Mass Communications final exam

1.       The Telecommunications Act of 1996 gave radio stations owners a large amount of power. It allowed them to own as many stations as they wanted and they could partner up with television stations. This created a monopoly in radio. What we hear is controlled by those who own the stations. I think it is bad for radio because it decreases diversity within the radio industry. Monopoly of the stations reduces the amount of things the listener can hear. I think it is contributing to the decline of radio. The Act has been bad for consumers because they now have no real control over what is played on the radio. They don’t even have a real choice to listen to something else because there aren’t many independent stations left. Radio stations should interact with their public more in order to offset the power of sites like Pandora. Online, the listener can choose what type of music he/she wants to hear. Radio stations need to open up that ability as well; allow listeners to control more of what they hear.

2.       One of the major problems facing the music industry is that illegal downloading is taking away from their profits. Also, since the internet allows people to purchase a song from an album without purchasing the album, the music industry is losing money. Before, if you wanted a song, you had to buy the album which put money in the music industry’s pockets. Music industries pay radio stations money to play their songs so they have a heavy influence on the radio. I don’t think it was smart to sue customers because it created hostility between consumers and the industry. The music industry has definitely chosen lesser talent with greater marketability over great talent with lesser marketability. The music industry defines what we think good music is. They over saturate us with what they choose and after we’ve had enough, they choose something different. It’s all about manipulation. If I was an independent group I would market online and stay away from major labels.

3.       Television has a better chance of success because people still flock to T.V. they just want it from a different medium. IPods and Hulu help people access their T.V. needs from anywhere. Television needs to embrace that because then people have to potential to be watching television twice as much. Availability is everything. Also, there are still ads and ITunes charges so there is money to be made from it. If I was in the film industry I’d allow downloading with ads because it’s the direction society is headed. I’d have to get on board or fall off the wagon. The idea of allowing viewers to choose their ending is another way to market my films. It gives more power back to the consumer. If I was an independent filmmaker I would use sites like Amazon and Hulu to market myself.

4.       I think the internet is on its way to becoming the most dominant medium but it hasn’t reached it yet because advertisers still haven’t figured out to market to internet site visitors. Internet changed music, film and television by allowing it to be available at all times. It opened up the possibilities for those who had otherwise been unable to view shows, movies or listen to music at the times when they were aired. I think if the industries use the internet to their advantage then it was a good thing. I think it has allowed access to people who couldn’t access it before. That is positive to me. Well I think that independent creators have a harder time getting themselves marketed because there is no one buying up DJ air time or making a music video for marketing. When the industry controlled it all, things got done a lot quicker. If I was teaching a college course I would have a wiki for students to post to. I’d also have podcast lectures for them to listen to whenever necessary.

5.       I think that after a while together, we actually got to the point where we were all doing our part toward the group. At first there was just a lot of confusion since we’d never had a course so internet based before. As far as how my group skills have grown, I’d say I’ve learned to take more of a backseat instead of trying to do everything myself in order to make sure it was done right. I noticed the class had grown together when we were all letting one another use laptops and brainstorming answers. I think going against the tradition teaching techniques was confusing at first but it gave more life to the class by the end. I think having the class handle music was a bad idea. It was distracting but otherwise, I think it was good class participation. I enjoyed dictating the class to someone who wasn’t able to be there.

6.       As far as communications goes, I learned not to be so naïve about what I’m watching and hearing because big industries control all of that. Also, I’ve learned that the internet has the potential to be extremely helpful in transmitting media to those who can master it. What I enjoyed most about this course was the fact that it was so internet based. It made getting the work done a lot easier. I’m glad I took this course because it taught me more than I knew about communications. Also, it introduced me to a new teaching style.

7.       I think at times it got a bit chaotic but overall it was decently organized. I think using the edutainment and convergence methods were helpful in me remembering what I learned in class. Interaction in the course kept me paying attention and improved my retention of the topics. I think the way the course is taught should be reserved for higher level college students because it requires a great deal of restraint to use electronic devices in class and not get carried away or distracted. I would definitely give this course a passing grade.

Mass Communications exam 3

1.       Boorstin says that advertising shares repetition, style and ubiquity. Repetition is important in advertising because the more a consumer hears or sees a phrase, the more likely they are to remember it, which is the advertisers ultimate goal. Style is important as well because the approach an advertiser takes can either make their commercial memorable or forgettable. That is why many advertisers use “tall-talk” which is partial truth. Ubiquity is something advertisers think about because they are always trying to find a new, unexpected place to market their product to the consumer. (Biagi)

2.       Advertising feeds consumerism because ads often make people feel like they don’t have enough. They always want more, or newer items because advertisers make consumers think they need them.  The first printed advertisement was made in 1478. The click-through rate is the rate at which the consumer clicks the internet ad to learn more. At a less than 1% click-through rate, advertisers have not tackled internet advertising yet. Demographics are used to help advertisers target their consumer. I think it is fair because in this capitalistic society, making money is the object. It’s up to the consumer to educate themselves and know better. (Biagi)

3.       Media makes their profits from advertisers who pay money to be marketed. Media depends on advertisers because they are both directly linked to each other. The media that is most receptive to the advertiser receives more of that advertiser’s ads. Without ads, the media would not be able to function at such a high standard. Ads are a large source of revenue. Once again I think that businesses need to survive and make money for the good of the country as a whole. Profit is survival. I again believe it is up to the consumer to remove naivety and be aware of falsehoods whether they are stated or not. (Biagi)

4.       The federal government is the largest employer of PR people. They have about 4,000 people working in public relations. There are about 161,000 PR people in the U.S. Public relations people work closely with advertisers and the media. Satellites and the internet have allowed public relations to become a global workforce. (Biagi)

5.       The Public Relations Society of America created a code of ethics in 1954 and in 1959 it merged with the declaration of principles. (236). The difference between advertisers and PR people is that advertisers are hired to sell a product. PR people help make company policy on how to deal with the press and employees. (Biagi)

6.       As president I would side with advertisers because the country’s economic standing is far more important than whether or not advertisers were being wholly truthful. 

Mass Communications exam 2

Exam II

1.Where did the word television first appear and what was the year? Extra credit - What was television originally called by many because it seemed like a new version of the dominant medium at the time?

The first use of the word television was made by Constantin Perskyi in 1900 at the world fair. It was first called the Electric Telescope.

2.Approximately how many television stations exist in the United States, and how do television stations make money primarily? List some of the threats to television based on what we have learned in this class. Name at least 3 threats. Oral Question - Why are these things threats?

There are approximately 1,745 television stations in the United States. Television stations make money primarily through ratings and commercial ads. Three threats to television are: the internet (Hulu), Netflix/iTunes, and new smart phones.

3.Name the researchers who are credited with developing television and where did commercial television first appear? Where did most TV shows originate when television first started? Extra credit - What company dominates the television ratings business?

        The first rough television, which was mechanical, was invented in 1884 by Paul Nipkow using rotating discs. John Baird followed that principle in the 1920’s. The first electric television was created by Vladimir Zworykin in 1929 using cathode rays. The television wasn’t widely produced until after World War II. It was manufactured in the U.S. in 1948. Most shows originated from radio. The company that dominates the rating business is News Corp which owns Fox, the highest rated television channel in the U.S.

4.Who was Newton Minow? Do you agree or disagree with his views on television and why? Do any of the issues that Minow described still exist today with television, and if so list them? Extra Credit - List any of the quiz shows that were part of the scandal and describe what happened?

        Newton Minow is an attorney. He was the chairman of the FCC. He views television as a vast wasteland. I agree with his view because most of television is repetitive. I think because a small group of companies own every station, they keep recycling the same ideas (reality tv, game shows) which is making tv stagnant. Quiz shows in television like the $64,000 question, twenty-one, high-low and tic tac dough were rigging their winnings.

5.Television became global with satellite technology. Which television based technology satellite, cable, wireless or the Internet will be the dominant distributer of television technology and why do you think so?

        The internet will be the biggest distributor of television technology because of its accessibility. The new smart cell phones are internet friendly, allowing people to watch television on their cell phones. The fact that the internet allows people to watch most shows at any time brings television back to people who are plagued by very busy schedules.

Mass Communications exam 1

1.      A form of electronic media we have used in class that allows us to extend our minds and bodies is Facebook. Facebook is something that many people update constantly about what they are doing and thinking at any given time. The way we use our cell phones in this class is different than any other class because we can update our pages about the discussion topics while we’re still in class.

2.      Benjamin Franklin is the founding father who made his fortune as the first chain operator. He became rich through his newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette.

3.      Media companies are above all, in business to make money. All other benefits are secondary to the large checks the company CEO’s receive. Money sways which products are marketed at what time and to whom.

4.      The oldest mass media form is written word in the form of pamphlet-like creations that were passed about on the street. The youngest form of mass media is the internet.

5.      Five of the top ten media companies are as follows: Time Warner Inc., The News Corporation Limited, The Direct Tv Group Inc, Universal Music Group and CBS Corporation. Time Warner owns CNN, Court Television Network, etc. News Corporation owns Fx, Fox, etc.

6.      It is a bad thing that a small handful of corporations control everything we watch, read and hear for three reasons. First, it means our media is biased so the information we receive is skewed. Second, it means that the companies can decide what we learn about. Third, it means that if a corporation is struggling, we may lose the media that we have learned to depend on.

7.      The first female publisher was Anna Zenger. She assumed that role because her husband, John Peter Zenger was charged with sedition and went to jail. Anna continued to publish while he was behind bars.

8.      In 1877 Thomas Edison demonstrates the first phonograph.

9.      Peter Goldmark created the LP.

10.  The Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA) is the trade group that represents the music industry and successfully sued Napster.

11.  Napster was sued because the file sharing was infringing on the copyright laws on the music and because Napster was the enabler, the site was liable. I think the decision is fair because technically speaking Napster was violating the copyright laws and costing the music industry money.

12.  Apple is now the leader in legal music downloads via itunes and does control more than 70 % of the market.

13.  The present music industry will morph because of ipods/MP3 players that are easier to sync than to burn CDs and less expensive than buying a CD. Therefore, selling CDs will become a thing of the past for the music industry.

14.  The music industry lost the downloading war because its not seeing anywhere near as much money from downloading as its competitors have.

15.  I believe the kindle will be accepted more because of its lowers prices on books. The ipad can only get books from Barnes & Noble which tends to be far more expensive than Amazon.

16.  I believe that Apple has a right to decide which software goes into their devices, however they should have no control over the devices owner wanting to download that software onto the device later. This means the devices should be formatted to fit the software just in case.

17.  The magazine business is going to die. I predict that instead the newspapers and magazines are going to form a sort of morphed creation.

18.  Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits are the seven words you can’t say on air. The comedian, George Carlin, was busted for saying them.

19.  I think we need the FCC now especially because of the control these corporations have. We need a form of governmental check on their power.

Class Reflection 11/09/10

In class today we talked about mass media advertising in commercials. we watched many "subliminal message" oriented commercials. we decided which commercials appealed to which aspects of commercial influencing.

Television

The first use of the word television was made at the 1900 world fair by Constantin Perskyi. He actually coined the term. The first printed use of the word was in 1907 in a science magazine. The television was referred to by many as an electric telescope. The first rough television, which was mechanical, was invented in 1884 by Paul Nipkow using rotating discs. John Baird followed that principle in the 1920’s. The first electric television was created by Vladimir Zworykin in 1929 using cathode rays. The television wasn’t widely produced until after World War II. It was manufactured in the U.S. in 1948. Most shows originated from radio. The company that dominates the rating business is News Corp which owns Fox, the highest rated television channel in the U.S.There were approx. 1,745 television stations in the U.S. as of 2005. Stations make most of their money from Ads and ratings. The biggest threats to television are the internet with things such as hulu, netflix/itunes, and new smart phones. I think because a small group of companies own every station, they keep recycling the same ideas (reality tv, game shows) which is making tv stagnant. Quiz shows in television like the $64,000 question, twenty-one, high-low and tic tac dough were rigging their winnings. In the near future, the internet will be the biggest distributor of television technology because of its accessibility. The new smart cell phones are internet friendly, allowing people to watch television on their cell phones. The fact that the internet allows people to watch most shows at any time brings television back to people who are plagued by very busy schedules.

George Carlin - 7 words