Media & Society Exam Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary terms and definitions related to Media & Society, intended for exam review.

Advertising vs. Marketing

Advertising is promoting a product/service; marketing is the broader strategy including research, product development, distribution, pricing, and promotion.

Algorithmic Subjectivity

How algorithms make decisions that reflect human biases.

Anti-trust Law

Legal regulations to prevent monopolies and promote competition.

Brand Advertising

Builds awareness and loyalty for a brand rather than promoting specific products.

Consolidation of Media Ownership

Fewer companies control more media, reducing diversity.

Data Double

Digital representation of an individual through collected data.

Digital Communication

Communication via digital technologies (social media, apps, streaming).

Digital Sampling Rate

Frequency at which an analog signal is sampled to create a digital version.

Direct Marketing

Marketing directly to a consumer without intermediaries.

Emphatic Media

Media designed to elicit emotional engagement.

Filter Bubble

Algorithms selectively show content matching user preferences.

Fragmentation (Audience)

Audiences split into smaller groups due to media choices.

Interactivity

User-to-user: social communication; user-to-system: software/content interaction; hybrid: both.

Market Failure

Market cannot efficiently allocate resources (e.g., underfunded public media).

Media Convergence

Merging of previously separate media platforms and technologies.

Organizational Identity

How an organization presents itself publicly.

Personalization

Tailoring content or ads to individual users.

Social Media Entertainment

Media content created and consumed on social media.

Surveillance

Monitoring people’s behavior digitally.

Statistically-significant Correlation

A relationship between variables unlikely due to chance.

Segmentation

Dividing audiences into subgroups.

Self-identity

How individuals perceive themselves, often reflected in media.

Reality shows

Leverage social media.

Privacy negotiation

Balancing personal privacy in the context of social media.

Risk attitudes

Welfare state vs. individual responsibility.