Mass Communication Midterm Exam

channel

the medium used to transmit an encoded message

communication

how we interact socially at various levels through messages

decoding

“translating” a signal from a mass medium into a form that the receiver can understand and their interpretation of the message

encoding

the process of turning the sender’s ideas into a message and preparing it for transmission

group communication

one person communicating with two or more people

intrapersonal communication

communication with yourself/your interpretation and meaning for the world around you

interpersonal communication

communication between two people

legacy media

traditional media typically owned by large corporations (newspapers, magazines, publishers, television networks)

mass communication

the process through which a message is sent by an individual/institution via technology to reach a large mixed audience

mass media

the technological tools used for mass communication

media literacy

an audience’s understanding of the media industry’s operations

message

the content being transmitted

noise

potential interference with the transmission of a message

publicity model

a model of mass communication that looks at how media attention can make something important due to being made known

receiver

the audience of a message

reception model

critical theory model of mass communication that looks at how audience members derive and create meaning out of media content

ritual model

a model of mass communication that treats media as an interactive ritual engaged in by audience members

sender

the source of the message

Sender Message Channel Receiver (SMCR) or transmission model

a dated model that is still useful in identifying the players in the mass communication process

pictures in your head

media put ideas in your head and you can’t help but process some of it

bullet theory

discredited theory that says media can shoot ideas into your head

two-step flow

media affect others and then affect you

gatekeeping/agenda setting

the idea that certain media organizations avoid certain stories

uses and gratifications

we use media because it meets our needs, making it difficult to “quit” different social platforms

parasocial interaction

thinking we “know” someone because we see them on media

social learning

media “teach” us how to act in society by portraying behaviors

third-person effect

thinking media affects you less or more than others

cumulative effects

multiple exposure affects how we view things

consistency theory/cognitive dissonance

we tend to avoid conflicting sources because we like “harmony”

individual differences

your demographics influence your world view

cultivation theory

media create and shape the way you see the world, often making you see it differently than it actually is

long tail

a lot of something that are not very popular

short head

fewer of these because they are very popular. Think Taylor Swift

synergy

the ability of a company to use part of itself to promote other parts

cultural imperialism

the idea that too much of another culture’s culture will take over your culture

authoritarian theory

communist theory

libertarian theory

developmental theory

social repsonsibility theory

psychographics

combination of demographics, lifestyle characteristics, products usage, etc.

libel

actual malice

Alien and Sedition Acts

equal time rule

over air, radio, television using radio frequency the government has stepped in to say that a company that sells political advertising must provide equal access to every viable candidate

misappropriation

net neutrality

obscenity

shield laws

categorical imperative

ethics

golden mean

morals

an individual’s code of behavior based on principles. Define right and wrong in ways that may or may not be rational

principle of utility

Do the most good or the least harm

truth sandwich

a method of reporting about lies. Truth first, decption in the middle, and truth at the end

veil of ignorance

freedom of information act

sunshine law

time place and manner restrictions

first amendment

freedom of religion, speech, press, to assemble, and to petition

PACI

situational ethics

duty based ethics

types of noise

global village

we “see” each other through media

priming