WK 1 Effects Of Mass Media Paper

Effects of Mass Media
Timothy Bellve
10/20/2014
HUM186
Instructor: Steven Gaffen

When you look at how far we came now compared to media fifty years ago, you can see that it has gone from one extreme to another. Mass Media has drastically changed since its beginning. Though newspapers were considered one of the only sources of information years ago, it brought back something with them that words couldn’t do even when other forms had developed such as a television and radio. While our technology has grown, mass media has also grown increasingly rapid due to how readily available information can be retrieved and how easy and fast it is to post information.

Major advances in the evolution of mass media during the last century have first been the creation and usage of radio stations. As time progressed after radios, another development in the evolution of mass media was created, known as a television. Finally, the last major advance in mass media during the last century was the creation of computers which ultimately led to the creation of the internet and eventually the start of social media.

As the methods of gaining access to media have progressed, so has the way it impacts the people who have access to it. The thought of modern popular culture is inconceivable without the early influence of radio. The development of radio influenced American culture by originally being used to navigate ships, where the use reduced the isolation of ships while sailing. During this time, it was limited to Morse code transmissions. This also created a use during World War I to keep a direct flow of communication with airplanes as well as an experiment with broadcasting entertainment to the troops. After all the technological advances for radio, this had created the use of radio for transmitting news, and even music transmitting radio signals to a wider range.

While the radio and television news became common, most used that as well as the newspaper as their main origin of facts, and did not question where the information came from, nor did they question if the source was trustworthy or not. As people began to obtain additional information from various sources and realize that there are other perspectives and beliefs on the same information, this is shown in both traditional and emerging media. This different source of information has an enormous influence on not only American culture, but the entire world.

Media convergence is the unification of content through various media forms. Newspapers are now accessible online providing readers the opportunity to read the newspaper online. Amazon.com is a good model of what media convergence is, combining two kinds of media. One of the oldest methods of media, books combined with the newest form of media, which is the internet, both combined resulting in a media convergence. The second meaning is sometimes called cross platform. Requiring one business own and operate diverse media types is also known as media convergence. An example would be a company that owns a television station, radio station, newspaper, and online news site.

Media convergence has given us the opportunity to get immediate and up to date information on news and media that is happening in the world. This gives us the opportunity to keep up to date with what is going on with the world. Another positive effect of media convergence is giving us one main outlet to get many different views and opinions on the information and news provided around the world. Media convergence also has negative results affecting our everyday lives. A negative effect of media convergence is the possibility of getting biased or incorrect information from the internet. On the internet anyone who has the means to pay for a web domain can publish information on the internet, so it is important to check your sources of information and ensure a reliable and correct.

Media literacy is crucial for responsible media consumption today because people depend on it to get information. The media shapes opinions and it is, therefore, important that it becomes truthful in all its findings. The effects of media literacy have proven positive in studies across various disciplines concerning various subjects. It is incredibly important that we keep ourselves, our children, and our society media literate in order to counteract the possible negative influences media may have on us.
References:
Lule, J. (2014). Understanding Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication, v. 1.0. Retrieved from http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/3833?e=lulemedia_1.0-ch07_s03

Bauer, R. A. (1960). Alleged Effects of Mass Media. Journal of Social Issues, 16(3), 39.

Effects of Mass Media on American Culture. (N.D.). Retrieved from http://doctordialogue.hubpages.com/hub/Effects-of-Mass-Media-on-American-Culture

References: Lule, J. (2014).  Understanding Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication, v. 1.0. Retrieved from http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/3833?e=lulemedia_1.0-ch07_s03 Bauer, R. A. (1960). Alleged Effects of Mass Media. Journal of Social Issues, 16(3), 39. Effects of Mass Media on American Culture. (N.D.). Retrieved from http://doctordialogue.hubpages.com/hub/Effects-of-Mass-Media-on-American-Culture