Introducing Mass Communication and Demassification

     Mass communication is a medium that has the potential to reach a mass audience, travels through both space and time, and is unable to receive immediate feedback. This includes magazines, newspapers, television, and even cave paintings.
     Demassification is when companies switch from targeting a large, national audience to a smaller, niche audience. Companies with a larger target audience will almost always make more money. So, why would any companies want to make this switch?
     Many companies do not demassify willingly. Demasssification usually occurs when companies loose audience, staff, or advertisers. Due to this happening, these companies do not have the money to continue serving a mass audience. In order to stay in business, they must target smaller audiences. This no longer classifies it as mass communication because it is unable to reach a mass audience. If companies didn't demassify, They would have to close down because they were unable to support themselves.

Class Response to the Binary Models

     There are four main binary models. These are hot and cool, information and entertainment, elitist and populist, and content distribution. These are all very closely related. These models are also merging. Information and entertainment has now turned into "infotainment". Similarly, content and distribution companies have now been preparing both. This pattern is occurring in binary models because companies want to make as much money as possible.

     Mediums can be considered either as hot or cool mediums. Hot mediums require your full attention to comprehend. Cool mediums allow you to multitask and still retain the information that the medium wants you to acquire. Some hot mediums include books, newspapers, and magazines. Most print media is classified as hot mediums. Television, and radio are two of the many cool mediums. Cool mediums are becoming more and more prominent for the very reason that it is a cool medium. More people want the quicker and easier to access information, especially as people come to be more busy. 

     Information and entertainment addresses the importance of Newsworthiness. Most information is newsworthy. However, it is a rarity that you will find newsworthy entertainment. Newspapers are one of the few mediums that are loyal to the information side of this binary model. Most mediums have transferred to the balance of both, known as infotainment. This binary model is similar to elitist and populist. Elitist knowledge is the information that People need to know. Populist knowledge is the audiences' wants. 

     This lecture, unlike others was quite easy to relate to. It is much more difficult to relate to the history of the printing press. As this lesson was being taught, I thought about how attentive I am whilst listening to the radio or reading a book. Can I read a book and write an essay at the same time? Can I listen to the radio and write an essay at the same time? Where do I find movies to watch? Does this place have original content? If so, about when did this merge start to occur?

Conglomeration

     Before this lesson, I didn't know what a conglomeration was. Now I know that is is a collection of companies owned by one large company. Conglomerations are a way for companies to earn more money. Conglomeration's main source of income is advertisements and circulation.  They also earn money from audience donations, government support, and corporate sponsors.
     To help us understand this better, Mr. Miller gave us the example of NPR radio. On this station, you will never hear any advertisements. However, you will many sponsors. This is when the radio hosts say something along the lines of, " This program was supported by...".
     Conglomerations sound very advantageous, don't they? This is true, they have a lot of benefits. However, these benefits are for themselves. Conglomerations are more profitable, and are higher quality. However, they also limits the diversity of content and opinions.
     Mr. Miller liked to use the Harry Potter reference to explain this. Harry Potter has been produced in almost every medium possible. This is because it is what is making them the most profit. Even though this is great for the people such as myself who love Harry Potter, this is not good for people who don't like it as much.
     So overall, conglomerations are much more beneficial to themselves.

Media Critique

     This week in the news, there was an article published by the Courier Journal. This news piece is about the University of Louisville's football team. It explains that, for this Saturday, when they play Florida State, they will be wearing different helmets. These new helmets will be red, chrome.
     This information may not appear newsworthy. What effect does the color of a football player's helmet have on me? However, there is more to the story. This is important because it will bring more money into Louisville. This is because this game will be nationally televised including on ESPN's " College Game Day". This article doesn't focus on the big picture. It focuses in on a smaller, less important detail. This violates the explanation yardstick. To make this better journalism, the journalist should focus on the bigger picture. Even though the color of a helmet alone will not change my life in the slightest, Louisville will gain a lot, effecting the citizens indirectly.

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2016/09/14/louisville-football-wearing-red-helmets-versus-florida-state/90346426/

Peer Responses

     As I examined the list of blogs, I noticed a title that intrigued me. The title, Maple-Leaf-Mag was very creative. This is Maggie's blog.  http://maple-leaf-mag.blogspot.com
     I enjoyed reading Maggie's class response to mass communication best because she related the content to another class. She explained how she was learning something very similar in AP Human Geography. Maggie demonstrated the differences and similarities such as how diffusion barriers act as similar to filters and impediments. Specific details were included to prove certain similarities.
     Within my little time at duPont Manual High school, I have already learned that it is not enough to just memorize information. Memorization is not a measurement of understanding. It is essential to analyze and apply data. When Maggie explained the connection she made to AP human geography she was demonstrating her understanding.
     Maggie also expressed her engagement by describing how she is excited to find more similarities of Human Geography and Journalism. She included that Journalism and Human Geography are more related than she ever expected.

Student Response

     I decided to read a classmate's blog that looked unique. Most people's blogs are about class discussions. They are about full discussions that were explained during a full class period. However, Claire's post, The Zenger Case, follows just one part of a lecture.
     My peer's blog post explained the history of the Zenger case very well. She thoroughly explained the revolutionary effect that this case had on journalism. I also thought it was very interesting how she related this case to one of the Ten Elements of Journalism. She brought me to make a connection between two journalism subjects. This relationship will help me to become a more successful journalist in the future.

http://clairejwrites.blogspot.com/

The first Classes and First Impressions

     Usually, lectures don't interest me. I am not an auditory learner so, I often find it hard to focus. However, I find my Journalism One class very interesting. I am the kind of student who doesn't participate in class discussions. I am always attentive, but for the most part, I only observe the other students and their responses. However in Journalism One, somehow I always find myself with my hand raised ready to answer any question thrown my way. I can honestly say, this is the most engaging class I have had yet.
     During the first couple lectures, we discussed both the Ten Elements of Journalism and the Seven Yardsticks of Journalism. Even though the elements were written by journalists and the yardsticks were written by the audience, these two guidelines are actually quite similar. They both focus on portraying important and relevant information and being loyal to the publication's audience. Although it is important to remember these  guidelines prescribe, and not describe journalism. The main similar points of the Ten Elements and 7 Yardsticks of Journalism are, verification and context, watchdog and civic contribution, and make the important interesting and newsworthiness. 
     Verification and context are similar in which they both encourage journalists to make sure it is clear that their information is valid by supporting it with many sources. Without cited sources, the work is creditable. To the viewers knowledge, the work could be untruthful or unreliable. 
     Watchdog and civic contribution both explain how journalists should keep an eye on those with power. These people could be anyone from government officials or the president to board members or the school principal. I find this easy to remember as comparable to the Checks and Balances system. As journalists constantly check in with the people in power, the power is more balanced making sure the power is not being abused.
     Finally, make the important interesting and newsworthiness are corresponding because they both stress the distribution of elitist information. Although these two are more distantly related, they both explain the importance of relevant knowledge. It is essential to not only express the important, but to also explain why the news is important. Answer the question , "Why does it Matter?".
     Going into this magnet, I had the same question. However, after only a few classes, I already have a completely new understanding.