Chapter 2 Media Literacy in the Digital age

Media Literacy

The process of interacting with and critically analyzing media content by considering its particular presentation, its underlying political or social messages, and its ownership or regulation issues that may affect what is presented and in what form.

Framing

The presentation and communication of a message in a particular way that influences our perception of it.

Echo effect

A phenomenon that occurs when people surround themselves with online voices that echo their own, reinforcing their views and the belief that those opinions are in the majority when, in fact, they may not be.

semiotics

The study of signs and symbols.

laugh track

A television sitcom device that generates prerec­orded laughter timed to coincide with punchlines of jokes.

Hyper text

Text online linked by HTML coding to another web page or website or to a different part of the same web page

Actualities

Edited audio clips from interviews with people

media grammar

The underlying rules, structures, and patterns by which a medium presents itself and is used and understood by the audience.

Media oligopoly

a marketplace in which media ownership and diversity are severely limited and the actions of any single media group affect its competitors substantially, including determining the content and price of media products for both consumers and advertisers.

Information overload

The difficulties associated with managing and making sense of the vast amounts of information available to us

Media bias

a real or perceived viewpoint held by journalists and news organizations that slants news coverage unfairly, contrary to the professional journalism, stated goals of balanced coverage and objectivity.