Media Information Literacy (MIL)

Audio information is fundamentally rooted in the concept of sound, which is defined as a mechanical disturbance or vibration traveling through an elastic medium such as air, wood, metal, glass, or water. The term audio, derived from the Latin phrase meaning ‘I hear,’ pertains to any signal, sound, or waveform that can be heard by the human ear. This is distinguished from other signals like ultrasonic sound, radio-frequency signals, or video signals. Audio information refers to any type of data or message that is transmitted, recorded, or received through sound, including speech, music, and other audio signals, to communicate ideas, emotions, or information. The fundamental utility of sound in media is to capture attention, set the mood, and deliver messages effectively while connecting emotionally with the audience.

The Historical Evolution of Audio Information

The history of audio information spans from pre-historic times to the modern digital age. In ancient times, humans learned to manipulate landscape sounds to create phenomena that accessed ‘hidden worlds.’ Communication involved signaling, calling, whistling, humming, chanting, and music—forms beyond language that were rich in emotional meaning. Evidence of sound’s role in prehistoric times is found in cave paintings. A notable ancient sound stage was the Roman Colosseum, a structural masterpiece that harnessed the power of crowd noise to show displeasure or approval. During the Middle Ages in England, town criers served as the primary means of news dissemination until the invention of the printing press and newspapers. Western music roots can be traced to religious developments where preachers and singers utilized holy spaces with unique acoustics. Simultaneously, in other parts of the world, shamans used sound in chants to claim control over weather or healing, while Siberian reindeer herders used rituals for summoning.

The Industrial Age, also known as the Acoustic Era, saw the start of sound recording for preservation. Key milestones include Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone in 1876, Thomas Edison’s invention of the phonograph in 1877, and Emile Berliner’s patenting of the disc and gramophone. The Electronic Age introduced the second wave of recording history, utilizing electrical microphones, electronic signal amplifiers, and electromechanical recorders. During the 1920s, radio was initially used to contact ships, with Guglielmo Marconi often credited as its inventor. Following the war, large businesses formed radio networks for profitability, providing inexpensive entertainment. Finally, the Digital Age of the 20th century saw the compact disc (CD) dominate the consumer market, followed by the widespread unlicensed distribution of music and the start of podcasting in 2005.

Basic Elements and Principles of Audio Information

There are six basic elements of audio: pitch, duration, intensity, timbre, texture, and silence. Pitch is the highness or lowness of a sound determined by the frequency of vibration, conveying mood; higher pitches suggest tension or excitement, while lower pitches feel serious. Duration is the length of time a sound lasts, controlling pacing. Intensity refers to volume or strength, where louder sounds grab attention and softer sounds require closer listening. Pitch, duration, and intensity are temporal and dynamic, changing second by second. Timbre is the unique quality or character of a sound source, allowing audiences to distinguish between voices or instruments. Texture refers to the layering of multiple sounds to create depth or realism. Silence is the strategic absence of sound used to create suspense or focus on visuals, such as before a jump scare in a horror film.

Once elements are created, they are organized by principles: mixing, pace, and transition. Mixing is the combination, balance, and control of multiple sounds to ensure they complement each other. Pace refers to time control and the order of events, which can be linear (chronological), non-linear (jumping in time), or multi-linear (multiple storylines). Transitions are audio effects that ensure smooth flow between segments. Specific types include: Segue (one element stops, the next begins), Cross-Fade (one fades out while the other fades in, overlapping), V-Fade (the first fades to silence before the second starts), Fade to Black (a V-Fade with a silent gap), and Waterfall (the first fades out while the second begins at full volume, often used for voice transitions).

Codes and Conventions of Audio-Visual Information

Audio-visual (AV) information combines sound and visuals to communicate ideas from films and advertisements to news. Conventions are accepted ways of using media codes and are tied to audience expectations. Form conventions are the ways media codes are arranged, while genre conventions involve tropes, characters, and settings, categorized as either formal (technical styles) or thematic (good vs. evil). Story conventions involve narrative structures like flashbacks (past events), foreshadowing (clues for the future), in medias res (starting in the middle of action), and deus ex machina (unexpected resolution of conflict). Point of view describes how a story is told, whether through first, second, or third person (objective, limited, or omniscient). Standard conflicts include Man vs. Self, Man vs. Man, Man vs. Society, and Man vs. Nature. Elements act as the building blocks (like Lego pieces), while principles are the way they are arranged by hand.

Symbolic and Technical Media Codes

Symbolic codes include setting (time and place), mise-en-scene (everything in the frame: props, lighting, costumes), acting (body language and tone), and color (symbolic meanings). Technical codes involve camera work, editing, audio, and lighting. Camera angles include high angle (making subjects look weak), low angle (making subjects look powerful), and eye-level (equality). Camera shots range from close-ups (emotion) to medium shots (body language) and long shots (setting). Camera movements include panning (horizontal), tilting (vertical), zooming (focusing), and tracking or dolly shots (following characters). Editing techniques include cuts, fades, dissolves, montages (condensing time), and jump cuts (jarring passage of time). Lighting styles include high-key (bright/comedy), low-key (high contrast/horror), backlighting (silhouettes), natural lighting, and colored lighting for emotion.

The Chronological Evolution of Audio-Visual Media

Photographic documentation of real battle scenes first occurred during the American Civil War in the mid-19th century, alongside the invention of the zoetrope. In 1891, the Edison Company created the Kinetoscope, which became a commercial success by 1894 as a solo viewing device. In December 1895, the Lumiere brothers presented the first projected moving pictures to a paying audience in Paris using the Cinematographe. Color was first added to films via hand-coloring and later by the Kinemacolor process presented in 1909. By 1914, national film industries emerged. In 1927, ‘The Jazz Singer’ became the first feature film with synchronized dialogue via the Vitaphone System, and Phil Farnsworth demonstrated electronic television. The 1930s and 1940s marked the Golden Age of Hollywood. In 1953, RCA’s color TV system was approved for commercial use. Digital TV transition was completed in most developed nations by the late 2000s, leading to the 2010s era of Smart TVs and streaming services like Netflix and Hulu providing 4K and 3D content.

Legal, Ethical, and Societal Issues in Media

In audio media, legal and ethical issues include AC-DC journalism (Attack and Collect-Defend and Collect), where reporters attack individuals to collect fees from rivals and then defend them for another fee. ATM Journalism involves reporters receiving payoffs via bank accounts. The Philippines remains dangerous for journalists, with 197 killed since democracy was restored in 1986. Copyright infringement involves the unauthorized use of melodies, lyrics, or recordings, such as using music for a podcast intro without permission. Music piracy occurs on sites like MP3Juice. Issues also include audio surveillance (eavesdropping/wiretapping) and audio manipulation like voice cloning or deepfakes used for misinformation. In AV media, R.A. 8293 protects copyrights, while the Videogram Regulatory Board (Anti-Piracy) regulates optical media. Societal issues include the male gaze (presenting women as subordinate or domestic), the sexualization of content, and the stereotyping or exclusion of minorities, who are often depicted as two-dimensional or absent.

Current Trends and Information Disorder

Current trends in audio include social media stardom (TikTok/Twitter), voice assistants (smart speakers), and Vocaloid technology (singing voice synthesis). In AV media, deepfakes, short-form content, and CGI-heavy films with AI-generated personas are rising. Information disorder is categorized into three types: Misinformation (false content shared by people who believe it is true), Disinformation (false content created with the intent to harm), and Malinformation (real information used to inflict harm). Economically, media is a glocal force driving growth. The industry often maximizes revenue by producing content that satisfies low audience standards to minimize costs, while audiences with high standards may feel short-changed by the focus on mass marketability.