MEDIA

media literacy

The ability to critically analyze and evaluate media messages.

mass media

Media that targets a broad audience.

niche media

Media that targets specific demographics.

Global Village

Marshall McLuhan's idea that media connects the world into a single virtual community.

hypodermic needle theory

A theory suggesting media has a direct, powerful influence on passive audiences.

ideology

A system of beliefs and values that shape how people see the world.

hegemony

When dominant ideas maintain power through consent rather than force.

encoding/decoding

Stuart Hall’s theory that media producers encode messages, and audiences decode them in different ways.

false consciousness

When people unknowingly accept an ideology that works against their own interests.

interpretive community

A group of people who interpret media based on shared experiences or beliefs.

signifier

The physical form of a sign in semiotics.

signified

The meaning that a sign represents.

denotation

The literal meaning of a word.

connotation

The implied cultural meaning of a word.

cultural code

A shared system of signs and meanings understood by a society.

brand image

The emotional and symbolic associations a brand creates.

product differentiation

The strategy of making a product stand out from competitors.

hard sell

A strategy focusing on logic and facts.

soft sell

A strategy appealing to emotions.

parasocial relationships

One-sided relationships where audiences feel personally connected to media figures.

self-branding

When individuals market themselves as a brand.

native advertising

Ads designed to blend in with surrounding content.

attention economy

The competition among media companies for users' attention.

data mining

The process of analyzing user data to predict behaviors and target ads.

misinformation

False info shared unintentionally.

disinformation

False information shared deliberately to mislead.

illusory truth effect

The tendency to believe false information if it is repeated often.

ABC framework for fake news

Deceptive Actors, Deceptive Behavior, Deceptive Content.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Regulates advertising, consumer protection, and competition.

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

A law to prevent monopolies and promote competition.

Mickey Mouse Protection Act (1998)

A copyright law extending protection to 95 years to prevent Disney's Mickey Mouse from entering the public domain.

economies of scale

Cost savings from producing more of the same product.

economies of scope

Cost savings from offering a variety of products.

Big Five

The major film studios: MGM, Paramount, Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox, RKO.

Little Three

The smaller film studios: Universal, Columbia, United Artists.

block booking

A practice where theaters were forced to buy film packages instead of individual films.

1948 Paramount Decision

A Supreme Court ruling that ended Hollywood’s monopoly over film production, distribution, and exhibition.

blockbuster model

A focus on big-budget films, franchises, sequels, and merchandising.

Radio Act of 1927

Established the Federal Radio Commission to regulate the airwaves.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Regulates radio, television, and internet communications in the U.S.

Fairness Doctrine

A policy requiring broadcasters to present balanced viewpoints on controversial issues.

Telecommunications Act of 1996

Deregulated media ownership, allowing big corporations to consolidate power.