Comms 101 - The Influence of Media

Chapter 13 - Journal Entry

2008-12-06T17:36:00.001-08:00

Describe a situation in which you thought personal or public expression went too far and should be curbed? How might you remedy this situation?

I was a little disturbed when the BYU students protested against Dick Cheney coming to BYU for April 2007 graduation. I thought that although they wanted to express their opinions, that they had forgotten their covenant to be Christians. I was very disappointed with the way the students and protesters were acting, and wish that they would have simply written a letter instead of protesting on campus. The Vice President hasn't done anything to hurt them, and he deserves a warm welcome to our campus.

At the front of our school is a sign that says, "Enter to Learn, Go forth to Serve." We didn't come here to protest. We came here so that we might be educated in all things, and therefore more prepared to do the Lord's work as His servants. We are to be examples of Christ in all things, and I think the protestors simply went too far. The New York Times even ran a story about the protest. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/11/us/11byu.html

Chapter 11 - Journal Entry #2

2008-11-15T15:44:00.001-08:00

Is advertising effective? Why? List some examples of where it did and did not influence one of your buying decision.

I believe that advertising is very effective. I think I decided to buy Crest Whitestrips from watching some of the commercials. Advertising has a way of making you think that if you have that product your life will be similar to the life depicted on the ad. Ads also appeal to a lot of our inner needs, wants and desires. They seem to target what we care about and give us a sense of why we need the certain product.

Food ads always influence me and they always make me hungry! I think I remember being a teenager and watching a pizza ad late at night with my parents and siblings and then convincing my parents to order pizza. I can't remember if we ordered it or not, but I remember the commercial influencing me.

However, at other times, advertisements just make me laugh or think, "who cares for that?" Such ads are just targeted to older or younger audiences, and thus they don't appeal to me, and they don't influence my buying decisions.

I've never felt inclined to buy a huge Ford truck, or to take some pill. :)

Chapter 11 - Journal Entry #1

2008-11-15T15:43:00.002-08:00

Select 2 advertisements you consider good and 2 you consider bad. Include the ads (or copies) and explain what makes each a good/bad ad.

Good Ads

I like this Heinz ketchup ad because it says what everyone thinks. Steak without the ketchup tastes like cardboard. When someone looks at the end for just a second or two, they get it and laugh. It's funny, it's true, and it is simple. I like the layout and how white the whole ad is, that really helps focus your eyes on the bottle of red ketchup. The table setting is so simple, with just one fork and one knife, no napkin, and no colorful food - that the whole plate and setting just looks blah! You definitely need to ketchup to liven things up! My husband would love this article because he served in Australia and they put ketchup on everything there!

Another good example is a BBC commercial called, "News on Your Mobile." It goes through where people were when they heard the news of different events such as the assasination of JFK, Elvis' death, the falling of the Twin Towers, the Tsunami, etc. As the years go by, the scenes change and depict different places and different tv's giving the news. At the very end two poignant questions flash on the screen, "Where were you when you heard the news? Where will you be?" Then it shows a man in a jungle looking at his cell phone.

I think the ad is good because it shows real people in real situations. It goes through life and where we get the news and captures how we feel when we hear terrible or shocking news. It demonstrates the living rooms, the workplace, on vacation, at home during a party, and then the man in the jungle.

The sound clips on the ad let you hear some of the news broadcaster's voice with music playing in the background. I think it was a good clip because I could relate to it and it was interesting to watch the whole time. You can view the clip by clicking on this link: http://www.boardsmag.com/screeningroom/commercials/6875/

Good!

Bad Ads

The first bad example I found was a video clip from Adidas entitled, "Target Practice." I thought the ad was bad because my first reaction was, "Not funny." It just wasn't targeted to a wide audience, but rather to boys and men who laugh at crude things. It showed a soccer played (I think from England) kicking a soccer ball towards another team mate who was holding some kind of hoop. The soccer ball didn't go through the hoop, instead it hit the teammate in the groin and the man went to the ground in pain. There isn't any sound except wind in the background, and it is a rather short clip. When the teammate gets hit you he

ar him cry out in pain and then you hear the snickering of others on the field. The words that flash on the screen say, "Play with more power. Predator," and then it says "adidas tv," and gives a website to adidas football at the bottom. The whole ad was just lame and not very effective at all. That ad did not make me want to support adidas or buy anything from them.The movie was boring, the filming wasn't that great, and there was no music.

While some may find the clip very funny, it was more crude than funny. I think the reaction of most is simply, "not funny." Bad!

You can view the clip at the following link: http://www.boardsmag.com/screeningroom/commercials/6877/

The other bad example is the Nike example at the top of the page. I couldn't figure out how to move the picture down lower, so there it is at the top. I think that is it an example of a bad advertisement simply because it is also crude. It doesn't have anything to do with what Nike sells, it just has the Nike name and slogan. It is a bad advertisement because people will associate this image with Nike and it just has a bad connotation.

I've included some more bad examples I found on the internet.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/playbooksandprofits/2008/07/new_nike_courage_ads_celebrate.html.

This site shows a Nike courage clip for the Olympics. While the clip was very emotionally persuasive, I thought some of the pictures they used were just too weird, and the pictures flashed across the screen a little too fast.

This Yahoo ad at a baseball game could be a little more pleasing to the eye and exciting.

Chapter 12 - Journal Entry #2

2008-11-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

Showman P.T. Barnum epitomize 19th-century press agentry with exaggerated claims such as those about Tom Thumb and Jenny Lind. Do such promotional methods exist today? Are there examples?

Barnum was only the beginning...promotional methods are still used today, and even more than in the past. Every business, celebrity, and politician seems to have a company or individual working on promoting them to the world. We see promotional events when new cds and books are released, or when a new movie opens.

I found a website that quotes Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come." If public relations companies build up a product, book, or person, often the audience will come! http://www.sales-lead-experts.com/tips/articles/event-promotion.cfm

Some common methods are marketing techniques, movie trailers, book signings, websites promoting new and upcoming artists and films, new toys, clothes, products and more.

One example is the new movie, "Twilight," based on the books by Stephanie Meyer. One way the movie was promoted was through an event where the actors and author were on a panel. Also at the event "exclusive" posters were available. Some of these posters are now up for bids on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TWILIGHT-P1-PROMO-PROMOTIONAL-TRADING-CARD_W0QQitemZ220326628372QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081209?IMSfp=TL081209203007r6110

Another example of promotional events is when a new product comes out. What promotional methods are used to sell the iphone? Promotions are what we call marketing and public relations today. A company or a person has to let the world know they are here! (Book - Using Public Relations to Sell Products, Ideas, or You.)

Look at some of the ways that Apple promoted the iphone (and I think these were just examples of promotions in Mexico!): (Shown at the top of the page, because I couldn't figure out how to get them to move.)

The pictures came from this website: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/global-iphone-3g-promotions-begin/

What about book promotions? One example of how Harry Potter was promoted is found in a New York times article. The book was promoted by using secrecy.

"And this time, a substantial degree of effort is going into ensuring that as little as possible is known about the book's contents in advance.

There will be, for instance, none of the advance copies that usually land on reviewers' desks a few months before publication. No one is promoting prepublication interviews with the author, J. K. Rowling. Indeed, according to the American and British publishers, Ms. Rowling will be giving no interviews at all until publication day.

The plot is a secret. So is the cover design. Even the title is supposed to remain closely guarded. All that the British publisher, Bloomsbury, is prepared to acknowledge is that this fourth and latest in a planned seven-book series will be a whopping 600 pages -- twice the length of previous Harry Potters. (The United States publisher, the Arthur A. Levine Books imprint of Scholastic Books, says its version will be closer to 700 pages because of a different layout and illustrations.)"

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401E0DA113AF931A15756C0A9669C8B63

Yes, promotional methods are used today, and they are more and more creative, innovative, and oft times - effective.

Chapter 12 - Journal Entry #1

2008-11-15T15:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.aici.org/

Are public relations activities like image consulting ethical? Explain.

What a debate, what a debate! I believe that all public relations activities should be ethical. The idea behind public relations is to build relationships and to let people know who you are and why you're here! Let's look at this question a little deeper.

What is image consulting?

Image consultant- a person or company hired to advise on improved public presentation or impression, esp. in media and public relations; also, such a person or company hired to assist someone in personal appearance or style. Cf. imagemaker

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/image+consultant&

Some services they offer include:

Image consulting and seminars on: professional dress, corporate & executive image, business casual, dress code policies, uniforms selection, and business etiquette. http://www.professionalimagedress.com/

What could be considered ethical/unethical about it?

I think that improving somebody's image is completely ethical. Research has shown that image and appearance make a difference. Now, if a PR company was hired to make an impression or make a business look or appear different than they really were, that would be unethical. It would be unethical to promote a false image, but to simply improve the appearance of a business isn't unethical at all. In fact, that is what corporations and people all over are consistently trying to do, they want to look and appear better - but they also want to look and appear as they really are.

On one website, the company's motto is "Image is everything." If that was the motto, then I can see how image consulting could become very unethical. If the idea is to create a false image or promote something that actually doesn't exist, I believe that is very unethical.

Did I mention I'm emphasizing in PR? :)

Chapter 9 - Journal Entry #3

2008-11-15T15:34:00.003-08:00

Many people would say that television has a greater impact on society than any other form of media. Do you agree? Why or why not?

What examples can you give?

Greater Impact

This question is a little difficult to answer and I think I'm split. I would have to say that television has a large impact, but I believe the internet has a greater impact. It seems that everyone uses the internet for so many different purposes. The internet has a greater impact on businesses, college students, elderly people (geneology?) and all who are seeking for information. It is also a way to socially connect, and thus more people are impacted by others from the Internet. You can also watch a lot of television online now.

Television's Impact

-I believe that television has impacted our view of the world around us. Like we discussed in class, we see the world largely through the windows of our televisions. I think television has impacted our views of morality and violence to some degree. In my own life I do believe that I was impacted by what I watched as a child. I was impacted by the commericals I saw and also by the shows I watched. I learned a lot of what is socially and culturally acceptable from television.

- I think television has impacted the way the average American family spends time. I think there is much more time spent watching TV than eating together, playing together, or interacting.

-I think television has impacted children and taught them social norms if their parents didn't teach them.

-I have neighbors at home whose parents are deaf. Their children largely learned to speak English from watching television and movies. That to me, is impact.

-I've noticed little children pick up phrases and slang from shows they have seen on television.

-One impact we talk about often in class is simply the need to watch television in order to fit it. I see it in my office all the time. Have you seen this episode of this show? Today, as I was getting my haircut the stylist was talking about the Biggest Loser and I had never seen it. I know what the show is, but I don't watch it. Luckily, I couldn't care less, but some people feel like if they can't talk about the latest shows, they simply can't fit in.

I like what Edward Murrow said about the television:

This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise, it is nothing but wires and lights in a box.

— Edward R. Murrow

He is right. The television only has an impact on those who choose to watch it.

Chapter 9 - Journal Entry #2

2008-11-15T15:34:00.001-08:00

Critiques argue that in trying to "offend no one," the networks tend to offer TV programs that appeal to the "lowest common-denominator." Do you agree? Can you name programs that are definitely for the LCD? Can you think of any network (NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, CW) programs that defy the LCD label? Explain.

I would agree that the networks tend to offer TV programs that are more suited for the general public, including those in the category of "lowest common-denominator." Such examples are shows that just about anyone can understand, such as game-shows, news channels, food shows, and more. The regular sit-coms, such as The Office are also aimed to at least capture the attention of those in the LCD.

I like what this person had to say.

"What the mass media offers is not popular art, but entertainment which is intended to be consumed like food, forgotten, and replaced by a new dish." W. H. Auden.

I don't know what a lot of network shows are, so I looked them up online. On NBC, some of the top shows include Law & Order, The Biggest Loser, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Office, ER, Dateline, and Heroes. Because I haven't really spent time watching these shows, I'm not sure what audience they were aimed for, but after our discussion in class, I really do think most shows are aimed for the LCD.

Some of the most popular shows on FOX include 24, American Idol, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader, Cops, House, The Simpsons, and Prison Break. American Idol is a show that anyone can watch - the LCD included. In fact, the title, "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader," as a game-show, just seems to shout to the LCD. Are they smarter than a 5th grader?

Perhaps of all the shows I've listed the only ones that may defy the LCD would be Law & Order, and ER. From their titles alone, they seem to be semi-intelligent shows.

Chapter 9 - Journal Entry #1

2008-11-15T15:32:00.000-08:00

Track your television viewing for one week. (If you don't watch television, WATCH SOME!!) What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about television? What does television provide you (fulfillment of a need -- See Chapter 15)?

Saturday - BYU vs. Utah game
Sunday - None
Monday - 11:00am news on Fox 13; CNN at 12:00pm
Tuesday - CNN Weather Watch, Channel 2 News at Noon
Wednesday - Oprah, Channel 2
Thursday - Macey's Parade, Little House on the Prarie, Anne of Green Gables
Friday - Anne of Green Gables, Football on Channel 2 & 4
Saturday - None

This was an interesting assignment for me because I don't have a television in my home right now. I found places on campus and at my in-laws to watch tv. When I had the time to watch it, I usually chose the news because that is most interesting to me. I really enjoyed watching some of Anne of Green Gables on tv, because that is one of my favorite movies. It was good to watch Oprah, because it's been a long time since I've seen that show, and I know it influences a lot of women throughout the country. It was also very interesting to watch Anne of Green Gables because it was on a Public Broadcasting channel and so the movie was consistently interrupted so that people could ask for our pledges and support!

What I learned about myself:
I learned that I like clean, wholesome, good entertainment! I don't really like commercials (except to see how they are trying to persuade me), and I would rather watch the news than a sit-com or soap opera. I enjoying watching football, but I really just enjoy being with my husband as he watches football! ;) If I had more time to watch television I would still choose to watch the news, BYU TV, and things like the food channel, the history channel, and other educational shows.

What I learned about television:
I learned that television is a great way to communicate to mass audiences! It is an effective tool for educating and it is very entertaining. It's meant to provide entertainment and interesting shows and it is loaded with advertising. I noticed that it is an outlet for political news and debates, and it is also full of a lot of junky shows.

What does television provide me and others?
I think television provides time to vedge and not have to think. I like just sitting and watching and listening. For me, it provides news and information that help me to better understand the world around me and stay up on current events. It also provides an opportunity to cuddle with my husband as we watch football together. I noticed as we gathered as a family to watch the BYU vs. Utah game, that television brought us together as family for that event more than going to the actual game would have.

Chapter 8 - Journal Entry #2

2008-10-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

If you were a movie producer, what would you do to make a box office hit in 2008?

If I was a movie producer, I would create either a Pixar film turning The Office into a feature-length movie, or star David Archuleta in High School Musical 4.

I looked up the greatest American films of all time to see what kind of genres they were, and this is what I found:

Top 100 American Films (Adjusted)

1. Gone with the Wind

2. Star Wars

3. The Sound of Music

4. E.T.

5. The Ten Commandments

I also looked up the Top Box Office Hits for 2007

1. Spider-Man 3

2. Shrek the Third

3. Transformers

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

6. The Bourne Ultimatum

7. 300

8. Ratatouille

9. The Simpsons Movie

10. Wild Hogs

I believe that people love two types of movies - 1. the unrealistic ones that take them out of this world, and 2. the movies that touch their hearts and make them leave the movie theater wanting to be better.

Chapter 8 - Journal Entry #1

2008-10-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

Why is the amount of sex and violence increasing in motion pictures? Is this a case of Hollywood giving society what they want or is it simply society's acceptance of what we are given?

I think that as the movie industry has moved on through time, they have come to realize that their audience will soak up whatever they are fed. They have found that they can include more sex, more drugs, and more violence, and that the audience members haven't rejected it yet. In fact, more people tend to attend movies with a fair amount of sex, drugs, and violence. I honestly believe that sex and violence are increasing because society isn't doing anything about it. They are sitting passively and watching whatever comes across the screen. They have slowly become desensitized to moderate sex and violence, and think a movie is boring without it. Hollywood wants to promote sex and violence and they know that society isn't going to react negatively if they add a little here and a little there. As people become more familiar with seeing sex and violence, those are the shows they tend to gravitate towards. Thus, the audience is supporting Hollywood's diet of trash and not even realizing the affect it is having on them.

Chapter 7 Journal Entry Part B.

2008-10-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

Radio is described as "the most personal of the media," why is that? Why do you think music is an important part in radio programming? Why is talk radio so popular?

This is an interesting topic for me because I never really got into the radio like most kids do during Junior High. Because of that, I really don't know any radio stations, except 1160AM and 1400AM. I think that radio is most personal because when people listen to the radio it is like having a one-on-one appointment with someone, or with a song. A lot of time spent listening to the radio is time spent alone driving in the car or at home or at work. Radio is probably the one mass medium that most people use alone, excepting the internet I guess. A lot of people listen to the radio on the internet now with Pandura.

I think that music is vital in radio programming because that is what a lot of listeners want to hear. Radio is a place where people find new songs they like. Once they hear new songs that they either like, or that are popular, they can go online and buy them. Everybody loves music and radio stations continue because people like differnent genres of music. Teens listen to one thing and adults listen to another. Nobody wants just talk radio - people love music! It's nice to have the radio to play music in the car, at work, at home, etc.

However, sometimes I think there is just too much noise. I love quiet and driving in the car is one of the only times when I can have just quiet. I enjoy a quiet home and a quiet drive. It gives me time to think and to meditate. When I do listen to the radio I listen to NewsRadio or talk radio because most of the songs they play on the radio aren't to my liking. :)

I think people like talk radio because they like to hear someone express their ideas or to stand up for a certain viewpoint. They like to listen to someone else talking and having a conversation. They also like to know what is going on in the world. The interesting thing is that those who listen to the talk radio shows (Hannity or Rush Limbaugh) are usually people who agree 100% with what is being said. It's as though the people listening simply need validation of their viewpoints. Also, my Grandma loves talk radio, and I think it is just because she is so lonely. She never gets out and she never socializes much. I don't think she has had many friends in her life, and so for her, talk radio becomes a social outlet, an imaginary neighborhood in a way. Talk radio also gets people thinking and developing their own opinions. It allows callers to share their thoughts and opinions, and thus, the caller can be involved in the on-going conversation as well.

Chapter 7 Journal Entry Part A.

2008-10-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

Come up with a list of five radio stations in the Utah area (choose some FM and some AM stations - music and talk). Write a description of each station including format, advertising, and target audience. What makes each station successful?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSRR

KSRR-AM 1400 (Popular Favorites) - I looked up information about KSRR-AM 1400 online and looked at their playlist for the day. All the songs were songs that I didn't know, but they were popular songs by artists such as Britney Spears, The Rock Heroes, Coldplay, Jordin Sparks, Saving Abel, Ludacris and more.

I found a website that talked about their advertising, and found out that their target audience is listeners in Utah County. I couldn't find out a lot about them on the internet, but Wikipedia had some information. The station is licensed in Provo, and originates from Orem. The format is oldies, but has some talk shows as well. They also play a lot of the BYU Baseball games.

(http://www.kodj.com/main.html)

KODJ-FM 94.1 (Oldies) -This station is called "Utah's Fun Station." They are HD radio and they often go traveling to broadcast all over Salt Lake Valley. FORMAT: Every morning from 6:00am - 10:00am they have Harmon & The Breakfast Club. It looks they are a talk-radio style show, and they talk about all sorts of things from politics to BYU sports, to 94 things to do in Utah. Drew Thomas is on from 10:00-3:00pm, and then Rockin' Rob is on from 3:00-7:00pm. He plays SuperHits from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Then, from 7:00pm-12:00am Morgan Decker keeps the party going with SuperHits from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The station holds lots of contests and has a great website. ADVERTISING: The advertisers on the website include, Woodland Park Care Center, Lasik, Toyota, PRCA, Dodge, Little Caesers, and Home Storage Basics. They host a lot of concerts (Neil Diamond) and community events. Their website has a traffic update report and a weather update, they also have news, and even gas prices. There is even a KODJ TV station! I listened at 6:55ish in the evening and heard advertisements for Neil Diamond in concert, Chevy, a traffic update, and some oldies music. TARGET AUDIENCE: I think the target audience is anyone who loves oldies, but these people would probably be our parents and those who were teens during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. However, as we saw in class, a lot of our classmates love oldies, especially Rock n' Roll. The advertisements are targeted towards teens-adults. SUCCESS: I think what makes this station successful is their unity with the community. They are a "fun" station and they hold a lot of events to unite the community and to the community's station. Playing the songs people want to hear - exclusively Oldies - makes this station successful. The specific genre of songs they cover invite a specific audience and brings success and listeners to the station. The website even has podcasts you can download and listen to. I believe that KSL is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I'm not sure. When I tuned in to the Nightside Project they were discussing the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle.

Some of the advertisers on the radio's website were Circuit City and Quest. I never heard any advertisements, so I'm not sure how KSL works as far as radio advertising.

http://1019theend.com/default.asp

FM 101.9 The End (Pop/Rock) - This station is based out of Salt Lake City and is a classic pop/rock station. It's target audience is listeners in Utah, especially teens and adults. It looks like there are three shows played throughout the day with lots of music. The advertisements on this station were geared towards adults, especially those who are perhaps married. The advertisers included Body Worlds 3, Salt Lake Homeowners, Green Tea, Rose Crest Housing Development, Les Schwab, Clinique, Maceys, and University Helicopters. It sounded like there may be a website called 101.9 VN, but I couldn't tell what they were saying. The station definitely was pop/rock and really hip stuff.

http://www.classical89.org/listings/

KBYU-FM 89.1/89.5 (Public/Classical) - This is BYU's very own radio station! Wahoo! It is listener supported radio and they rely on donations for funding. The listings for today included concerts by famous artists in concert halls all over the world. Then they had a interview program called Thinking Aloud. The show hosts scholars, students and guests. At around 6:00pm there is a section for kids where a woman talks about composers and music through stories. At 7:00pm there is a one-hour program on Exploring Music. Then at 8:00pm they play Thinking Aloud again. The station also plays all the BYU Devotionals. When I listened it should have been during their Exploring Music section. However, it was an odd piece with a man speaking or reciting and then an orchestra playing some music. I think the target audience is BYU students and community listeners who enjoy classical music. There is no advertising and I think the success of this station comes because it is hosted by BYU and supporters from all around the world I suppose.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=16

KSL-AM 1160 (102.7 FM) (News and Information) - The format for this station is Utah's Morning News with Grant and Amanda, every morning from 5:00-9:00am. They give updates on news, weather and traffic. Then The Doug Wright Show, a local talk show, comes on from 9:00am-noon. Then, they broadcast The Sean Hannity Show from 1:00-4:00pm every day. And from 4:00-7:00pm, (for the commute home) is Utah's Afternoon News with Scott & Maria. They, like Grant and Amanda, cover news, weather and traffic. From 7:00-mid-night is The Nightside Project where they cover all sorts of different talk radios topics. On Friday mornings they have The KSL Movie Show, and on Saturdays they have the KSL Greenhouse Show. There is also The Matt Townsend Show which is a show about conflict resolution in relationships and marriage, The KSL Travel Show and a show about family history. As you can see, the format is basically news radio/talk radio. The target audience is largely adults, specifically those who commute to and from work in the mornings and evenings, and also mothers at home. The Doug Wright Show and the Sean Hannity show are broadcast during workday hours, and their target audience may be mothers at home and also people who listen to the radio at work.

The Station also features BYU sports, Music and the Spoken Word, Zions Bank, and Intermountain Healthcare.

I think this station is successful because it covers news in Utah Valley and Salt Lake. It is a popular news, weather, and traffic update for a lot of commuters. It aims to reach adults in the area, and it discusses important news and meets the need of it's listeners. I'm learning that some news stations are connected to radio stations. KSL, the news station, also owns this radio station. I believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an important position with this station, but I'm not sure if they own it or not.

I also spent some time on Pandora and was able to create my own radio station which was pretty sweet. :)

Chapter 6 Journal Entry Part B.

2008-10-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

Delve into one of our local papers. What is the balance between hard and soft news? What kind of topics are being covered? Are they still the watchdogs they used to be?

I spent some time in the Deseret News (online) and most of the front page headlines were hard news giving details and facts about what is going on in our community and world. There were a few features, or soft news, stories that were listed under "Top Stories." There were three articles covering the effects of the trouble we are seeing in the economy, from high grocery bill prices to fewer flights over Thanksgiving. The top story that showed up was about the holes in the ground from the former Cottonwood Mall. There were articles about the Utah Jazz, and Utah's football rankings. There was an article about the Church's relief in Lousiana, and about Latinos getting help from a UVU program. Then was an article about picking the right pumpkin and one about the sale of vinyl records coming back. The local newspaper covers a varitey of different topics, but all seem vital to our little Utah Valley community.

I think the newspapers are still the watchdogs they used to be. They are on the lookout for anything that the public would want or need to know about. For example, this article (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705256560,00.html) was about a secret fight of Freddie Mac and gives the public an insider view concerning some vital issues. I found an example on Wikipedia, "In recent history, a notable example of watchdog journalism was the exposure of Dan Rather's investigative segment which cast George W. Bush's military record in an unfavorable light. The segment was based on the Killian documents, which blogger journalists exposed as being insufficiently verifiable as authentic."

http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/ - Questions the press should ask
http://www.ncpa.org/ - National Center for Policy Analysis
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=100 - National media watch group

Chapter 6 Journal Entry Part. A

2008-10-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Many metropolitan daily newspapers have lost circulation and some have shut down. Why? Any examples? Community newspapers however, especially suburban weeklies are booming. Why? Any examples?

In February of this year the New York Times published an article about metropolitan newspapers losing circulation. The article mentioned that "major downsizing...has been imposed at The San Francisco Chronicle, The Seattle Times, The San Jose Mercury News, USA Today and many others." Part of the reason that these papers have lost circulation is because they have lost some of their advertising revenue. It also mentioned that, "Circulation revenue has declined steadily since 2003, and the number of copies sold has been slipping about 2 percent a year. Some of the largest papers - including The San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe and The Los Angeles Times - have lost 20 to 30 percent of their circulation in just a few years."

The reason for the decline has to do with the economy and online advertising. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/business/media/07paper.html?_r=1&fta=y&oref=slogin)

A study of a University of North Carolina professor Philip Meyer, "predicted that if newspapers make no changes, they will lose their last reader in 2044." (http://www.nysun.com/arts/newspaper-industry-alive-and-well/31468/))

It seems that there is always the question whether newspapers will stay around or not. I think they will. I think people like having a newspaper in their hands. However, today with the iphone people can have newspapers in their hands. I think everyone and everything is going online. I think a lot of newspapers are losing advertising and readership to people who are going online.

There is a lot of competition for metro newspapers because of Google News and MSN and such. Also, with programs such as NetVibes, people only need one or two papers (like the Wall Street Journal and New York Times) and they don't care so much for the other metros.

Community newspapers usually only don't have any competition because there is only one newspaper per community, and the readership is high because people want to know what is going on in their community.

http://www.naa.org/

This website has a neat campaign called, "Newspaper's Reach: The Competitive Edge 2008." This campaign covers such topics as Newspaper vs. Cable, Newspaper vs. Direct Mail, Newspaper vs. Radio, Newspaper vs. Television, Newspaper vs. Yellow Pages. This campaign is full of charts that show how newspapers are successful for advertising in many areas. Check it out here: http://www.naa.org/docs/TrendsandNumbers/Newspaper-Reach-new.pdf

I like to read the newspaper and have it in my hands, but I also like to read it online. When I read it, I just glimpse it and I rarely read any articles all the way through. I like to read the metro paper (like the New York Times) because I think it covers important issues in-depth. I like to read the Daily Universe to know what is going on on campus. Because the Daily Universe doesn't have any competition with other campus newspapers, it's circulation will probably remain higher than other metro papers.

Here are some highlights I found on readership:

Highlights

Total Adults: Main news/front page is the most widely read section among adult

daily newspaper readers at 87%.

Gencer: After main news/front page, men and women read the local News

section most (83% & 87% respectively).

Age: Daily newspaper readers 35-44 are more than twice as likely as those

18-24 to read circulars/inserts/fliers (40% vs.15%).

Education: Daily newspaper readers with high school diplomas are more likely

to read the classified section than those with bachelor’s degrees

(45% vs. 28%)

Household Income: Daily newspaper readers with household incomes under $30,000 are

more likely to read sections with any advertising (66%), than daily

readers with household incomes $75,000+ (57%).

Occupation: Daily newspaper readers in professional occupations are more

likely to read the entertainment/lifestyle section (52%) than daily

readers in production occupations (34%). Daily newspaper readers

in production occupations read the sports section more (74%), than

those in professional occupations (51%).

Employment Status: Employed daily newspaper readers are more likely to read the sports

section than unemployed readers (57% vs. 51%). Unemployed

readers are more likely to read the editorial page than employed

readers (50% vs. 37%).

Marital Status: Daily newspaper readers who are married are more likely than those

who are single to read the business section (47% vs. 32%). Single

daily newspaper readers are more likely than married readers to read

classified advertising (42% vs. 36%).

Geography: Daily newspaper readers in the northeast Census region are more

likely to read any advertising than readers in the west Census region.

http://www.naa.org/docs/Research/Daily-Readership-Active.pdf

Chapter 5 Journal Entry Part B.

2008-09-27T22:43:00.000-07:00

What impact will/has the electronic media have/had on the magazine industry?

As I showed in my example from American Cowboy, a lot of magazines have websites as well. I think that just as people like having books in their hands, they like having magazines that they can touch and hold and feel. I think that more magazines will go online, but I don't think we'll ever stop having magazines as we have them now. I think that the electronic media will only promote magazines more and find more subscribers worldwide. People don't want to live online -so it is nice to have magazines and books and music, things they can do away from a computer. I think things will stay the same, only more magazines will be online as well.

Chapter 5 Journal Entry Part A.

2008-09-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

Go to a bookstore (not BYU's) and look at the different magazines. Select one that appeals to a highly specialized audience (different from one of your own interests). Read through the magazine and based on the magazine's content (including the advertisements) prepare a description of the magazine's "typical reader." Give specific examples to justify your generalization.

I went to Borders (at Riverwoods) and was amazed at how many magazines there are! I never read magazines (okay, I read the Ensign and National Geographic), and so I hadn't see all the covers and titles that are available. I was a little shocked with all the magazines for gamers, and all the half-naked ladies covering many of the magazines.

I picked a magazine called American Cowboy (Western Lifestyle/Travel/People) to read through. The cover had a picture of Ed Harris (who is that?) on his set of a new movie called Appaloosa. Ed had a serious look on his face, a black Cowboy hat, and a scruffy face. Along the top of the magazine it said: Top 10 Western Movies. Other headings on the cover said, "+117 Totally Entertaining Travel Destinations," "Western's Enter a New Era," "Ed Harris: Appaloosa," "Must-Have Looks for Fall," "Bull Riding's Ultimate Showdown," and "Rough Rider: Roosevelt and the West."

Just from the cover of the magazine, I could conclude that the "typical reader," for this magazine would be, 1. An American, 2. A male, 3. Someone who is either a cowboy, or who loves cowboy things and Westerns. 4. From the titles of the articles it sounds like the magazine is reared for males ages 18-40 (and maybe older too, but it seems that older men aren't as interested in fashion.).

On the back cover of the magazine was a sexy-looking girl modeling CruelGirl brand jeans for Rocky Mountain Clothing. Throughout the magazine there were a lot of ads featuring sexy cowgirls and cowgirls with cowboys. This is another indication that the magazine is aimed for men, especially young-middle age men.

When I opened the magazine the first page was a 2-page, full-color ad, for a Silverado Truck. I thought, "How typical." Every cowboy wants a big truck. There were ads for cowboy hats, specialized shoes, saddles, Western-looking light fixtures and more. The ads were generally aimed at men, and at men with money to spend on specialized cowboy gear. There were tons of ads for cowboy clothing, and there was even an article on the latest "looks" for cowboys for fall.

The Table of Contents featured articles with titles such as, "The Greatest Westerns Ever Made," "Theodore Roosevelt at 150," "Showdown on Kodiak Island," and more. On the next page, some of the departments listed were, "Roundup," "Cowgirl Turf," "Taste of the West," and more. As I glimpsed through some of these articles I realized that there were a lot of real-life stories of cowboys covered. This appeals to an audience of men who are cowboys, and men who wish they were cowboys. The articles were written on around a tenth-grade level, so the average American cowboy could read and understand them.

The magazine also listed ads for Cowboy associations to join, Border Patrol (on horses), and Rodeo ads. There were a few pages dedicated to cowboy events going on in the US with states and phone numbers listed. There was an Advertisers page and a Shopping page. There were letters to the editor and letters from the editor. The editor's picture shows him wearing a cowboy hat and looking very normal and down-to-earth. His article was titled, "Humility Breeds Gratitude." There were pages that advertised the lasted country music, western-themed art, and western books - all geared at the real cowboy, or the want-to-be cowboy. The magazine also referred often to it's website - showing that the magazine was targeted at a media/computer savvy audience as well.

It was fascinating to learn so much about magazines just from glimpsing through this one simple magazine.

Chapter 4 Journal Entry Part B.

2008-09-27T22:19:00.000-07:00

Which would you prefer to use in your college classes, regular textbooks or electronic textbooks? Why? Which would you prefer for your leisure reading? Why?

I definitely prefer regular textbooks vs. electronic textbooks. I feel like I spend all day long at a computer as it is, and having to read everything online would simply drive me nuts. I stare at a computer screen at work for hours a day, and then I do a large part of my homework on a computer. I just think my eyes would kill and my head would too, if I had to read all my text online. Right now I have one class (Healthy Living) online and I don't like it that much because I can't do my homework unless I have a computer. I don't like scrolling down the pages and not being able to highlight anything or write notes in the margins. Plus, I can't take my book to class unless I have a laptop.

I'm not too concerned with the cost of my textbooks right now, and I prefer having something in my hands and on my shelf. I like to study on the couch, or at the table, or outside, and a textbook is something you can take with you.

For leisure reading I definitely prefer regular books. HOW CAN YOU ENJOY A BOOK YOU ARE READING ON THE COMPUTER? To me, the joy of reading is that you cuddle up on the sofa or in bed, and just read. I take a book with me in my purse and read when I have down-time. It's nice to have a book in the car to read (when my husband is driving) and I often read aloud to both of us (which creates some good bonding time as well).

I have sweet memories of my mother reading to me and my siblings on the couch in our living room, for hours a day. I also have memories of gathering everyone in my parents room and listening to mom read aloud to us before we went to bed. I sure hope that books remain as they are because I don't want to gather my children around the computer to read to them.

Reading is much more than simply seeing words on a page and understanding them - reading is an experience. It builds relationships - whether that is between the author and reader, the characters and reader, or between people who read out loud or together - books have a very binding quality about them.

I can see some good in electronic books, but we have enough on the computer as it is, and I prefer books I can see and hold. I love to glimpse through books and I want to have lots of books in my home and on my shelves. I LOVE bookstores and libraries and I really think I could practically live in a library. If a library was simply a computer how boring would that be? The joy of going to the library is that you have dozens of shelves with hundreds of books available for you to peruse and read. There is something satisfying about having a book in hand. :) I vote for books to remain as they are.

Chapter 4 Journal Entry Part A.

2008-09-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

Poll 10 people by posing the question, "Read any good books lately?" How many have they read in the past 6 months? What types of books have they read? What does this tell you about your sample and society?

What an interesting poll this was! I loved our chapter about books because I love to read. However, I don't find much time to read and so I haven't read nearly as many books as I would have liked. My poll was interesting because I found that people have interesting reading styles.

I polled ten people and these were the results:

Grandma in CA - Reads often, is currently reading a book about arms build up in the 70's and 80's which has to do with a company my Grandpa worked for.

BYU Student (girl) - The Host (Stefanie Meyer), 3rd Nephi in the Book of Mormon, A history book on the Great Depression.

BYU Student (girl) - A New Earth (Erkhart Tulle), The Peacegiver

Co-worker and BYU student (male) - Heaven's Resound; Nauvoo; Isaiah Prophet, Poet and Seer; Joseph Smith - Teaching of Latter-day Prophets; Bible; Book of Mormon; Pearl of Great Price; Doctrine and Covenants; Mormonism and Early Christianity; Temples of the Ancient World; Mere Christianity; BYU Studies Summer 1969 Code Names

Older Brother, 25, works full-time (male) - Princess Academy; The Perilous Gard; Madeleine L'Engle Herself; Book of a Thousand Days; The Lord's Question; The Kite Runner; The Arm of the Starfish; Wit; The Amulet of Samarkand; American-Born Chinese; Every Book Its Reader; The Golem's Eye; Mummy's the Word; A Voyage to Arcturus; Ptolemy's Gate; Bird by Bird; Conversations with Mormon Authors; As Long as I have You; Art and Fear; The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Co-worker (female) BYU student - Pride and Prejudice; started reading Twilight but decided not to finish it.

Little brother (13) - Book of Mormon

Little brother (15) - The Hobbit; all of the Lord of the Rings (probably for the 20th time); The Once and Future King; The Stilmarillion; Unfinished Tales; all of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Little brother (16) - The Count of Monte Cristo; Les Mis (abridged); part of The Last Man; We the People (textbook)

Dad - can't remember (He did read some children's books to my little brothers).

What an interesting poll! What I learned from my small sampling was that some people read more than others. It seems that people who want to read will take the time for it. I was most impressed with people, like my two brothers, who have read so many books in the past few months. It is also interesting to note what kinds of books people choose to read when they do read. Everybody is different and my sample size only shows me that people read what they like, and they only read as often as they choose to make time for it.

I heard a quote once by a great man that something to the effect that, "You can tell a man by the books he has by his bedside." I agree. It says a lot about a person when you look at the kinds of books they read. My fifteen-year-old brother reads a lot of fantasy, my older brother reads a variety of genres, and my co-worker (I work at the Missionary Training Center) only reads gospel-themed books. My sixteen-year-old brother seemed to be reading classics and I think that is because they are required for his English class. My dad, a tax CPA, hasn't had time to read anything (he does read the Sports page and Stock info).

In the past six months I have read a few books with my husband. Everyone's reading style differs. Some people read only one book in six months, others read twenty. No matter our style, reading is something that almost everybody engages in for one reason or another. It is a means of mass communication that is still widely used today.

The Way God Communicates

2008-09-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

I love this class! Everything we are studying fascinates me! One thing that has come to my mind is the way that the Lord communicates. The Lord uses different mediums to send messages to His children. Throughout scripture and through modern revelation we learn that God communicates in the following ways:

Face-to-face with His children

In Dreams

In Visions

Through angels

Through the scriptures

Through a voice or a feeling

Through living prophets

Through physical signs

The medium by which God communicates anything with His children is through the Holy Ghost. There is a lot of noise in the world around us and it's sometimes hard to hear what God is saying. He will communicate His truths to us in different ways and at different times. The beautiful thing is that the line of communication is open. God does speak to His children today.

Chapter 3 Journal Entry Part B.

2008-09-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

There is a possibility that people will be immersing themselves in the world of mass media to a point to where they begin to tune out the real world. What might happen if people begin to overly distance themselves from the reality of the outside world? Are there examples of where this has already happened?

Feelings

Oh, is this ever an issue facing us today! People are consuming mass media ALL DAY LONG! IT LITERALLY IS OUR WORLD AND MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES. They spend from morning until evening texting, surfing the web, blogging, updating facebook, watching YouTube, using computers at work and school, e-mailing, calling friends, reading magazines, reading the latest book, watching sit-coms, listening to talk radio, going to the movies, listening to their ipods, and more. People don't know how to live anymore!

While I agree that media is for the most part a good thing (in that we have progressed and advanced in miraculous ways), my main concern is that people don't know how to balance media consumption. People are forgetting how to live. I feel like with all the means of mass media that we have around us, it is easy to be preoccupied with one thing - ourselves. Everyone is caught up with informing and entertaining themselves, and many have forgotten that other people exist. It's like we can shut ourselves in our own little world and tune everybody and everything else out.

I feel like kids don't know how to communicate with adults anymore, or even hold a decent conversation with one of their friends. My little brothers use between 10,000-20,000 texts each, per month! I remember hearing that and thinking to myself, "What do they do all day, text?!" We see this focus on self and this distancing from the world as we walk on our very own campus at Brigham Young University. I hate walking by someone and saying something, and realizing that they have something in their ear and they can't hear me!

I would like to do an experiment walking from the Wilkinson Center to the Spencer W. Kimball tower and just count how many people have phones in hand, or phones or ipods in their ears. I would like to count how many people in the library are not only on their laptops, but are also listening to music or using their cell phones. The fact is - media is consuming is!

Facebook is another issue! For example, while Facebook is not necessarily a bad thing, too much of anything isn't good. People spend their lives updating their "lives" on facebook. It's like we've all connected online, but we don't know how to connect in person. What about going and visiting a friend, calling them up, or going on a walk? What about the good old-fashioned lunch date to catch up with a friend instead of just passing them quickly and hearing them say, "Look me up on Facebook."

Most media is good. It is helping our world advance in phenomenal ways, and helping the Church and kingdom of God flourish. However, people need to be wise in the media they consume. Less really is better. An old poem I once memorized was called, "A Time to Talk," by Robert Frost.

"When a friend calls to me from the road, and slows his horse to a meaning walk, I don't stand still and look around on all the hills I haven't hoed, and shout from where I am, What is it? No, not as there is a time to talk. I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground, Blade-end up and five feet tall, And plod: I go up to the stone wall For a friendly visit."

I like this poem because of what it teaches us. While the setting is a scene from many years ago, it applies to us today. Our lives are busy and we have so much going on. A typical reaction to a friend's passing on the road might be to shout out quickly, "What is it?" Not really caring to know. But if we understand what life is really about, we will thrust in our hoe blade-end up (meaning we'll be gone awhile) and we'll go visit. The stone wall is an image of a place to sit and really visit, a talk for longer than a second. Today media is replacing this type of conversation. Too many don't have time to talk.

Another downfall of too much media is that it is overwhelming to try and keep in touch with everyone. If you have 900 friends on Facebook, you can't possible keep up on what is going on in their lives and send them messages, without spending all day every day on Facebook.

What might happen or what is happening because of this over-consumption?

-Children are losing the ability to play

-People don't get outside anymore

-Neighbors don't take walks around the block

-People stay inside

-People don't go anywhere (they can do everything from home)

-Less interaction within the community (you don't go to the bank anymore, so you don't interact with the teller. You don't go out to eat, so you don't interact with the waitress.) Now, this may be extreme, but we are spending more and more time consumed with media and less and less time actually living life. If being online all day is living life, well then, I'm worried about the future. :)

Examples of it already happening

This lifestyle is already happening and we see it all around us.

I am always disgusted when I hear grown men (19-25) talk about staying up all night playing Halo or Starcraft. It is sad to hear my friends say, "I've got to see the fifth and sixth season, I just finished the first four." I think to myself - who has time to watch that many episodes of anything? Don't you have better things to do with your life?! Yes, we can see that this is already happening around us.

The funny thing is that the media we watch depicts others filling their lives with non-stop media. We weren't met to multi-task by talking on the phone, texting, and listening to music while we are driving. We need to slow down, focus, and learn to talk to other people face-to-face. :) The world will be a lot better off if we return to the post-industrialization ideals of family time, good neighbors and tight knit communities.

Chapter 3 Journal Entry Part A.

2008-09-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

Do negative stereotypes exist in the media today? Explain and if yes, give examples - if no, explain why you believe they do not.

Yes, I definitely believe that negative stereotypes exist in the media today. It is the media that has designed and created them, and it it through the media that we look at others around us and often negatively stereotype them. The media has done an excellent job of creating negative stereotypes of women, elderly people, celebrities, politicians, computer experts, homeless people, smokers, drug-users, and more.

According to our textbook, we learn that socialization is "the process of integrating people within society through the transmission of values, social norms, and knowledge to new members of the group." (p. 91) This idea suggests that we learn what is important and valued in our society from the media.

I wasn't quite sure exactly what stereotypes were and so I googled it. Isn't the internet wonderful? I saw from one website that we often stereotype people by race. Others view Americans in certain ways, and we view different cultures through the stereotype image the media has created for us. The website defined stereotypes as, "generalizations, or assumptions, that people make about the characteristics of all members of a group, based on an image (often wrong) about what people in that group are like." ( http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/problem/stereoty.htm).

From reading on the web I'm learning that there are a lot more negative stereotypes than I realized. There are stereotypes of Iranians, Central American's, Native Americans, lawyers, doctors, public relations people, news writers and reporters, and on and on. I've included some pictures I found by actually searching under the term, "Stereotypical Pictures."

The media has control over stereotypes. People consume media and then view the world around them largely from the eyes of what they have consumed. If the media tells them one thing, they are likely to view people the way the media viewed them. I think that one of the biggest issues we face with this is the degradation of women. With pornography so rampant in the world around us, women are viewed as objects instead of beautiful daughters of God. Men and women treat women differently because of this. We have a stereotypical babe, California beach girl, feminist, etc. Here is an example of a typical Asian tourist I found.

Here is a picture of a stereotypical German I found online as well.

Through all forms of mass media negative stereotypes are created and displayed. We must be wise and not let the media shape the way in which we view our world.

Chapter 1 Journal Entry Part B.

2008-09-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

Which of the mass media perform the informing the best? Entertaining? Persuading? Explain.

It seems that all mass media fulfill these three functions to some degree. Some more than others - often it depends on the genre. Newspapers, certain magazines (Time, National Geographic, etc), some websites, and books are the best informers. When I need to be informed about the world around me, I go to www.nytimes.com and read the front page. I also pick up a Daily Universe on campus to be informed on what's going on around our school. Within the Church we even have Church magazines and the Church News to keep us informed on what is going on within the Church. Other media that informs are personal websites, blogs and facebook pages. Then the individual is able to inform others about something going on in their life, or about anything else.

The mass media that entertain are music (ipods, itunes, pandora), movies (dvd's, movie theaters) tv, magazines, books, video games and cell phones. Each individual chooses the media that entertains them and it is different for everyone. When I want to be entertained I chose the song or movie that I want to watch. However, I am very picky when it comes to the media I choose to let into my life. When I think of being entertained I think of reading a classic novel or a biography. We have examples of entertainment all around us. It seems that the movie theater is a very popular means of entertainment. Some people with Iphones are entertained on their cell phones because they are able to surf the web and watch YouTube, watch TV, or listen to the radio.

As far as persuading, I feel like tv talk shows, radio talk shows, and certain books, magazines, and websites are able to persuade the best. An example of the power of persuasion in the mass media is Oprah. I just went to Oprah's website and watched a video about Gwyneth Paltrow's workout. I can see how this clip could persuade others to exercise and take care of their bodies. I feel like Oprah is a large-scale opinion leader. I also feel that music (or music groups) can be very persuasive and can lead others to follow them. I feel like the newspaper is for the most part objective and not very persuasive. However, according to Agenda Setting theory, it does tell the reader WHAT to think about. I personally don't like the powerful influence of persuasion that comes so naturally through the media. Another major means of persuasion is through television commercials. The advertisers are so wise in sending the right messages to get the right people to pay attention to and be persuaded by their message.

It is vital that we become very media savvy so that we can pick and choose what we watch, read, and listen to in order to know how we're being persuaded. Then we can decide if we will be persuaded or not. And, if it is our choice, are we being persuaded? :)

Our Discussion on Media Violence

2008-09-20T07:01:00.001-07:00

I guess what bothered me most about our discussion on media violence was that we didn't define what "harmful" meant.

"For some children under some conditions, some television is harmful. For other children under the same conditions, or for the same children under other conditions, it may be beneficial. For most children, under most conditions, most television is probably neither particularly harmful nor particularly beneficial." (William Schramm)

While I agree, each individual is different and responds differently to different stimuli, there is an effect on anyone who watches anything. We just respond differently. Perhaps the difficult thing is that in a class like this we are looking at the world in general and not at an LDS audience. However, one thing we do know is this - each individual has a spirit. That spirit is affected by what it sees, hears, and feels. Although the scientific world may never be able to prove the effects of violent media on children, we can see from a gospel perspective, that media violence may have a more serious consequence than we know.

Chapter 1 - Journal Entry Part A.

2008-09-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

Using the Communication Model, define how each component could be applied to a newspaper article, a magazine article, a radio program, and a television show. Does the model work more efficiently for some media than for others?

The Communication Model works because when we communicate there is always a sender and a receiver. There are multiple channels through which messages are sent. It was a little difficult to figure out how each of these media components fit into the model. I thought the model worked better for a radio station or a newspaper than for TV or magazines simply because it is easier for the receiver to send a message back to the sender. I've tried to explain how the model would fit into each of these components. I've given examples at the end.

Newspaper Article

Sender: News organization, Editor, Writer of the article

Encoding: A story is covered and a newspaper article is written

Noise: People are too busy to read the paper, people don’t have a paper, people don’t read the whole article, people read other papers, don’t speak English, paper gets wet in the rain,

Message: The story or article

Decoding: Is this message important to me?

Receiver: Whoever reads the article

Encoding: Why is this article relevant to me? What does it mean?

Message: That was an informative article, I didn’t like the article, that article can’t be true, that article is just words filling up a page, I disagree with the article

Noise: no time to write to the editor, why would I let them know if I like the article, no time, my child’s on the computer, I need to sleep

Decoding: feedback through e-mailing something to the editor, continuing to buy the paper

Magazine Article

Sender: The Magazine corporation, editors, photorgraphers and writers, advertisers

Encoding: Pictures are taken, advertisements are made, stories and articles are written

Noise: too much money to buy at the store, don’t have time to read, children are demanding, work is demanding, need to eat, sleep and exercise

Message: whatever the theme of the magazine is

Decoding: Is this something I want to read?

Receiver: People reading the magazine, looking at the pictures, glimpsing at the adds

Encoding: This article taught me a lot, now I know what is going on, I want to look like that

Message: The reader’s response to the article or ad, letters to the editor

Noise: There isn’t a lot of ways that people respond to magazine articles, but friends and demands on time may be noise,

Decoding: Our article is successful, people are listening to our messages, buying our advertisements, and copying hair and clothes styles

Radio Program

Sender: Radio Station, Broadcaster, Advertisers

Encoding: Music chosen, scripts written, guests hosted, ads played

Noise: cd’s, ipods’, internet, phones, work, school, radio reception fuzzy, another language

Message: Either a music station, play music, or news broadcasting station, talk radio – talk about issues and current events

Decoding: These messages are important to me

Receiver: Whoever chooses to listen

Encoding: This is why I like this station

Message: I like this station

Noise: Time, no internet to write it, no phone to call in,

Decoding: we have viewers/listeners, they like our message, they like our music

Television Show

Sender: Corporations that own station, individual station, directors, producers, editors, advertisers

Encoding: We want people to watch our show

Noise: Work, no tv, dvd’s, tevo, movie theaters, music, school

Message: Whatever message they send through news, soap operas, sit coms, informational channels, sports

Decoding: Viewers watching and absorbing information

Receiver: Anyone who chooses to watch TV

Encoding: Why do I like this show?

Message: I love this show

Noise: Work, school, no internet, tv doesn’t work, channel is blocked, have to pay per view, don’t have cable

Decoding: our shows are being watched, people like them

Examples:

1. Newspaper Article -

Here in this newspaper example you can see many of the different ways by which the sender has encoded a message and sent it through the medium of a newspaper. Look at the layout, the lettering, the pictures, the stories covered and the information on just this one page. Obviously, the newspaper fits into the Communication Model because it sends messages to mass audiences, most of which are anonymous. The New York Times is a good example of using many means of mass communication to reach people. It is not only a paper that you can hold in your hands, but you can go online and read the paper. Not only that, on the website they show video clips covering the news, have podcasts you can download and have blogs you can join. They are using many means of mass communication to send an objective message of the news going on in the world around us. Opinion articles are great ways in which the sender uses the communication model to send a message and then the receiver is able to give feedback.

2. Magazine Article - The communication model is used as magazines send messages specifically tailored to meet the needs of the reader. I went to VanityFair.com and there are messages being sent all over. There are blogs you can read with titles like, "Culture and Celebrity," "Politics and Power," "Society and Style," etc. There are ads and pictures all over the place. The message that this magazine sends is one about trend, fashion, class, vanity, and much more. There is even a "Style Issue." VanityFair sends its message to those who choose to read it. Magazines reach the mass public through paper and internet versions of each issue.

3. Radio Program - www.pandora.com is a good example of how the radio is influencing and sending messages to the mass media. The interesting thing is that this website lets you create your own radio station. This is a good example of how the communication model works because the receiver is able to control a lot of the media and send a message to the Radio sender about the music the receiver wants to hear.

4. Television Show - TV sends many messages to receivers the world over. The way that the receiver can send messages is by not watching certain shows. In order to know what kind of messages are being sent to mass audiences, you only need to look up the 100 most popular tv shows of our day. This website, http://www.tv.com/shows/top-shows/today.html&pop=true, shows that the top shows on TV are 1. Smallville, 2. House, 3. Supernatural, 4. Heroes, 5. Prison Break, 6. One Tree Hill, and on and on. The Office is sixteenth on this list. I haven't ever seen any of these shows, but I've heard of some of them. Therefore, television shows only reach those audiences of people who choose to watch them. TV isn't a good communicator for me because I hardly ever watch it.

The interesting thing is that we use media all day every day. As I'm working on this blog for my homework, I'm surfing the internet to find examples (all my examples came from the internet because everything is online now) and listening to music on ITunes.

The First Day of Class

2008-09-03T21:12:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day of class in Comms 101 with Dr. Robinson. I'm really excited for this class, and I can already see how the media has an increasing influence in my life. I'm realizing that it is important for me to spend time to stay up on what is going on in the media in order to be more competent and balanced in life. I really am fascinated by the subtle influence the media has on us and the "manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth," (D&C 38:30).

As I sat in class I thought of all the influences that media has on me directly in my own life. The first example that came to mind was simply the distortion of women's figures in magazines, billboards, commercials and movies. It seems that the media presents the image of a "perfect" woman, a woman that we all have to somehow live up to. The problem is that we compare ourselves to this image and we fall short, extremely short. Then we try and do whatever we can to conform ourselves to this image, whether we realize it or not. The problem is that not only are women affected by this fake imaging, but men are also. As men view these images and are surrounded by the same media as women, they too, develop distorted images about what women should look like. They then compare us (real women) with the fake images that the media feeds us. What an issue, eh?

Another thought that I had later today was that in studying the media I would develop an eye of discernment. I think this is so important, especially in our day and age. I want to be able to see past it all and to know and understand the messages that the media is trying to send. I feel this will be helpful as I raise my own children and work with youth in the future. If I can help them to see the real messages, or to avoid the fake ones, they will better be able to avoid the influences of negative media in their lives.

I've been a little behind when it comes to TV watching, radio listening, internet surfing, and the like - so this will be a change for me. It's important to stay up-to-date on what is going on in order to be both faithful and competent, (the goal Elder Bednar said we should be striving for in our education). I guess that's about it as far as my thoughts from the first day of class. Until next time...:)