CHAPTER 16: MASS MEDIA

Mass Media

Technologies that allow for mass communication — the transmission of messages to large audiences (e.g., printing press, radio, television, Internet)

Medium

A mode or channel of communication; “media” refers collectively to all such modes

Digital Divide

The gap in access to computers and the Internet between different social groups, especially based on income, education, and geographic location; reflects broader social inequalities

Global Village (McLuhan)

The idea that mass media connects people globally, creating a shared social space; more pronounced with modern digital communication

"The Medium is the Message" (McLuhan)

The idea that the form of communication technology itself shapes how people interact and perceive the world, beyond the content being transmitted

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Canada’s public broadcaster, funded partly by taxpayers, mandated to provide Canadian content independent of direct government control

CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission)

Federal regulatory body overseeing broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada; enforces Canadian content regulations but does not regulate the Internet

Canadian Content (Cancon)

Policies requiring a minimum level of Canadian-produced media content to protect national culture from foreign dominance

Surveillance (Wright)

A function of mass media involving the collection and dissemination of information to the public (e.g., news, weather, events)

Correlation (Wright)

The media’s role in interpreting, selecting, and framing information, influencing how audiences understand events and issues

Transmission of Social Heritage (Wright)

The role of media in socialization by transmitting cultural norms, values, and expectations across generations

Entertainment (Wright)

The function of media that provides enjoyment and escape from daily life, sometimes reinforcing dominant ideologies

Mobilization

The use of media to promote collective action and organize people around political or social causes

Propaganda

Information presented in a biased or misleading way to promote a particular political agenda or viewpoint

Hegemony (Gramsci)

The subtle, non-coercive control of society by dominant groups through cultural institutions like media, making inequality appear natural and legitimate

Flak

Negative responses or criticism directed at media organizations, which can influence what content is produced or avoided

Media Consolidation

The concentration of media ownership in the hands of a small number of large corporations, reducing diversity of perspectives

Vertical Integration

The ownership of multiple stages or types of media production and distribution by a single company

Cultivation Theory

The idea that long-term exposure to media content shapes individuals’ perceptions of reality, often aligning them with the “media world”

Audience Reception Theory (Hall)

The idea that audiences actively interpret media messages based on their own social backgrounds and experiences

Encoding/Decoding (Hall)

The process by which media producers encode messages into content, but audiences decode them differently (dominant, negotiated, or oppositional readings)

Echo Chamber

A situation in which individuals are primarily exposed to information that reinforces their existing beliefs, limiting exposure to differing viewpoints

Representation in Media

The ways in which different groups are portrayed in media, often reflecting and reinforcing social inequalities and stereotypes

Framing (Media)

The process by which media selects and presents certain aspects of reality, shaping how audiences interpret issues or groups

Critical Discourse Analysis

A method of analyzing language in media to understand how power, inequality, and social identities are constructed and maintained

Agenda Setting

The ability of media to influence what issues people think about by choosing which topics to emphasize

Gatekeeping

The process by which media organizations select which information is published or broadcast to the public

Moral Panic

A situation where media exaggerates a perceived threat, leading to widespread public fear and often disproportionate social response