Introduction to Media Industries
Media Visualization Essay
Media Usage
Mass media has become a powerful tool in shaping our culture, and is largely reflective of our society today. According to our text book and class lecture notes, mass media can be loosely defined as the technological vehicles through which mass communication takes place, along with the industries which control them. Over the years, mass media, has had a profound effect on American society, on its culture, and on the individuals exposed to the media. Mass media effects people differently because of varied amounts of exposure and formats; however with the convergence of media, todays society fails to recognize the ...view middle of the document...
Throughout the day I constantly utilize my iphone in order to send and receive communication via text messages, email, and other social networks. I also rely on my cellphone for entertainment, obtaining the most up to date news regarding hollywood and other specific interests or hobbies of mine. In the morning, I also listen to the radio during my daily commute to school. However I am often bombarded with advertisements and commercials. Although, advertisement plays a major role in my outline of media usage, this category is merely an unavoidable consequence of the consumption of entertainment media. One of the necessities of employing mass communication is commercial forces.
Average media consumers rarely think about how commercial forces shape the content they see everyday, yet Palvin and McIntosh explain, “…these forces affect everything from what types of shows are produced to whether a news report critical of an important advertiser is downplayed or even pulled by a media corporation” (p. 48). A company that advertises in certain media corporations may gain influence on what information is transmitted to the general public, by threatening to withdraw its advertising. Or a publisher with certain agendas may influence the types of coverage media corporations transmit in order to further these agendas. As stated earlier, a large portion of the media I consume involves entertainment. For me, obtaining entertainment is not limited to the use radio, but involves
other mediums such as television, movies, and internet. While conducting my project, I was...