Media Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is meant by new media?
Digital, interactive, and convergent forms of media like the internet, social media, blogs, and streaming platforms.
Name two sociological perspectives on the impact of new media.
Neophiliacs (positive view – more choice, democracy, participation) and Cultural pessimists (negative – digital divide, misinformation, control).
How has new media changed media consumption?
Created participatory culture, user-generated content, instant access, and increased audience interactivity.
What is media concentration?
When a few large corporations own and control most media outlets.
Name a theorist linked to the Marxist view of media ownership.
Ralph Miliband – media supports ruling class ideology and distracts from inequality.
What do Pluralists argue about media ownership?
Media reflects a range of views; audiences are active and can choose or reject content.
How has globalisation affected media?
Increased cultural exchange and connectivity through global media conglomerates.
What is cultural homogenisation?
The blending or erasure of distinct cultures into a dominant global culture.
How does media contribute to popular culture?
By mass-producing and distributing cultural products consumed by the majority.
What is gatekeeping in news production?
Editors and journalists filter and select what news stories are published.
What are news values?
Criteria like drama, immediacy, personalisation, and negativity used to decide newsworthiness.
What is agenda-setting?
Media doesn’t tell people what to think, but what to think about (focuses attention on specific issues).
How are young people often represented in the media?
As deviant, reckless, or victims of moral panic.
How is the working class typically portrayed?
As lazy, criminal, or dependent on benefits – reinforcing stereotypes.
What is symbolic annihilation?
The underrepresentation or distorted portrayal of certain groups (e.g., LGBTQ+, disabled).
What’s a feminist view of media and gender?
Media reproduces patriarchy via objectification and limited roles for women.
What is the hypodermic syringe model?
Media injects messages directly into a passive audience who accepts them uncritically.
What is the two-step flow model?
Media influences are filtered through opinion leaders who pass them on to others.
What do uses and gratifications theorists argue?
Audiences actively choose media to meet personal needs like entertainment or identity.
What is decoding, according to Stuart Hall?
Audiences interpret media texts differently depending on background and experiences.
