Audience theory 1: blog tasks

1) Read this Mail Online article about the effects of videogames. How does this article link to the hypodermic needle model?

The audience takes in information passively without asking this can be seen through the article where kids take in the violent impact of Videogames making it seem as addictive and dangerous towards their healthy.

2) How does coverage of the Talk Talk hacking case (see Daily Mail front page below) link to the hypodermic needle model? Why might someone criticise this front page? 

The article shows that the teenager played and was very interested in  high violent videogames. Using the hyper dermic needle theory we can see that the producer targeted passive consumers. This 15 year old teen seems to be the targeted consumer who has fallen into the producers trap.

3) What do you think of the hypodermic needle theory? Do audiences believe everything they see in the media?

The hypodermic needle is less believable now in the modern age with a range of new technology and media sources. People now make their own opinion by becoming active audience instead of believing everything on the media.

Two-step flow model

1) Summarise the two-step flow model. What is an opinion leader?

The two step flow model is when audience do not take in media passively. An opinion leader influences other people to create their own opinions on the media.

2) How do influencers like Zendaya fit into the two-step flow model? 

They share their own opinions and thoughts on the media influencing their followers to do the same .

3) In your opinion, is the two-step flow theory still relevant today?

I believe it is relevant today as more and more people are becoming an active audience and interpreting media in their own way. Society is evolving everyday and so is technology as their are moany platforms to gain insight on certain medias.

Uses and Gratifications theory

1) For each of the four categories, write about one media text (e.g. film, TV programme, newspaper etc.) that fits that particular audience use or pleasure. Make sure you explain WHY it fits the category and use images or clips to illustrate your points. The first one is done for you.

Diversion: Film - Blinded By The Light. Entertaining and offering escapism for fans of Bruce Springsteen or anyone that enjoys coming of age films or culture-clash comedies.

Personal Relationships: Friends, as people can connect with the friendship portrayed by the characters.

Personal Identity: Shadow and Bones, the character of of Alina may have emotional connections with others through her past experiences as an orphan.

Surveillance: Radio 1 as it provides information and news to people.

Dependency theory

1) Do you agree that audiences have become dependent on the media? What evidence or examples can you provide to support your view?

I think that most audiences have become reliant and dependant on the media as they believe through the growth of technology and multiple platforms available for information it makes it easier to gain media you want or need. We can see this through a lot of fake news 

2) How has the growth of new and digital technology in the last 15 years changed people's dependency on the media? Is this a new problem?

the growth and evolution and media has definitely changed people dependency as they have become more reliant on media and information given to them online. It has become a problem for things like fake news and propaganda to appear where a passive audience takes it in without considering their own opinions.

3) Reflecting on your own media use, how does your media consumption impact on your emotions? Does the media have an overall positive or negative impact on your health and wellbeing? Why?

The media i use use to have an overall negative impact on my mental health where i was dragged into stereotypical views on certain thinks and focused mainly on looks. Now days, i have learnt that most of this information and these ideals target young people o change the way they feel about themselves cause a turmoil of emotions to occur.