Understanding Media - Exam 2

Pictograph

Picture based writing system where images represent objects or concepts

Ex: cave paintings

ideograph

A symbol representing an idea rather than a sound

Ex: Emojis, street signs, Asian writing systems

Alphabet

Writing system where symbols (letters) represent sounds and are combined to create syllables and words

Syllabary

Writing system using a symbol for each syllable

Ex: Cherokee Syllabary

Amazon Effect

Amazons impact on book selling that contributed to the decline of many brick and mortar bookstores and transformed publishing and distribution

Post-Truth Era

A situation where objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than emotions or personal beliefs

Photography (Drawing with light)

“Drawing with Light”. The process of capturing images through light-sensitive materials or digital sensors

Halftone Reproduction

Printing process developed in the 1870s that allowed photographs to be reproduced in newspapers and magazines

Telegraph (writing from afar)

“Writing from afar.” Developed by Samuel Morse in 1844. Sent coded written messages through wires using Morse code

Telephone (Sound from afar)

“Sound from afar.” Developed by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. Transmitted voice over wires

Phonograph (Writing with sound)

“Writing with sound.” Developed by Thomas Edison in 1877. Recorded sound on cylinders

Wireless Telegraph (Radio)

Developed by Guglielmo Marconi. Used radio waves to send Morse code without wires

Beat

Area or subject a journalist is assigned to cover

Breaking News

Unexpected events that require immediate journalistic coverage

Enterprise News

Long-term stories reporters work on when there is no breaking news

Objectivity in Journalism

Reporting facts impartially while guarding against personal bias or emotions

Fairness

Cover all sides, allows responses from everyone involved, verify information

Balance

Give competing viewpoints representation, do not sacrifice truth simply to provide equal time

Independence

Avoid Influence from advertisers, sources, or powerful individuals, maintain editorial control

Johannes Gutenberg

Developed movable type and mechanical printing press

Germany, 1455

Made mass production of books possible

Benjamin Franklin

Published Poor Richard’s Almanack (1732 - 1758)

Founded one of America’s earliest libraries

Printer, publisher, inventor

John Peter Zenger

Considered America’s first Journalist

Famous for freedom of the press case

William Randolph Hearst

Major figure in Yellow Journalism

Used sensationalized reporting to increase circulation

Louis Daguerre

Developed the daguerreotype in 1839

Early photographic process using metal plates

George Eastman

Developed film roll (1884)

Made photography portable

Founded Eastman Kodak Company (1892)

Publick Occurrences

First newspaper in the American colonies

Shut down after first issue

Samuel Morse

Invented telegraph system

Morse Code

1844

Alexander Graham Bell

Invented telephone

1876

Thomas Edison

Invented phonograph

Recorded sound on cylinder

1877

Emile Berliner

Invented gramophone

Flats disks instead of cylinders

Mass reproduction of recordings possible

Guglielmo Marconi

Radio telegraph inventor

Wireless communication using radio waves

Nathan Stubblefield

Kentucky inventor

Demonstrated wireless voice transmission in 1902

Sometimes credited as an early radio pioneer

Nellie Bly

Investigative journalist

Went undercover in women’s asylum

Worked for New York World

Famous for Around the World in 80 days

Pulitzer Prize

Est. 1917

Honors journalism, literature, and music

Named after Joseph Pulitzer

3 media development principles

1. New media engage more senses

2. New media make storing and transmitting information easier

3. New media change old forms but rarely replace them entirely

Functions of writing

Knowledge, Culture, and Entertainment

Knowledge

Writing allows us to…

• preserve knowledge

• transfer knowledge

• build future knowledge

Culture

Writing transmits…

• values

• beliefs

• traditions

Entertainment

Stories, books, and literature entertain audiences

Before Gutenberg

Books copied by hand

Mostly religious texts

Books were expensive and rare

How Gutenberg changed history: Movable type

Mass-produced books

Increased literacy

Spread scientific knowledge

Encouraged movements such as the American Revolution

When and why books became a mass medium

1800s

Larger middle class

Increased literacy

Improved printing technology

Lower production cost

Two major ways convergence has changed the book industry

Digital distribution: E-books and Kindle, Print on Demand: authors self-publish, books printed only when ordered

4 functions of newspapers

Information, Context, Recording History, Entertainment

Information (Functions of Newspapers)

Provide facts and news

Context (Functions of Newspapers)

Explain why events matter

Recording History (Functions of Newspapers)

Preserve historical events

Entertainment (Functions of Newspapers)

Provide comics, features, lifestyle content

The characteristics of a newspaper

Be daily or weekly, include variety of news, and carry a date

Restrictions placed on publishers of early newspapers in Europe

Royal authority and Government censorship

Who is considered to be Americas first journalist

John Peter Zenger

The 4 eras in U.S. newspaper development

Partisan Press, Penny Press, Yellow Press, and Professional Press

Partisan Press Era

Political party newspapers

Penny Press Era

Cheap newspaper, mass audiences

Yellow Press Era

Sensationalism, Hearst and Pulitzer

Professional Press Era

Objectivity, Ethical standards, and Professional reporting

Major types of U.S. newspapers today

National, Metro, Local and Alternative

National Newspaper Examples

USA Today

Metro Newspaper Examples

Large City Papers

Local Newspaper Examples

Community Papers

Alternative Newspaper Examples

Village Voice and LEO Weekly

Why Photojournalism Matters

Captures reality, preserves history, influences public opinion, documents war and social issues

Important Photojournalism Examples

Emmett Till Open-Casket Images - Helped fuel civil rights movement awareness

Raisin the flag on Iwo Jima - Joe Rosenthal, 1945

Two aspects of American life magazines that were key to development

Popular culture and Photojournalism

Characteristics of early American newspapers

Expensive, elite audiences, promoted English values, promoted idea of free and independent press

Journalism =

Newsgathering + Storytelling + Seeking Truth

Journalism is NOT

tied to any one specific medium

When did journalism become a recognized practice and when did it become a profession

Practiced in Early 1800s

Profession in Early 1900s

Why is journalism in the U.S. entirely self-regulated and not regulated by the governement

The First Amendment

Do journalists need a license to work in the U.S.

No

The major tenets of “The Journalist’s Creed”

Journalism is a public trust

Tell the truth

Be clear and accurate

Be fair

Be independent

Oppose injustice

Suppressing news is wrong when public welfare is not at stake

Examples of types of journalism

Traditional, Alternative, Affinity/Identity, Public, and Citizen

Traditional journalism

Newspapers, TV, radio

Alternative journalism

LEO Weekly, Mother Jones

Affinity/identity journalism

Focused on particular communities

Public journalism

PBS, NPR, ProPublica

Citizen journalism

Blogs, social media, individuals reporting news

3 limitations on human hearing

Pitch, strength, and Distance

Which decade is associated with the development of radio

1920s

What were the reasons why radio had such a profound effect on American culture

Simultaneous experience and Common frame of reference

How did convergence change news

Everyone can be a reporter

Anyone can be a producer

News is increaingly moble and social

Early American Newspapers

Expensive

Elite Audiences

Promoted English values

Encouraged free and independent press

Future New Trends

Big Data journalism

Algorithm investigations

Crowdsourcing

Voice assistants

Greater transparency

Personalization and niche audiences

Human Hearing limitations

Pitch

Strength

Distance

Proximity

Audio Media Timeline

1888 - Gramophone

1899 - Marconi Radio Telegraph

1920 - Commercial Radio

1948 - LP Record

1964 - 8 Track

1970s - Cassette

1982 - CD

1991 - MP3

1999 - Napster

2001 - iPod/iTunes

2006 - Spotify

2014 - Amazon Prime Music

Why was radio revolutionary

Sent sounds without wires

Allowed mass communication

Created simultaneous shared experiences nationwide

Radio Act of 1927

Created Federal Radio Commission (Later FCC)

• Reduce interference

• Regulate spectrum allocation

• Organize radio stations

Radio Milestones

1920 - KDKA commercial radio

1926 - NBC networks

1927 - Radio Act

1930 - 40% of households had radios

1940 - 83% of households had radios

1954 - Transistor radio

1967 - NPR

1970s - FM growth

1987 - Fairness Doctrine eliminated

Why radio changed America

Simultaneous experience and commons frame of reference

Radio examples

Amos ‘n Andy, The Shadow, Soap Operas

New Cultural Forms

Chuck Berry

Elvis

Motown

British Invasion

Rap

Blondie

Sugarhill Gang

Positive Digital changes in audio

Easier distribution

streaming

podcasts

artist self-promo

personal playlists

Negative Digital Changes in Audio

Piracy

Decline in physical media sales

Lower value of recordings per listener