation; and (5) confirmation.” Page 210
2. The channels involved in spreading the news event was influenced by the time of the day and time of the week that the attacks occurred. “People tend to hear of the occurrence of a major news event from another person when the event takes place during a weekday, but from the media when the event takes place on a weekend” Page 212
3. The process of spreading information from person to person is influenced by an individual’s communication network and how important they perceive that information to be. “The news diffusion process is shaped by each individual’s interpersonal communication network, and how the previous person in the diffusion chain judges the news”. Page 215
Challenging concept
I did not identify a particularly challenging concept in this week’s readings. For the first time however in reading the study I was able to sense how another community outside of the immediate New York City area experienced the attacks of 9/11/2001
Discussion Questions
1. Only 2.36% of the respondents in the study received the news of the attacks via the internet. How much has that changed today. As a class where do we hear our breaking news?
2. One of the factors influencing the diffusion of news is situational, whether someone is at home or at work. With immediate twitter / facebook / email / updates common place in this area how much of a factor is being at work or home today, in the diffusion of news?
3. With the cell phone being more than just a phone, are these methods of news diffusion (twitter / facebook / email) considered telephone or person to person.
Relating to the ‘Real World’
Reading this paper really highlights how the sources involved in the diffusion of news has rapidly changed since 2001, and for that matter how much communication has changed in just 10 years. I am aware that yesterday during the snowstorm even though I had the choice, I got the majority of my weather reports and updates from online weather broadcasts as opposed to television broadcasts. I got the news when I wanted it, not waiting to get it on television - highlighting the changes in the diffusion of news today.
1. The Rogers and Seidel article searched to explain the diffusion of news through the example of the salient events of September 11th. They chose to use a questionnaire format to uncover the way the news of the event had traveled to people in the US. They looked at mass media and interpersonal communication over a several hour period after the events had begun and continued to transpire. The used a sample of over one hundred individuals, both male and female, in New Mexico of different ages, backgrounds to gather data. They found that diffusion had occurred regardless of where the subjects were at the time the found out about the attacks.
ReplyDelete2. The reading had many key ideas, but if they were to be narrowed down to three key points they would be the following:
A. Past and present research regarding diffusion, innovation, and the innovation and diffusion process can help explain in terms of the first news communicated to individuals on the September 11th terrorist attacks.
B. The different channels of communication i.e. TV, radio, interpersonal, telephone, internet, and other forms of communication explain how salient the event really was to Americans. This also explained how the news travelled at first to these people.
C. The impact of interpersonal network diffusion and how the phenomenon of salient news can travel quickly through massive face-to-face interaction and how people can be personally affected by an event of this magnitude.
3. Three key ideas supported by the text are as follows:
A. “ Diffusion is the process through which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system. An innovation is an idea, practice, or object perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption.” (Pg. 210 paragraph 2)
B. “ Some 116 of our 127 respondents (91%), after first hearing of the terrorist attacks, searched for further information.” (Pg. 214 paragraph 3)
C. “One respondent said that he/she told between 50 to 60 strangers about the terrorist attacks…” (Pg. 215 paragraph 6)
4. The most difficult item for me with this weeks reading is the very last paragraph in the article. The author’s state in the last sentence that they, “conclude that many interesting research questions are available for study in future news event diffusion research.” I understand they must implore others to further this area of study, but what did they find was their conclusive evidence or supportable finding. Was it their intent to have the reader decide based on their research?
5. Two discussion questions:
A. Do you believe the sample they selected, from New Mexico, was adequate to support their claims?
B. How do you think work might affect your receipt of salient news? Do you think this has changed much since 2001 with the evolution of digital media?
6. Relevance to my final paper:
This relates greatly to how parts of the world are positively or negatively affected by the digital divide in regards to the diffusion of news. For instance, it would be interesting to conduct the same survey in a country that is much smaller in population, less wired for communication, and with different values for what is salient news. I feel we might get much different results, and in many cases individuals might not receive news of this enormity in the same week let along same morning.
1) The article we were tasked with reading this week dealt with the diffusion of information following the Sept 11 terrorist attacks amongst residents in New Mexico. The authors examine the time line when all 127 participants in the study became aware of the attacks. The method of communication the participant used to find out the news was also examined. The actions of the participants was also looked at after they heard about the attacks in order to see their reactions.
ReplyDelete2 & 3).
A) The important item in the article was the time and speed of the diffusion of knowledge of the attack. "By noon on Tuesday Sept. 11 more than 99% of our 127 respondents were aware of the news event, and most were aware of the news by 9:30 am."
B) The second point of importance was the source by which the respondents found out about the news and the inaccuracies they may have taken from those sources. "Television and radio broadcast every item of information that they could obtain during the first hour or two of the terrorist attacks, even information coming via telephone from the public. As a result, certain information was broadcast that later was found to be incorrect."
C) The third key item is the existence of interpersonal network diffusion. "The news diffusion process is shaped by each individual's interpersonal communication network, and how the previous person in the diffusion chain judges the news. When people in a network think that the news is not very salient, the interpersonal diffusion process can slow or stop.
4) The most challenging part of the article would have to be the context in which the study took place. It would have been nice to have more detail on the respondents and what access they had to different media outlets. I think by knowing these things we could see the diffusion take place more clearly.
5)
A) If the study took place 5 years later or today what would the diffusion look like.
B) Did the magnitude of the event and the complete media attention contribute to the results of the study.
6) This article has much relevance to today's digital media saturated environment. If this happened in the present tense, between TV iphones and twitter the diffusion of information would be astounding, considering the importance of the event. Even today when there are fluff news events such as a celebrity cheating on their spouse or a new movie coming out, the speed in which that information travels is mind boggling.
1. This article talks about how news travels and which channels we tap into as human beings to get the information, especially pertaining to 9/11. They take a look at how people found out about 9/11, depending on different times of the day as a result of living in different geographic locations and or just finding out later. They look at the differences of using TV and Radio as our channel for information while at home when at work we look to other people and word of mouth information. This make complete sense in the morning most of us have on the TV turned to the news while were getting ready, we also tend to listen to the radio on the way to work, therefore anyone finding out at 8:30 used these channels. On the other hand those people who found out later or after they already arrive at work (This area of the country) we were more likely to find out from a co worker we passed by after the 2 hours meeting we just got out of.
ReplyDelete2. 3 Keys Ideas
a. American Patriotism
b. Mass medias devotion to new events like these
c. Interpersonal Diffusion
3. a. American Patriotism
i. Colleges/ high schools/ business/ towns all still hold candle lights rituals for victims of 9/11 every year. Never forget is the slogan!
ii. 86% of the 127 respondents engaged in some activity as a result of the terrorist attacks.
iii. 82% of the respondents either donated money, attended memorial services, prayed for the victims, gave blood, or displayed an American flag proud
b. Mass medias devotion to new events like these
i. TV and Radio broadcast every item of information that they could obtain during the first hour or two of the attacks
ii. 59% of the respondents report hearing about the attacks first from either TV or Radio
iii. Broadcast media has a complete dominance of new coverage for events like these
c. Interpersonal Diffusion
i. Less then 3 hours after the plane crashed into the towers more then 99% of the respondents heard of the news
ii. One respondent said that he/she told between 50 and 60 strangers about the terrorist attacks (a teacher at University of New Mexico)
iii. 88 or the 127 respondents told others about the terrorist attacks
4. I don’t think this concept was challenging I actually found it extremely interesting and fun to read about. I was wondering actually what the study would look like if you did it in other geographic locations for example, NJ, CA North Dakota, North Carolina. I personally went to undergraduate school down south and found that a lot of the students down there didn’t share the same connection they are expressing here or that I had being from the area and living here when it happened.
ReplyDelete5. A) How much have we as a society backed off of these strict rule and policies we implemented after 9/11? Are we beginning to get lazy again? Hence the attempted bombing on Christmas Day.
b) Did you think that a survey would have these results? Did you think that people so far removed would feel and express and actual connection to the people in NY, unless the personally knew someone involved?
6. I had a paper on Facebook and I just honestly and not connecting with it at all and can not find a research paper out of it so I am currently looking for something new. I like this topic and this kind of research and wonder if maybe I couldn’t look and compare 9/11 media coverage to Katrina, to the earthquake in Haiti, to the newest earthquake that still many haven’t heard about in Chile. If I could find a connection or maybe a lack of coverage due to location of Haiti or condition of the disaster I might have something to report on? I don’t know I am look for any and all new ideas my old idea just wasn’t working and you can’t force it, I tried, it isn’t working!
1) This piece hones in on how media coverage is released and communicativley how we process it. The September 11th attacks were the focus in that research conducted explained how long it took and through what sources various subjects to find out about the incidents occuring or that occured. Geography and other individual circumstances were took into consideration.
ReplyDelete2) Mass media prioritization, Patriotism, interpersonal communicative factors
ReplyDelete3) "The September 11th attacks represent a spectacular news event that the public percieved as highly salient, and that diffused rapidly" / "Diffusion is the process through which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system" / "The diffusion of news depends on (1) situational factors (such as if someone is at home or work); (2) Salience (how important that news is to the respondent; and (3) time, such as the day or day of the week when the event happend."
ReplyDelete4) The most challenging concept for me to grasp was the concept of salience because I feel that the 9/11 events were essentially forced upon the public and if you were not discussing the occurance you were "out of the loop" or "un-patriotic"
ReplyDelete5) Do you think the concept of salience differed with regard to this specific event than any other terrorist related event? / Do you think if 9/11 happend today in 2010, media coverage would be different? If so, how specifically and what impact would it have on society?
ReplyDelete6) This interesting article will not relate to my paper per say, but I think it is very important to understand how news is distributed and the impact it has on the variety of people involved in the encoding and decoding of the information.
ReplyDelete1. Rogers & Siedel’s study “Diffusion of News of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001” looks at how and when news of the attack was diffused to a small, non-random population in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Data was collected through survey questionnaires. The study looked at TV, radio, person-to-person communication, and telephone as sources of information diffusion.
ReplyDelete2.Diffusion, Innovation, and the idea that the September 11 was the first even to be studied in where different forms of digital media were used.
3. A. Diffusion is the process through which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among members of a social system (p.210).
B. An innovation is an idea, practice, or object perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption. In this study the innovation is the news event (p.210)
C. “The September 11 news event was the first to be studied in which cellular telephones and the internet were widely available to the public (p.210).”
4. What I found challenging about this article was the lack of information regarding the survey and the sample population. As a reader of a study I want to know who was asked and what they were asked. This would make the study more credible. I feel like it was missing key information.
5. What kind a role do you think the media played in Americans perception of the attacks? How would have the diffusion of information occurred without the media? Would that be positive or negative?
6. This relates to the real world because the media is so prominent in our lives. This was the first study done where cell phones and internet were widely used. Therefore this study looks at media diffusion in a new way which relates to the world now. Media always changes and upgrades, research needs to keep up.
1). The article we were assigned to read this week deals with the concept of uses and gratification between society and the media. The authors try to investigate what needs are being met by the media and how the consuming public satisfies certain aspects of their lives. For instance a person who wants to feel more informed to hold casual political conversations with others will use the media as a tool to gain knowledge.
ReplyDelete2 & 3).
A) First topic of importance is the concept of uses and gratification theory and the role media plays. "The needs served by mass communication constitute but a segment of the wider range of human needs, and the degree to which they can be adequately met through mass media consumption certainly varies (p. 511)."
B) The next important point the authors make is the needs to which the media satiates. "Mcquail, Blumler, and Brown (1972) have put forward a typology consisting of the following categories: diversion(including escape from the constraints of routine and the burdens of problems and emotional release): personal relationships (including substitute companionship as well as social utility): personal identity (including personal reference, reality exploration, and value reinforcement): and surveillance (p. 513)."
C)The next key idea addresses the reason why society uses the media as a way to satisfy these needs. "It is difficult to conceive of a general theory that might clarify the various processes that underlie any such specific relationships. A preliminary structuring of the possibilities suggests that social factors may be involved in the generation of media-related needs...(p.517)."
4)It was difficult to follow the author's intentions when reading the article. It seemed that many concepts were not proven or could not be specified more clearly. Perhaps the author were pointing out areas that should be looked into more clearly. Also I had difficulty understanding the side the authors were taking, I wasn't sure if they felt that this gratification of needs was a good or bad thing and how they felt about the topic.
5) Do you feel that the pursuit and consumption of media satisfies a certain need for people to escape from reality? Does reality tv prove the point that people use media as a way to fulfill personal needs?
6) I feel the topic is very relevant to my paper topic because people use and cite music as a way to satisfy a variety of personal needs. I feel that we as a society use media to satisfy a number of needs we naturally have as people and often times rely to heavily on that use. I will look into this topic as a possible insert into my paper.
Summary
ReplyDeleteKatz, Blumer & Gurevitch’s paper “Uses and Gratification Research” examines a wide variety of studies conducted between the 1940’s and 1970’s
discussing the role of media in fulfilling the needs of the population and the gratification people gain from exposure to different media.
Key Ideas
1. We seek out the media in order to fulfill a need. “One cluster of gratifications that emerged from and English study of listeners to a long running daytime radio seriel (The Dales) centered on the tendency of the program to uphold traditional family values (Blumler, Brown, and McQuail, 1970)” Page 519
2. The gratification we get from media, comes from more than just the content. “The need to structure one’s day may be satisfied merely by having the radio “on” (Mendelsohn, 1964)” Page 514
3. Social factors may influence our need to be fulfilled by media. “Social situation produces tensions and conflicts, leading to pressure for their easement via mass media consumption (Katz and Foulkes, 1962)” Page 517
Challenging concept
In the paper much of the discussion in the studies revolves around the use of books, newspapers, radio, television and cinema. Since this article was written the role of these media forms in society has changed significantly, so it was challenging to buy into the notion of the gratification theory with respect to these media forms today.
Discussion Questions
1. The authors question at the end, the extent to which media actually creates the needs they satisfy. With today’s media available through different sources, to what extent do we feel as a class media may create our needs today?
2. If so does this ‘new media’ satisfy our needs, as is suggested in these early studies?
Relating to the ‘Paper’
My paper will involve the effectiveness of computerized video feedback on performance. There is a connection to this study by the needs for athletes and coaches to seek quantitative data on performance as soon as possible. The fact that advanced technology means previously unavailable information and feedback is now available to fulfill the gratification and need of players for immediate feedback, it could be argued in this situation, that media (new information) is actually creating the need it is satisfying.
1.The article “Uses and Gratifications Research” is about audience uses and gratifications from the media and this subjects varying research. The article looks at the needs of people and how and if they are being met by the media. The author also describes different media sources and different models of research.
ReplyDelete2/3. A-There are different sources of media- “studies have shown that audience gratifications can be derived from at least three distinct sources: media content, exposure to media, and social context (p.514)”
B- Lundberg and Hulten’s uses and gratifications model- 1. Audience is conceived as active 2. In the mass communication process much initiative in linking need gratification and media choice lies with the audience member 3. The media compete with other sources of need satisfaction 4. Many of the goals of mass media use can be derived from the data supplied by the individual audience members themselves 5. Judgments regarding cultural significance should be suspended while audience orientation s are explored on their own terms
C-The last significant point it that concept mass media use and how it is not as significant as one might think. Yes, in today’s society we are flooded with media 24/7, but its not a necessity. “Maslow’s (1954) proposed hierarchy of human needs may hold more promise”
4. For whatever reason I actually had a hard time following this article. I often found myself going back to reread something because I couldn’t follow the authors’ thoughts.
5. Do to the ambiguity of the authors arguments; do you buy into the gratification theory? Do you think this article would have been more convincing if it was done today?
6. This article correlates to my paper topic. Again, I plan on looking at YouTube as an educational tool. The use of YouTube would simply feed into our need for gratification through use of media.
1. This week’s article related to the media and our society. The authors look at many different pieces of research involving certain theories and how they relate to many social qualities for example the needs of society and how media fulfills those needs. They try to look at many different human needs in a variety of ways, involving different people, individuals, and groups, from different backgrounds, with different needs. The one big thing about this article is you see often mentioned how the research isn’t enough we need to do more.
ReplyDelete2. Key points
a. Four-functional interpretation
b. Students of uses and gratifications might want to try and work backwards
c.Literature refers to some consequences of audience functions that conventional effects designs may be unable to capture
3. Supporting key points from literature
a. P. 512 Lasswell and Wright look at media on macro- and micro-sociological levels. In this case media serves as functions ie: surveillance, correlation, entertainment, and cultural transmission for society as a whole, individuals, and co-groups within our society.
b. P. 513 Future research could benefit from maybe working backwards from gratifications to needs. The surveillance function may be traced to a desire for security of the stratification of curiosity and the exploratory drive; seeking reinforcement of ones attitudes and values may derive from a need for reassurance that one is right or attempts to correlate informational elements may stem from a more basic need to develop on cognitive mystery of the environment.
c. P. 519 1) Feedback, from media use to the individuals performance of his social roles. 2) Child uses of pictorial media that might “preclude more realistic and lasting solutions” 3) Child uses of media for fantasizing might either drain off discontent caused by the hard blows of socialization or lead a child into withdrawal from the real world 4) Some individuals the substitute companionship function may involve use of the media to replace real social ties while for other it may facilitate an adjustment to reality.
4. I personally didn’t really enjoy reading this article I felt that the lack of research and missing pieces left me confused and not able to link one idea to the next or follow the authors thoughts. Unlike the other articles this one was unclear and left me confused at the end wondering what the heck they were really trying to say.
ReplyDelete5. Do you agree more research must be done in a more concrete way before being able to agree and take a position on this article?
Since we talked about the younger generations and the fact hat they don’t even pick up a news paper what do you think this research would focus on instead of books and newspapers? TV, Radio, and internet? Internet is a broad term, how could this research even be done?
6. This weeks article will not relate to my paper unlike last weeks article, however I think its interesting research to look at and important to understand how news is distributed and the impact it has on our society. This article was written in 2001, I would be interested to see if the research would be extremely different today, my guess would be yes! As we discussed the first week with Dr. Kildea how newspapers are on their way out and younger generations feel completely different about newspapers and what purpose they serve to them.
1. This weeks reading on Uses and Gratifications describes the relationship between mass media messaging and the audience. The authors explain this relationship in terms of methodology, typology, and theoretical frameworks. They are able to explain that the needs of the audience are a main determinant in what the mass media produces. After uses are thoroughly explained the authors determine that gratifications have great impact on media both intrinsically and extrinsically.
ReplyDelete2/3
A. Our need to be gratified, and in what areas of gratification we need, determine what is fed to us by mass media outlets. We see this when the authors state, " In the mass media communication process much initiative in linking need gratification and media choice lies with the audience member." (pg 511) We see how the audience is the true propenent in uses and gratifications.
B. Uses and gratifications can be explained on a more functional level, in that our everyday tasks can be where we find most of our media usage. For instance, the authors refer to the media audience spending time with friends and family can be done by, "watching television at home with the family or going to the cinema with ones friends." (pg. 514) If we think about how often we do this, it is easy to see the impact it has on uses and gratifications.
C. The social implications of uses and gratifications is the third and final key point of the article. The authors explain, in terms of social situation, and explain generational needs, which lead to uses and gratifications. The authors state a list of social situations that are prefaced with the statement, "social factors may be involved in the generation of media-related needs in any of the following ways..." (5 point list on pg. 517)
4. The most challenging concept in this article is believing that we, the audience, are the ones who determine what is needed and thats how mass media reacts and gratifies. This seemed to be the authors message, and it would seem to me that the mass media has more impact on the audience than they let on.
5.
A. Do you believe that the audience really has as much impact on uses and gratifications as the authors lead us to believe?
B. How do uses and gratifications relate explain digital media as an important tool for communication now and in the future?
6. This article might relate to my paper in that I could tie in uses and gratifications and their presence in the digital divide. I am also debating on bringing in Wikipedia as an example of how the digital divide misrepresents the actuality of reporting and information on the internet. Perhaps I could find that the way and audience in Paraguay finds/looks up information might determine their media exposure different then one whom is from the states. I might use this if it becomes apparent in my research.
1) This piece focused on uses and gratifications. It attempts to forge a connection between was the audience wants and will get from mass media communication. The methodology, typology, and theoretical frameworks are utilized. Ultimately it is audience needs that motivate mass media.
ReplyDelete2) Uses of mass media, gratification in mass media and audience needs/incentives via mass media.
3) 5 point list on pg. 517 regarding social factors and media related needs / "Watching television at home with the family or going to the cinema with ones friends." – Pg. 514 / "In the mass media communication process much initiative in linking need gratification and media choice lies with the audience member" – Pg. 511
4) A challenging aspect of the article was getting passed the lackluster factor of the material. Class discussion was much more to the point and the article made it seem like more difficult a concept than it actually is.
5) Does this article (uses and gratification) correlate to realist perspectives? / Does digital/mass media in turn actually dictate our uses and gratifications from it?
6) I could certainly utilize this work in my paper as people use and find gratification fro PDA’s in a variety of ways in both their personal and professional lives.
1) The article we read this week dealt with the internet and the world wide web and some tools and services associated with its use. This article explained how somebody could use these services to work on the web and use the web more efficiently.
ReplyDelete2) Three main points are file transfers, RSS feeds and web design
3)
a) "when you subscribe to RSS feeds you create a convenient one stop information shop tailored to your needs and interests." p. 15
b) "although those methods do more than transfer data-web sites and e-mail programs also display the information- FTP is a one-trick pony, it simply moves a file from one computer to another." p 21
c) "Learning to code opens up opportunities; when you have an idea for something new on your web site you don;t want to wait until the "web person" can get around to it." p. 23
4) The most difficult concept was understanding how the RSS feeds help a person to become more efficient when working at home, I guess it might depend on the line of work one works in.
5) One question for discussion is how companies will manage their workers if more people are logging in to work and what challenges this presents to supervisors. Another question is how this move to web commuting will affect interpersonal skills for workers going forward.
6) This article doesn't pertain to my paper topic but I feel the topic is very relevant to my real life because I do telecommute at my present job and I absolutely love it. It gives me more time to spend with my child and saves on gas and lunch money, so for me I love that my company endorses this practice and hope more companies adopt this practice.
1. This reading explains the necessity of the web and being familiar with web language as a journalist or any communication professional. The author explains how servers, RSS feeds, FTP's, basic web design in relation to html coding, CSS, and XML. After providing a basic tutorial of these formats and codes the author explains the opportunity understanding and using the knowledge presented. In short, the understanding of these ideas will allow you to operate and advance in a digital world that is growing everyday.
ReplyDelete2/3. Key Ideas and examples from the text
A. We are all expected to operate effectively and efficiently in a digital world as communication professionals unlike in years past. The author states, " We are all web workers now. Previous generations of journalists-and other workers in all industries- had the luxury of expecting some supergeeks in their organizations to take care of the digital duties for them. For better or worse, those days are gone." (pg. 9)
B. Understanding and using RSS feeds and FTF protocol is the key to staying informed and searching the web regularly. The author shares the necessity for RSS by stating, "The bottom line is that using RSS is the most efficient way to consume massive amounts of information in a structures and organized way." (pg. 14)
C. Web designing and html code and language can be simple and should be understood and used by journalists. The author talks about the implications of not understanding basic code by stating, " So, even though it is possible to lead a digital life without learning basic code skills, a journalist's ability to execute ideas and a better journalist, will be limited." (pg. 23)
4. Can someone explain better what a CSS is? I am not sure I understood what the author was trying to say about the fonts, styles, etc...
5. Questions for the class
A. Do you believe that you need to have a basic understanding of code and web design to be successful in your job now? Perhaps your job in the future?
B. Does anyone in the class use RSS feeds currently? Is this really as great as the author makes it seem?
6. I could use this information in my study of the digital divide and how technologically advanced and "connected" nations can use information feeds like RSS to further the communication gap with developing nations.
1) The chapter gives a basic overview of different internet and World Wide Web terms, for example HTML, XML, CSS, etc. The article explains that the more you know about the basic terms of the internet the more successful you will be at using and taking full advantage of its benefits. It also bring attention to the fact that we are all web users now and it’s important to learn about what were doing on the internet so we can grow and expand on the world wide web.
ReplyDelete2) 3 Main points:
a. Web browsers
b. FTP
c. CSS
3) Web browsers- The tool that people use to access over the internet information that is published as part of the WWW, at Rider we mainly use the web browser Firefox (p.12). It does three important things: searches and finds information on Web servers, retrieves the information and brings it back to you, and renders the information for display on your computer or mobile device (pg.12). Web browsers in themselves are limited in their ability to handle the massive amount of information available online (p.14).
File Transfer Protocol- Simple process for moving big files that e-mail can’t handle. FTP is a one trick pony, it simply movies a file from one computer to another. You should use FTP when you have shot some photos or video recorded some audio and want to publish the material online (p.21). It’s the primary method for uploading web pages onto a web server to publish them online (p.21).
Cascading Style Sheets- CSS makes websites look cool. It enables you to edit, modify and troubleshoot existing web pages and designs (p.33). The Key to CSS us the ability to set a style for a group of elements on your web site or blog; for example, how the headlines of body text should be displayed (p.34).
4) This week’s most challenging concept is actually RSS even though the authors say sits Really Simple. I understand what its saying but can’t really get a picture of what this RSS feed looks like and I don’t think I have ever seen someone using one. Maybe I have and just don’t realize that’s what it is? I am interested more in these and really how many people are using them, the article make it seem like your missing out if you don’t use it.
ReplyDelete5) Does anyone use the RSS function; if yes what do you think of it?
How many people before reading this article paid attention to the MB and GB of each file the email out?
6) This article relates to the real world because we use the internet and World Wide Web on a daily basis for almost everything now. It also can open up doors to flex schedules and geographically dispersed cross functional teams. Companies can now be more time and cost efficient now thanks to the internet and all its components. The topic relates to my article in a sense that we now access most of our news through the internet and websites, my paper is about agenda setting and the political race happening right now down in south Florida. I think its important in the fact that I would be able to write this paper so easily without internet access. The WWW has allowed me to access newspapers down in the Miami area easily, helping me to gather the data needed to write my paper.
The chapter entitles “We Are All Web Workers Now” discusses the need to be for journalists (and other professionals) to understand how the web works, so that it can be utilized efficiently. The article discusses the basics such as digital information and size to how the internet works. The article also discusses more complex topics such as RSS, HTML, CSS, and XML.
ReplyDelete2&3. As a journalist it is important to have an understanding of technology. This allows you to utilize the tools at your disposal and keep a competitive edge. “Let’s take a step back and break down the most basic web technologies so you can learn how to get the most out of your online existence (p.9).”
Utilizing RSS technology can be a great help to journalist. “RSS enables you to subscribe to an information feed that gets delivered directly to an RSS reader or webpage. So, instead of visting several pages each day or performing the same web searches over and over, you can set up RSS to do that for you.”
CSS is a tool journalist could use to help attract potential readers. Just like in stores, people are likely to pay attention to what catches their eye. “CSS makes web sites look cool.” “CSS enables you to edit, modify, and troubleshoot existing web pages, and designs.”
4. The most challenging concept for me was RSS or Really Simple Syndication. After reading the first few paragraphs I wasn’t sure if it was something that I had used or not, but once given the examples of Yahoo and Google homepages, I understood.
5. Do you think that knowing the basics of the web will help you utilize it more efficiently?
After reading this article, do you think you it will alter how you use web technology?
6. To me the very basic information was more interesting then the info on CSS, XML, or RSS. I had no idea the internet was different then the World Wide Web. Also, the info on digital information was as simple as it gets, but is literally the building block of technological info. I think this article is very relevant to the real world. We are a technology driven society, but most people don’t even know the basics and that’s sad.
We Are All Web Workers Now
ReplyDeleteSummary
The article provides the reader with a basic understanding of the various concepts involved with the internet and world wide web, so that they can maximize its usage and efficiency. Gaining as much as news information as possible through ‘new web browsers’, RSS feeds and readers; understanding file sizes and how to transfer files quickly and efficiently; and understanding basic coding to enhance web pages.
Key Ideas
1. Use RSS feeds to gain information - “You can use RSS feeds to dramatically increase the amount and improve the quality of information that interests you.” Page 14
2. Use FTP to transfer large files – “FTP is a one-trick pony. It simply moves a file from one computer to another.” Page 21
3. Develop knowledge of HTML, CSS & XML. – “Learning to code opens up opportunities when you have an idea for something new on your web site.” Page 23
Challenging Concept
The only challenging concept for me personally was not in the understanding, but rather in how I can best incorporate RSS feeds into my daily browsing experience to increase my efficiency with seeking the information I am looking for.
Discussion Questions
1.
The article notes that although RSS feeds have been around for 10+ years it is still only emerging as an internet tool. Why is this so given the rapid growth and adoption of so many other features associated with the internet?
2. My initial reaction on reading the article was why do I need to know how the internet works. Do we need to know how the telephone or TV works? As there is a generation that has always known the existence of the internet, is it now taken for granted, like the phone and TV, and is an understanding of how it works required.
Application to The Real World
The last section in the reading, on knowledge of basic coding I feel is very appropriate to the real world. In developing a Twitter site and embedded html e-mails for the soccer program, my knowledge of this coding has enabled these features to be significantly enhanced and unique as compared to the basic default options.