Media, Language, and Society Study Notes

Patterns and Usage: * get + adjective/infinitive/participle: Signifies becoming (e.g., "The asteroid is getting closer"). * get + direct object: To receive, obtain, take, or fetch (e.g., "get the waiter's attention"). * get + direct object + infinitive: To cause or persuade (e.g., "get readers to click"). * get + to: To reach or arrive at (e.g., "get to the same result").
Common Phrasal Verbs: * get on with: To have a good relationship. * get over: To recover from a situation. * get away from: To escape or move away. * get (someone) down: To make someone feel depressed. * get around to: To find the time to do something. * get into: To be accepted into an institution (e.g., a university).

Fact: Information that can be verified or checked (e.g., "People are spending more time watching YouTube videos every year").
Opinion: A person's belief or thought which cannot be proven (e.g., "The interaction between the video producer and viewers can be extremely valuable").
Data Trends: Last year $60\%$ of people claimed they would rather watch online videos than TV.

Clickbait Awareness: Headlines often use outrageous statements to provoke emotional reactions (anger, curiosity).
Advertising Density: Excessive ads or spam can indicate a site uses fake content to drive product traffic.
URL Verification: Check for fake extensions on seemingly legitimate web addresses.
Source Validation: Reliable sites provide links to original studies or articles to back up information.
Text Categorization: Distinguish between objective articles and subjective blogs or op-eds.
Verification Latency: Do not repost immediately; verify if a story "pops up" on other reputable sites.
Hoax Indicators: Predictions of major disasters or the "end of the world" are often hoaxes.
Reputation Check: Reputable sites provide detailed "About" sections; empty pages suggest a "tall story."

Core Concepts: * Series: A set of programs. * Plot: The storyline. * Setting: The location or time where the action occurs. * Cast: The actors involved. * Soundtrack: The music for the film or program.
Descriptive Adjectives: * Engrossing/Gripping: Very interesting or exciting. * Appalling: Very bad quality. * Convincing: Natural or believable acting. * Baffling: Completely confusing.
Case Studies: * Riverdale: Based on Archie comics; filmed in Vancouver. * Stranger Things: Chronical of events in Hawkins, Indiana; features a 1980s-style soundtrack. * The Good Doctor: Set at San Jose St Bonaventure Hospital. * The Big Bang Theory: Longest-running comedy shot in front of a live audience.

Historical Significance: Born in Germany after the Second World War; moved to the USA in $1949$ .
The 1967 Boston Marathon: Switzer signed up as KV Switzer and was issued number $261$ . At the time, women were not explicitly banned, but it was assumed they would not participate.
Conflict: She was attacked by a race official during the event but finished the race to prove women's stamina.
Legacy: Her number $261$ was "retired" from the Boston Marathon. She won the New York Marathon in $1974$ and established the organization "261 Fearless."

The Buying Process: 1. Problem Recognition: Identifing a need (e.g., worn-out trainers). 2. Information Search & Evaluation: Browsing online or window shopping while on a tight budget. 3. Purchase Decision: Selecting a well-known label or seeking value for money. 4. Purchase: Buying the product, often seeking a bargain or discount (e.g., $30\%$ off). 5. Post-purchase Evaluation: Determining if the product is worth the price paid.
Vocabulary: * Rip-off: Paying too much for something. * Bargain: Something that costs much less than normal. * Label: A group of products from one company.

The Conflict: Palm oil is used in approximately $50\%$ of all food and cosmetic products. This demand leads to the destruction of Indonesian rainforests, the habitat of orang-utans.
Consequences: Baby orang-utans are often abandoned or raised in captivity. The industry also risks the extinction of tigers and elephants and involves reports of child labor.
Key Idioms: * Sound the alarm bells: Begin to warn people of a danger. * Tip of the iceberg: A small visible part of a much larger problem. * Uphill struggle: A very difficult task.

Training Terminology: * In peak form: In the best possible physical condition. * Out of condition: Unfit or unhealthy. * Push yourself to the limit: Trying as hard as possible. * Personal best: The best result an individual has ever achieved.
Word Formation (Suffix -en): Adding "-en" to adjectives to create verbs related to physical features (e.g., strengthen, tighten, widen, shorten, lengthen, loosen).

Daniel's difficulties with news: What are some of the difficulties Daniel has with keeping up with the news? * The transcript suggests a world of $24$ -hour news and constant updates makes it difficult to know what is real.
TV and Children: Do you think it's good for children to watch TV? * This is presented as a critical thinking prompt for discussion.
News Sources: What sources do you and your friends get news from? Where can we find unbiased, balanced news? * The discussion focuses on the value of interaction between producers and viewers versus traditional TV.