intro to mass comms all vocab

channel (1)

the medium used to transmit the encoded message

communication (1)

how we socially interact at a number of levels through messages

decoding (1)

the process of translating a signal from a mass medium into a form that the receiver can understand and then interpreting the meaning of the message itself

encoding (1)

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

group communication (1)

communication where one person is communicating with an audience of two or more people; the roles of communicator and audience can shift constantly

interpersonal communication (1)

communication, either intentional or accidental, between two people; can be verbal or nonverbal

intrapersonal communication (1)

communication you have with yourself; how you assign meaning to the world around you

legacy media (1)

the traditional media, often owned by large corporations; ex. newspapers, magazines, book publishers, and tv networks

mass communication (1)

when an individual/institution uses technology to send a message to a large, mixed audience, most of whose members are not known to the sender

mass media (1)

the technological tools (channels) used to transmit the messages of mass communication

media literacy (1)

audience members’ understanding of the media industry’s operation, the messages delivered by the media, the roles media play in society, and how audience members respond to these media and their messages

message (1)

the content being transmitted by the sender to the receiver

noise (1)

interference with the transmission of a message; semantic, mechanical, or environmental noise

publicity model (1)

a model of the mass communication process that looks at how media attention can make a person, concept, or thing become important, regardless of what is said about it

receiver (1)

the audience for the mass communication message

reception model (1)

a critical theory model of the mass communication process that looks at how audience members derive and create meaning out of media content as they decode the messages

ritual model (1)

a model of the mass communication process that treats media use as an interactive ritual engaged in by audience members; looks at how/why receivers consume media messages

sender (1)

the source of messages that go out through mass communication

sender message channel receiver (SMCR) or transmission model (1)

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

local cable television systems (3)

the companies that provide cable television service directly to consumers’ homes

long tail (3)

the portion of a distribution curve where a limited number of people are interested in buying a lot of different products

market capitalization (3)

the value of a publicly traded company, which is calculated by multiplying the share price by the number of shares the company has

penny press (3)

cheap, widely circulated papers that became popular int he 19th century; the first american media to be supported primarily through advertising revenue

short head (3)

the portion of a distribution curve where a large number of people are interested in buying a limited number of products

synergy (3)

the combined strength of 2 items is greater than the sum of their individual strengths; in the media business, it means that a large company can use the strengths of its various divisions to successfully market its content

al jazeera (11)

The largest and most viewed Arabic-language satellite news channel. It is based in Qatar and has a regular audience of 40 million viewers

authoritarian theory (11)

A theory of appropriate press behavior that says the role of the press is to be a servant of the government, not a servant of the citizenry

communist theory (11)

A theory of appropriate press behavior that says the press is to be run by the government to serve the government’s own needs

development theory (11)

A theory of appropriate press behavior that says developing nations may need to implement press controls in order to promote industry, national identity, and partnerships with neighboring nations

libertarian theory (11)

A theory of appropriate press behavior that says the press does not belong to the government but is instead a separate institution that belongs to the people and serves as an independent observer of the government

small media (11)

Alternative media, such as fax machines, photocopiers, video cameras, and personal websites, which are used to distribute news and information that might be suppressed by the government if published through traditional mass media channels

social responsibility theory (11)

A theory of appropriate press behavior based on the concern that, although the press may be free from interference from the government, it can still be controlled by corporate interests; an outgrowth of libertarian theory