Abstract This paper demonstrates how massmedia plays an important role in communicating to individuals what other people in their society think and enable leaders to broadcast their messages to large audiences. It explains in depth that public opinion is shaped both by relatively permanent circumstances and by temporary influences. The paper intelligently displays how massmedia in the United States facilitates cohesive public opinion for a large population spread over wide geographic area.
From the Paper "When we ask to what extent the mass media influence our perceptions of who belongs and who doesn?t, on the role of race in America, on the "deviance" of certain groups within American society, a large measure of what we are asking falls under the more general rubric of how public opinion is formed, as Riggs suggests. Public opinion is shaped both by relatively permanent circumstances and by temporary influences. Among the former are the ideas that characterize the popular culture of a given place at a given time. In the U.S., for example, the youth-oriented culture of the early 21st century affects the attitudes of many people toward aging and the elderly and the images of whites vis-?-vis other groups within the mass media certainly affects American perceptions of race."
Abstract The paper scrutinizes how massmedia affects the public perception of heroes and heroism. The paper first describes immense power of massmedia through the example of the American television being regarded as a powerful force strengthening the presidential system. The paper argues that massmedia enables public opinion to spread over wider geographic area. The paper demonstrates the popularity of sports heroes and explains the correlation the entertainment media has with fictional heroes in literature.
From the Paper "What is a hero? And what has one got to do with television? The answer to that question ? which is really the question of how the mass media influence popular perceptions of the heroic and the Hero ? is a complex one as are any significant questions that examine the relationship between mass media and the culture that produces, absorbs, reflects and reifies them."
Abstract This is a summary of the 2000 article, "MassMedia and the Concept of Interactivity" about the massmedia's role in promoting democracy by balancing interactivity between massmedia providers and the public. The paper includes the potential of the Internet in the process and an outline.
From the Paper "The role of the mass media in promoting democracy A The mass media providers can promote democracy B The Internet can provide forums for the public to express their opinions and critique of the work of ..."
Abstract Summary: This paper introduces a variety of published work pertaining to subjects of the Canadian massmedia. A tendency that is noted, in different places, is that of Canadians assuming that their media are free in comparison with the massmedia influences of the United States, or the United Kingdom, for example. However, as is mentioned, the Canadian media seem to be shaped by their environment, and the environment beyond Canada to a significant degree.
Abstract This paper examine the influence of the massmedia and the power of the media to shape lived experience such as violence. The author review violence in Hollywood films, television and reality shows and in the public schools. The paper demonstrates the linkages between violence, culture and the massmedia.
From the Paper "This research examines whether and to what extent cultural representations of violence are portrayed realistically. The research will set forth attributes of the pervasive influence of the mass media on the shape and content of culture in general and ..."
This paper discusses Ben H. Bagdikian's "The Media Monopoly", which describes the problems of the concentration of giant companies in the massmedia industry in the U. S..
Abstract This paper explains that the companies which dominate the massmedia have dominant influence over the public's news, information, public ideas, popular culture and political attitudes because they not only control the media but also have influence on government because of this ability to manipulate the public. The author points out that this also affects advertising because large newspapers target the big retailers and advertisers with their big budgets; leaving corner grocery stores' advertising to the dwindling small neighborhood papers. The paper relates that Bagdikian proposes (1) an international convention whose role it would be to examine anti-trust in the massmedia and (2) corporations be socially responsible in order to prevent "giantism" in the media.
From the Paper "Commercial TV does have a foe, though, that of noncommercial TV. First, the noncommercial TV steals members of the audience away from commercial TV. Second, noncommercial TV reminds people that there is a choice in viewing and "an alternative to the heavy doses of sex-and-violence, fantasy advertising, and programs designed to create a 'buying mood'." Third, noncommercial TV can be honest. The author points out that this also effects advertising because large newspapers target the big retailers and advertisers with the big budgets; leaving corner grocery stores' advertising to the dwindling small neighborhood papers. They are able to deal with the issues affecting the public, as well as the controversies "in ways avoided by commercial broadcasters whose advertisers, understandably, do not wish their products associated with public controversy." "
Abstract This paper discusses how recent decades have seen an alarming decline in voter turn out and enthusiasm in Canada. The following paper explores this declension by looking at the contribution of the massmedia to such an unhappy state of affairs. Particularly the paper looks at how the massmedia, by which I mean newspapers and television, outlets focus upon superficial and trifling things while simultaneously perpetuating biases, most notably towards women that marginalize and ultimately alienate large groups of voters.
Abstract The paper examines the conflict between massmedia organizations and the individual ethics of journalism through the sociological and philosophical views of Max Weber and Aristotle. The paper discusses the capitalistic tendency for massmedia to control an "authoritarian" point of view favorable to the American interest in Iraq. The paper focuses on the issue of ethics regarding the lack of an individual's capacity to attain objective news coverage.
From the Paper "The relative situation in Iraq one now see holds a great lack of overall research into individual perceptions of the War in Iraq, and why journalists tend to look at larger, more sweeping views on the conflict between Americans and Iraqis. In this manner, many mass media journalists seem to focus on the numbers of soldiers involved, the American governments reaction to the war, and other larger macrocosmic focuses that reflect an interest in an American perception, rather than the suffering of the native peoples who have to live through this war. During the coverage of the war, there are often American points of views that define the combat through American perspectives. For instance, journalist George Packer shows an Iraqi woman's point of view and why she wants to side with the Americans."
Abstract This paper discusses how the major interest being served in the new globalized massmedia is certainly those of the wealthy elites in American and other powerful countries in the world. The paper focuses on communication which helps to confirm that misinformation and lack of corporation control on convergence or monopolies is lacking in American government. Since America is at the head of the new globalization now in effect, one can see how the majority of the world's citizens live in poverty in comparison to the ration with the income to the rich elites.
From the Paper "In this study, the premise of mass communications will be observed within the guidelines of globalization and the convergence of media ownership by a few large and elite corporations. By observing and analyzing this perspective of how the world is being controlled through monopolistic enterprise, the issue of communication becomes the consumer identity of the private corporation, not for the public citizen. By realizing how globalization affects this construct, one can understand that this "Brave New World" revolves around corporate identity and unavailability of individual identity. In essence, globalization is structuring the corporate monopoly identity in mass media, which is devolving diversity and humanistic identity for the greater good."
This paper reviews and analyzes "Mediating the Message: Theories of Influence on MassMedia Content" written by Pamela J. Shoemaker and Stephen D. Reese.
Abstract This paper examines the contents of the Shoemaker and Reese's book which focuses on the media industry. This paper details the authors' methodology, their purposes, views on massmedia, theories as well as their criticism of traditional media research that centers on the medium rather than the actual content. This paper discusses how and why demographic and geographical patterns are researched and how they are used to target specific audiences. This paper also delves into the manner in which media content is formed and created.
From the Paper "How media content is formed and covered provides the framework for "Mediating the Message: Theories of Influence on Mass Media Content" by Pamela J. Shoemaker and Stephen D. Reese. The focus of is on the history of the study and theory of media content, the traditional focus of communications research, a general analysis of media content and patterns of content such as the impact of political bias and demographic and geographical patterns."
Tags:Media, Content, Theories, Shoemaker, Reese, Message, Methodology, Research
Abstract This essay discusses how the massmedia industry is implicated in social construction. There are "Ways of Seeing" which serve state-corporate interests at the expense of the interests of the people.
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that massmedia represents a vital tool within the frame of democratic societies due to two major roles. The writer notes that on the one hand, media informs people about different events, draws a parallel between various points of view and reveals facts that the powerful try to conceal from the public. In this regard, massmedia may be considered an essential advocate of people's right to information. The writer then discusses that on the other hand, media can be viewed as a public opinion barometer as it expresses the masses' fears, concerns and opinions towards current events. The writer concludes that on the one hand, media can help the audience get a clearer picture of the ongoing events and, on the other hand, it can manipulate public opinion in favor of the powerful.
From the Paper "Thus, Herman and Chomsky argue that media represent a business that is subordinated to the same profit goals as any other business. Consequently, the large corporations that run media outlets strive to maximize turnover and minimize cots. This supreme aim impacts the type of news that is broadcasted and/or printed and the perspective that a reporter provides on the respective topics. Therefore, for the sake of profit, many entrepreneurs in the media field sacrifice news quality even if this implies concealing things or presenting issues in a less accurate manner."
Abstract This paper explores the effect massmedia has had on society in America. The paper looks at the influence of media on politics, religion, economics, family and society in general. As well as the obvious benefits provided by massmedia, such as the ability to access information easily, the paper reviews a number of the negative aspects as well, including the growing power and influence of massmedia which has resulted in dysfunctional effects of the massmedia in the society.
From the Paper "The mass media as an institution has become an essential element in the society, for the mass media helped shape the culture of American society, especially those concerning the values, traditions, and norms of the society. The mass media also helped proliferate the need of the people to access and know everything and every issue that is of public interest and concern to the society. Because of its influential ability to provide people with information and knowledge that are current and up-to-date, the mass media as a communication institution gradually transformed to be an economic, cultural and politically-influenced institution as well."
Tags: television, internet, computer, technology, modern, communication, telephone, entertainment
Abstract This paper examines massmedia coverage of election campaigns and, in particular, Presidential election campaigns and looks at the influence the massmedia has on voters' decisions. The paper contends that, when it comes to election campaigns, presidential candidates concentrate their massmedia efforts on assuring that members of their party get out and vote, on trying to get members of an opposing party to switch to the candidate of the other party and on trying to capture the independent voter.
From the Paper "We will examine two political decisions in America- the decision to run for office, namely the Presidency, and- connected to that decision, the decision to vote by the general public. In both cases, the mass media- especially television, holds the key. The mass media today contradict the notion that America is a nation of free, and independent thinkers. It is unfortunately true that 250+ million Americans are, for the most part, not only uninterested, but uniformed about the democratic processes that their ancestors fought and died to preserve. Rather than keeping up with current events, especially now in an election year, at best people tune in for 30-second sound bites on the nightly news (whose ratings are slipping year after year). The fault- for the most part- may lie with the media."
Tags: polls, pollsters, propaganda, parties, identification, television, clinton, bush, gore
Abstract This paper explains that, when presenting material about science and technology, massmedia (1) treats its audience as if they were elementary school children so that science still retained its 'sacred status', (2) judiciously ignores the social, cultural and political factors of the world in which the 'great discovery' was made and (3) avoids any reference to what made the individual scientist and individual. The author includes in the paper the growing impact of the internet as massmedia on society today and points out that this information technology is rapidly evolving into a continuous spectrum of tools and methods for the creation, delivery and presentation of information on a personal basis. The paper concludes that what has separated man from other animals has been neither his ability to communicate nor his ability to use tools but his ability to use tools to communicate in a cultural context.
From the Paper "Given that science is difficult to separate from scientism, Gardner and Young conclude in their article, they would like to see the domain of science opened up in three ways. First they would like to know what forces evoke the questions, frameworks and specific priorities of science. How does man frame the manifold of nature in the ways he does? For them this could include questions as to why biology uses its taxonomy structure to who paid for the grant for the project.
Second they would like to see discussion of the labor process of the production of science, technology and medicine. What is the social or managerial process behind the production of knowledge and research?"
