Audience theory: blog tasks

Audience theory: blog tasks

Hypodermic needle model

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

The article states that the video games that the child was playing violent and that the videos games are directly responsible to why the youth tends to be more violent.

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 blames violent video games and lack of socialization for the actions of a child that targeted a large corporation. As like with the previous question, it suggests that the media he had access too was a direct causation to his actions without taking into account that other factors would have an effect. The cover supports very typical right-wing ideologies e.g. "single mother was brought up as a reason, this represents the right wings idea of a typical family needing a male in order to function, right-wing mentalities are often in support of an uncontrolled private economy, this is shown by slightly making Talk Talk seem like a victim. 

Two-step flow model

1) Summarise the two-step flow model. In your opinion, is the two-step flow theory still relevant today?

I believe that the two-step flow model is especially relevant today. In today's society, fake news has become rampant due to the population's dependence on opinion leaders who shape the news to fit their agenda. With news being so easily available and with so many opinion leaders becoming bigger and bigger due to the vastness of social media the spread of biased, deformed news and media becomes even more available.

2) How does this YouTube blogger fit into the two-step flow model?

Totalbiscuit acts as an opinion leader.

3) How this this Telegraph feature on Britain's most popular tweeters fit the two-step flow model? Do you think these accounts genuinely have an influence over their audience?

These tweeters also act as opinion leaders. Depending on the size of the tweeters I do believe that these opinion leaders do have a major effect on populations as newer generations have an even stronger dependence on having their news spoon fed to them.

4) Read this BBC profile of Jamal Edwards. How does Jamal Edwards link to the two-step flow model?

Jamal Edwards is also an opinion leader due to two reasons, his online presence gives him an aura of reliability and legitness, the second reason is his position, he is at a position that many people want to be at, due to this success people who wish to be like him will listen to what he says.

Uses and Gratifications theory

1) For each of the four categories, write about one media text 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.

Diversion: 

Lord of the rings:

Lord of the rings is set in a complete fantasy world that viewers get invested and engaged with, this acts as a form of diversion

Personal Relationships:

13 reasons why:

13 reasons why has very relatable and realistic characters, it's also set in a location and contains an atmosphere that helps create nostalgia, these factors help viewers create emotions with the show's characters.

Personal Identity: 

Stranger things are quite similar to 13 reasons when it comes to creating nostalgia, this nostalgia helps to connect with more adult viewers as they see themselves within the characters.

Surveillance: 

 The weather channel is the more direct example of surveillance as it quite literally is just a channel that gives important information.
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?

yes, I do believe that audiences have become dependent on the media, in 2018 almost all news is filtered through opinion leaders.

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?

These increase on social media intake has led news to be not only more easily available but also more influential. I believe this can be both a poison and antidote to its own issue, while the fake news present can prove dangerous, it can also become a source of truth as a story and have multiple sides brought up due to its easy and vast access to audiences.

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?

defining whether or not the effect social media has on me is positive or negative can be difficult, I believe that social media tends to be positive for me as it helps me maintain a positive attitude and keeps me entertained, that said it could only be positive due to the fact im almost addicted to social media and a loss of social media could have adverse effects on me.