Sociology Paper 2: The Mass Media Pt 1
Mass media refers to the different forms of mass communication that reach large audiences. The media can be divided into new and old media
Old media
Different types of media
Patterns of media consumption
New media
This includes newspapers and terrestrial new television based on old technology. So the term new media refers to the various media that are based on new technology such as digitisation, rather than on older technology
This includes the internet which is an electronic medium and digital television which is interactive
Broadcasting - This includes television and radio
Electronic media - This includes the internet and email
Press - This includes newspapers and magazine
The digital divide
This is the term used by Boyle in 2005 to describe the division between those who have access to media technology and those who do not.
The media and socialisation
The media helps people make lifestyle choices
The media can reinforce society's values
The media also provides political socialisation which can affect whether they participate in the political process
Media developments
Some of then changes in media developments over the last 30 years include the internet, digital TV, Social networking and Downloading music
These changes give people instant access to information across the world. We are said to live in a "Global Village" as technology has in effect made the world smaller. The spread of this new technology around the world is known as globalisation
The digital divide
This is the term used by Boyle (2005) to describe the division between those who have access to media technology and those who do not
Ownership of the media
Much of the media is owned by a small number of "barons" who own large media companies or empires. E.g. Rupert Murdoch and news international
In Britain media ownership is concentrated in a few hands so potentially this could give some individuals a lot of power to influence the general public and critics of this system say the ownership should be spread out more
There have been changes in the patterns of media consumption like the decline in readership of popular newspapers in the last 15 years, household ownership of a digital TV service has grown steadily since the 1990's, since the late 1990's household internet access has grown
The relationship of the media to crime and deviance
Deviancy amplification is the process by which the media hype up problems to make them appear worse than they are
The media creates moral panics which is a media fuelled public outcry about a particular social group or issues