Media that do not require the audience to assemble at a given time, such as printed materials and recorded audio or video.
asynchronous media
the study of signs and symbols
semiotics
performed in part by the other three functions of media, but also involves the generation of content designed specifically and exclusively to amuse the audience
entertainment
published in 1455 by its namesake, this "good book" is considered the beginning of mechanical printing
Gutenberg Bible
the presentation and communication of a message in a particular way that influences our perception of it
framing
media's role in deciding which topics to cover and consequently which topics the public deems important and worthy of discussion
agenda setting
a study or theory of the limitations and validity of knowledge, more simply, a way of, or framework for, understanding the world
epistemology
this function involves imparting everything from philosophical theory to psychological self-help, teaching us not only how to do things but also how to understand and appreciate the arts, literature, history, contemporary society, and the social and natural sciences.
diffusion of ideas and knowledge
Introduced by Irwin P. Beadle & Company in 1860, these were easily a "poor man's" companion; genres of these included melodramatic fiction, adventures, detective stories, romances, and rags-to-riches tales
dime novels
a real or perceived viewpoint held by journalists and news organizations that slants news coverage unfairly, contrary to professional journalism's stated goals of balanced coverage and objectivity
manuscript book of individually bound pages, established the modern book form, effectively replacing the scroll
codex
a model of media effects, also called the "magic bullet," that claims media messages have a profound, direct, and uniform impact on the public
hypodermic-needle model
Primarily the journalism function of mass communication, which provides information about processes, issues, events and other developments in society
surveillance
President Theodore Roosevelt did not approve of these troublemakers, who pioneered investigative reporting of corrupt practices in government and business, notable members of this group included Ida Minerva Tarbell, Joseph Lincoln Steffens and Upton Sinclair
muckrakers
A phenomenon that occurs when people surround themselves with online voices that echo their own, reinforcing their views and the belief that those opinions are in the majority when, in fact, they may not be.
echo effect
Media-effects experiments in the 1950s that showed children who watched TV episodes that rewarded a violent person were more like to punch a funnily-named toy than children who saw episodes that punished a violent person.
Bobo doll studies
a syndrome in which people perceive the world as more dangerous than it actually is, the result of viewing countless acts of media violence
mean-world syndrome
Media interpretation ascribing meaning to issues and events that helps individuals understand their roles within the larger society and culture
correlation
Publisher of The New York Sun who originated the penny press in 1833 by offering his paper on the streets for a penny
Benjamin Day
the underlying rules, structures, and patterns by which a medium presents itself and is used and understood by the audience
media grammar
A view that claims much or all of what we know and understand about the world, including scientific knowledge, is constructed through social interactions and language
social constructionism
a theoretical approach broadly influenced by Marxist notions of the role of ideology, exploitation, capitalism, and the economy in understanding and eventually transforming society
critical theory
The process of passing on culturally relevant knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values from person to person or group to group.
cultural transmission
Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970
a marketplace in which media ownership and diversity are severely limited and the actions of any single media group affect its competitors substantially, including determining the content and price of media products for both consumers and advertisers
media oligopoly