Significance of Electronic media

Chap 1

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Careers ▪ There are numerous careers in electronic media ▪ Industry familiarity & knowledge of changes ▪ improves careers success

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Understanding  Knowing media tools & impact helps ▪ Understand how the media influences ▪ Individual behaviors, views, opinions ▪ Society

▪ Teach most effective method of interacting with media

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Changes over the years  Radio & TV – 1st two broadcasting mediums ▪ Local Radio & Major 3 networks dominated early broadcasts

 1960’s-70’s brought ▪ Commercial vs public broadcasting ▪ CATV, VCR’s, Satellite, Low Power TV (1982) ▪ Industrial TV – Used by companies for training  Later (Corporate Video/Organizational TV)

▪ Narrowcasting ▪ When TV programming targeted specific audiences

 What is an example of a TV station/channel that does this

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1980’s  Brought more variety to TV delivery systems ▪ Videotape, Video Stores, Cable, Satellite, Remotes

 Reduced the control of the Big 3 Networks ▪ On determining what consumers were watching

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1990’s  Growth of information access through ▪ Cell phones, Internet (via Dial up), E-mail  Information once provided by Radio/TV available online

▪ Webcasting, browsers, ISP’s, search engines, blogging ▪ Began developing at faster rates

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2000’s  Internet explodes as source of information ▪ High speed access, faster computers, bigger hard drives ▪ Allow vast amounts of information to be stored & retrieved

 DVR’s replace VCR’s allowing time shifting of TV programs

 Other new technology being embraced by consumers ▪ Satellite radio, HD Radio, HDTV, Blue Ray DVD, ▪ Digital Movie theaters, Podcasting, MP3 Players, PDA’s (Smartphones) ▪ Texting, Social networking

▪ What’s Next? ▪ Are there any even newer innovations you can think of?

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How many different types of media are in your home?  Do you use all of them or only some?  Are they all used by someone?  Are they all needed?

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Media ownership has shifted recently (pg 7) ▪ Landlines which were once at 100% have dropped ▪ Cell phones have become the only phone for many

▪ Internet access almost non-existent prior to the 90’s ▪ Is almost a universal service

▪ Cable TV subscribers have dropped ▪ What are some causes for this?

▪ Does anyone in here have a VCR in your home? ▪ Is it used?

 DVD’s are now preferred due to higher quality  Video game console & DVR ownership is also growing ▪ Why do you think there has been an increase in DVR’s  The most stable media devices ▪ Television & Radio ▪ Both are at almost 100%

▪ Average home has 6 radios & 2.4 TV sets ▪ How does your home compare

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People spend a great deal of time with media ▪ Media devices are used & they are also used ▪ Interaction with media is significant part of life

 Interesting Trends ▪ Increased use of internet has not reduce TV watching ▪ Heavy internet users claim TV watching has increased

▪ TV watching ▪ Has shifted from broadcast TV more to cable TV ▪ Has become complicated  Would a show made for the internet be considered watching TV?  Media Link

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Watching a Netflix video, streamed through a video game console, watched through a television  What would that be?

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Video games have grown tremendously  Often earning more than domestic movies ▪ Grand Theft Auto IV - $500 million in 1st week

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Internet usage has shifted over the years  There are several current categories ▪ Today the top use of internet is Content ▪ Followed by Communication ▪ Next is community (Category added in 2008) ▪ For social networking sites

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Traditional functions include ▪ Entertain, Inform, Persuade

 Functions have expanded as media have expanded ▪ Presenting Entertainment ▪ Disseminating news & information ▪ Aiding Commerce ▪ Transmitting Culture & Customs ▪ Acting as A watchdog ▪ Providing relaxation & companionship ▪ Connecting people to each other

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Presenting Entertainment  The main function of many forms of electronic media ▪ Movies, Video Games, Majority of TV programs ▪ Internet has increased entertainment element ▪ Due to Audio/Video elements

▪ Why is entertainment a big part of electronic media? ▪ Increases in technology has transformed entertainment ▪ From passive only to incorporating interactive elements

 Some are dissatisfied with the entertainment function ▪ Politicians, citizens groups, parents, etv ▪ Complain that there is too much sex & violence on TV

▪ Some feel that the imitation of ideas (especially reality) ▪ Has led to poor quality programming on TV

 Despite the changes and sometimes poor decisions on

the part of content developers ▪ Entertainment will no doubt continue to serve as the main function of electronic media

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Disseminating news & information  Electronic media provides immediate updates ▪ For disasters, breaking news, current events ▪ When have you turned to electronic media for more information (disasters/breaking news)  Especially radio ▪ Because it is portable and relies less on electricity ▪ (battery powered radios)

▪ During disasters (tornados, hurricanes) other media often fail ▪ (What is changing this)

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Disseminating news & information  Information is also useful at other times ▪ What information do you regularly get from the media ▪ What are your sources of news?  Everyone's interests are different ▪ What is something that you learned more about by seeking out info online or on TV  Personalizing news ▪ Yahoo, google news,  What are some problems with

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Aiding Commerce  Persuasion ▪ Who has bought something based only on advertising?  What made you buy it? ▪ What made the commercial/ad appealing?  Humor, Visual effects

▪ Commercials today are not as much of a hard sell ▪ Memorable gimmicks with brief reference to product are used more

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Aiding Commerce  Tailoring ▪ Commercials may differ based on geographic region ▪ Same show different commercials  Aired to appeal to specific audiences

▪ Google ads ▪ Show similar products in the side bar based on keyword searches

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Aiding Commerce  Shopping ▪ Has been revolutionized through electronic media ▪ Who has bought something online ▪ What type of product/service, where was it bought

 Advertising has become a nuisance to people ▪ Many with DVR’s skip through them ▪ Others ignore them or flip channels

▪ How have advertisers adjusted to remain visible

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Transmitting Culture & Customs ▪ Think of some shows that portray a culture/lifestyle ▪ Do these shows influence perceptions of that group/culture

▪ Unintentional ▪ When the content broadcast associates with a group regardless of motives behind the production

▪ Intentional ▪ When the content purposely reflects a particular group or culture  Foreign language, religious, public service programming

▪ Criticisms ▪ Media often are the catalyst of stereotypes  Many stereotypes, ethnic/cultural are magnified through the media

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Acting as a watchdog  Watching over aspects of society  (especially government)

▪ This role is often reserved for journalists    

Watching & reporting political candidates Reviewing new laws that affect many Informing the public about scandal and fraud Informing public about of information that is hard to find

▪ Some media provide a window for us to view (CSPAN)  Some interpret information for the public  Can lead to bias &/or slanted information

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Providing relaxation & companionship ▪ The television can be your friend ▪ People who live alone

▪ The internet/radio ▪ Can provide entertainment or relaxing sounds

▪ The media can provide a getaway ▪ After a hard day it can provide relief from the rigor of daily life ▪ Can also become problematic if it becomes addicting  Web Link

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Connecting people to each other ▪ How many of you have ever watched a new show or movie  And talked with your friends about it later? ▪ A movie comes out that you never heard of  What would convince you to check it out

▪ “Water-Cooler” Function ▪ When people talk in groups about a show they all watched or heard recently ▪ Today’s media is more fragmented (less people watch the same shows)

▪ E-mail, texting, social media, internet searches ▪ These are all methods people use to stay connected

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People (The consumers) ▪ Are in more control of the media than in the past.

▪ Gatekeepers heavily influenced content in the past ▪ Network executives, News producers, Radio music directors, etc ▪ Their power has diminished  Due to time shifting devices  From Increased sources of media

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How many of you have ever posted a video

User-Generated Content

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User generated content  The internet has allowed for the explosion of user

generated content for people to browse ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Videos & Short films Online radio stations Multimedia Websites Public access channels ▪ (Through Cable TV providers)

 Convergence ▪ Bringing together various media forms & facilities

 Proliferation ▪ Distributing media content to many places through many platforms  Resilience ▪ The ability of various forms of electronic media to adapt and continue to exist

 Convergence ▪ 1 – Blending of multiple forms of media to create new ones ▪ Radio over the internet

▪ 2 – Blending of facilities ▪ Cable & Phone companies offering the same thing

 Proliferation ▪ Reaching consumers through innovative ways ▪ What is one of the strangest or odd places you have seen an advertisement?

 Resilience ▪ The fast paced media industry is constantly changing ▪ Old media have to change or adapt to remain valid

 The significance of electronic media will continue to increase  People will use it now more than anytime in the past  The criticisms on media content will continue  Some of the equipment that connects people also disconnects them ▪ Computers keep people connected online ▪ But away from their families

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With the media changing at such a rapid pace  Only time will tell what the next mediated innovation is