COMM 320 Exam 2

What goes into the work of livestreaming gameplay?

• Layers of prediction: Set design, performance, critique/evaluation, sociality, technology/infrastructure, economic frameworks.

• Work of play / contamination of play: Streamers create content AND manage the technical parts of the production.

• GamePlay can become an obsession, obligation, and source of anxiety.

Why is livestreaming gameplay transformative?

• Changes gaming from a private hobby into a public performance.

• Players become entertainers and content creators.

• Requires technology management, performing, and communicating with viewers.

• Fun can become work, pressure, and an obligation.

relational labor

Regular communication with audiences to build relationships and support a career

• usually not directly paid

• helps build and maintain an audience

EXAMPLES:

• Taylor Swift: Uses social media and personalized gifts to turn her listeners/fans into friends.

  • BTS: Uses a dedicated communication app (Weverse) to send daily, personal messages to subscribers.

  • Alix Earle: Uses "GRWM” videos to chat with viewers as if they are FaceTiming a best friend

How did YouTube evolve?

• Started as a place to freely upload and share videos.

• Became a corporate platform that makes money through advertising.

• Google purchased YouTube in 2006.

• Uses ads, user data, algorithms, and recommendations.

• Example of platformization.

platformization

Digital platforms increasingly control how media is produced, distributed, and consumed.

• uses data extraction, APIs, and algorithmic gatekeeping

Difference between a publisher and a platform/distributor

Publisher: responsible for the content it owns

Platform/distributor: generally not responsible for users' content if it makes a good-faith effort to moderate.

Social media usually operates more like a platform/distributor than traditional publishers.

Section 230

Part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 that protects platforms from being responsible for illegal content posted by users.

3 reasons for the rise of self-branding

1. Social media promises users fame and wealth

2. Neoliberal individualism encourages people to build their own brands.

3. Successful influencers inspire others to copy their self-branding practices

micro-celebrity

• Building popularity online through videos, blogs, and social media

• requiring ongoing communication and engagement with followers.

• Creates expectations of access and authenticity.

• Uses a personal brand to build an audience and earn money.

the cloud

A system for storing, processing, and distributing data, apps, and software using remote computers.

• EX: iCloud, Microsoft Office 365, (Amazon) AWS

AWS - Amazon Web Services

provides cloud storage and computing services to other companies

AWS’s role in the internet

• Allows companies to rent computing power instead of building their own systems.

• Launched in 2006.

• Became a major cloud provider through investment in data centers.

hyperscalers

Large-scale data centers that provide cloud computing, storage, and digital infrastructure.

• Can support millions or billions of users.

• Can expand services based on demand.

• EXs: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud.

the relationship between AI companies and Big Tech hyperscalers

AI companies need large amounts of computing power and storage, provided by Big Tech companies through cloud services.

• they have complicated contracts, investments, and business agreements

• big tech earns money from AI companies using its services

Large Language Model (LLM)

LLM predicts language patterns using large amounts of existing data.

• trained on text like books, articles, scripts, sites

• can have bias if it’s training sources contain biased info

AI hallucinations

When AI creates false information or makes up sources that do NOT exist.

AI companies' business/revenue models

• Partnerships with tech companies ( Microsoft, Google, and Amazon)

• Licensing AI models to other companies and apps.

• Freemium and premium subscriptions.

• Charging users for additional usage beyond limits.

• Tech companies provide cloud systems and computing power

Are AI companies profitable?

• Profitability involves circular financing

• tech companies invest billions in AI companies, which use those credits to pay for their tech company's services.

• revenue and investments are connected

Overall trends with AI and media

• AI companies scrape copyrighted work; media companies sue, sometimes leading to licensing deals.

• Media companies partner with AI, often without directly compensating artists.

• AI-generated content floods platforms and competes with human-made content.

• Especially affects music, news, and social media.

Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart

tracks Political bias (left vs. right) and reliability of news sources (facts vs. opinions).

the significance of local newspapers

• Produce lots of original investigative reporting

• Often picked up by online and cable news

• many are struggling or being bought by private firms

news deserts

Local areas WITHOUT daily newspapers in circulation.

How have leveraged buyouts affected journalism?

• Private equity firms buy newspapers and cut costs

• leads to reductions or closures of newspapers

Why are cable and broadcast news shows repetitive?

• The 24/7 news cycle requires content to fill 24 hours.

• Uses familiar anchors and commentators.

• Repeats familiar talking points and positions.

• Targets specific audiences.

• Broadcast news uses planned story structures and formulas.

• Anchors use personality and chemistry to attract viewers.

difference between broadcast networks and local stations

• broadcast network: National company that produces programming (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX).

• Local station: Broadcasts programming to local households.

  • can be owned by networks, affiliated with networks, or independent.

• Ownership is limited to protect diversity of information.

• No company can own stations reaching more than 39% of the U.S.

canned content in broadcast news

Pre-produced, generic news segments from a third party.

• Bought / licensed by local stations.

• Saves money and fills airtime.

• Makes news less local.

primary effects of the Telecommunications Act of 1996

• Substantial deregulation of the media marketplace.

• Removed limits on how many radio stations one company could own.

• Allowed companies to own TV stations, newspapers, and cable companies.

• Defined public interest through the marketplace.

How did conservative news personalities take over talk radio?

Repeal of the Fairness Doctrine and increased ownership caps led to growth of conservative talk radio. (iHeartRadio)

Difference between NBC and WAVY 10

• NBC: National network that produces programming.

• WAVY 10: Local Hampton Roads station that airs NBC programming.

• WAVY is an affiliate, not the same company as NBC.

The legacy of Serial in podcast history

• Helped make podcasts mainstream in 2014.

• Showed podcasts could tell long-form investigative stories across multiple episodes.

• Proved podcasts could attract large audiences and make money.

• Helped create the podcast boom (2014–2019).

• Encouraged more people to listen, create, and invest in podcasts.

The era of Big Podcasting

Pioneers (2004-2014), boom years (2014-2019), and the entry of major public figures (2019-2024). (Spotify and celebs like barak obama.

'Spotification' of podcasting

Moving from decentralized access to centralized platforms, making it harder for newcomers to compete.

• More subscriptions, paywalls, and exclusive content.

• Moves from open access to private platforms.

• Makes it harder for newcomers and amateurs to compete.

• Makes podcast content harder to study because access is less open.