Introduction to theorizing media and politics

1. Boyd (2018) - Media Literacy and Truth

   • Media literacy is a tool for navigating epistemological warfare, where the "truth" is contested.

   • Social constructions of truth are influenced by power dynamics and cultural contexts.

   • Critical thinking can be weaponized, and media realities are often adversarial.

   • Boyd emphasizes grappling with the reality of a manipulated information landscape rather than idealistic visions of media literacy.

2. Defining Media

   • Media as a medium or information channel (e.g., newspapers, social media).

   • Media as an institution for communication, where everyday people now play roles as producers, distributors, and consumers.

   • Media as a cultural and material product shaped by human interpretations and social constructs.

3. Approaches to Understanding Media

   • Media as Mediation: Media facilitates what we know and how we know it, especially in the post-modern age (convergence, mobility, globalization).

   • Media as Socialization: Media shapes cultural beliefs through content (what is said) and form (how it is delivered). Marshall McLuhan’s idea: “The medium is the message.”

   • Media as Socially Constructed: Media reflects human interpretations of the world, balancing utopian ideologies with capitalist realities.

   • Media as Socially Constructing: Media transforms social relations through mediatization, digitalization, and datafication, reshaping social reality.

4. Media Ecosystems

   • Media Ecology: Study of media’s effects on society.

   • Media Ecosystem: A complex network of social relationships and systems, interconnected by attention flows.

   • Canadian Media Ecosystem: High social media usage, stable news consumption attitudes, but inequality in political voices and concentrated digital influence.

Key Concepts

1. Media Literacy (Boyd, 2018)

   • Navigating contested truths in a manipulated information landscape.

   • Critical thinking as both a tool and a weapon.

2. Media Definitions

   • Medium, institution, and cultural product.

   • Role of everyday people in media production and distribution.

3. Approaches to Media

   • Mediation: How media shapes knowledge.

   • Socialization: How media shapes culture.

   • Socially Constructed: Media as a reflection of human interpretations.

   • Socially Constructing: Media as a transformer of social reality.

4. Media Ecosystems

   • Interconnected communities and attention flows.

   • Canadian context: High social media use, stable news consumption, but unequal political representation.

Examples

1. Media Literacy:

   • Misinformation campaigns during elections (e.g., 2016 U.S. election).

   • Fact-checking initiatives like Snopes or Politifact.

2. Media as Mediation:

   • Globalization: How global news networks like CNN or BBC shape international perspectives.

   • Mobility: Smartphones enabling real-time news consumption.

3. Media as Socialization:

   • Political ads shaping voter perceptions (e.g., Obama’s 2008 campaign).

   • Social media platforms like TikTok influencing youth culture.

4. Media Ecosystems:

   • Twitter (now X) as a hub for political discourse.

   • Canadian media: CBC’s role in national news versus niche digital influencers.

Tips for Short-Form Answers

1. Structure:

   • Start with a clear definition or thesis.

   • Provide 1-2 examples or pieces of evidence.

   • Conclude with analysis or implications.

2. Example Answer:

   • Q: How does media function as socialization?

     • A: Media functions as socialization by shaping cultural beliefs through content (what is said) and form (how it is delivered). Marshall McLuhan’s idea that “the medium is the message” highlights how the form of media influences its impact. For example, political ads on social media use short, emotional appeals to shape voter perceptions, as seen in Obama’s 2008 campaign. This demonstrates how media not only conveys information but also constructs cultural norms and political behaviors