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INTRODUCTION

Mass Media

What are we going to study?

What are the mass media?

Who owns the mass media?

What effect does the mass media have on society?

What are media stereotypes?

What is the impact of technological change?


In pairs or small groups, answer the following:

What do you think mass media means?

How often do you use the mass media?

Do you think the mass media is a good thing or a bad thing?

Quick Grammar Lesson

Media – plural e.g. mass media – books, TV, internet, etc

Medium – singular e.g. the internet is an electronic medium


Refers to forms of communication (media) that reach large (mass) audiences

Examples???

Significant for individuals and for the economy

The importance of the media and their widespread presence is why sociologists are interested in them


Complete the following table, by inserting the words into the correct column

Video games MagazinesInternet Mobile phonesNewspapers Digital radioRadio CinemaDVDs BooksTV Cable and satellite TV

Traditional Media New Media


We need to explore the distinction between the press, broadcast and electronic media to understand the range of mass media available

What do you think we mean by these terms?

Press – newspapersBroadcast – TV and radioElectronic media - internet

The Press in Britain

Includes newspapers and magazines

Privately owned and are run as profit making businesses

Financed through adverts and sales, thus they are in competition with each other


Some are published daily

Some are published weekly

Some are national and some are local

For each, come up with two examples, e.g. A daily paper is the Sun


Traditionally, newspapers used to be divided into three categories:

Quality broadsheets Middle-market tabloids Mass-market tabloids


All quality newspapers used to be published as broadsheets (they were twice the size of the pages from a tabloid)

However, many broadsheets have moved to compact editions

The Independent was the first (2003) and the Times is now published as a compact edition


Using the newspapers proved, discuss these questions:

Is it a mass-market tabloid or a quality newspaper? Why?

Is the content different? Why?

The similarities

What are the Broadcast and Electronic Media?

Broadcasting in Britain Refers to television and the radio Some broadcasting is publicly funded, but most is

privately funded Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) is operated through

the BBC which is funded through the television licence

Using the Internet on your phone, find out how much a TV licence costs

Broadcasting in Britain

BBC

Because it is publically funded, the BBC is expected to provide high standard programmes

These programmes cover a range of topics and satisfy the needs of many audiences


Commercial broadcasting is mainly funded through advertisements

Advertisers pay for commercials to promote their products

Companies may also sponsor particular programmes by paying for their company logo to appear at the beginning and end of programmes and during breaks


Satellite and cable TV are funded partly by advertisers

Also funded by income from subscription fees, Pay Per View and audience members who phone or text the programme

Have you phoned or text a programme? If so, what programmes?

TV Broadcasting

Networks Examples Distribution

BBC BBC 1, 2, 3, 4, CBBC, BBC Parliament

Freeview, cable, satellite

ITV ITV 1, 2, 3, 4 Freeview, cable, satellite

Channel 4 C4, E4 Film4 Freeview, cable, satellite

Five Five, Fiver Freeview, cable, satellite

Sky Sky Movies, Sky 1, Sky Sports Freeview (news and travel only), cable, satellite

TV Broadcasting

Terrestrial channels are broadcasted through ground transmitters rather than satellite or cable signals

Terrestrial analogue is in the process of being switched over to digital – it gives a clearer picture

Switchover started in 2008 and is due to be completed in 2012

Freeview is a digital terrestrial service that provides many digital channels for free

Sponsorship

Some commercial TV programmes are sponsored by companies such as Specsavers.

1.Note down three TV programmes that receive sponsorship and for each, identify their sponsor

2.Give two possible reasons why companies pay to sponsor TV programmes

Radio Broadcasting

BBC radio National Local

Commercial Radio National Local

Electronic Media

Using the Collins pack (p.191), answer these questions:

1.When did the internet become available?2.What does WWW stand for?3.Who can put things on the internet?4.What are social network sites? Give an

example of a social network site

Technological Developments

Using the Collins pack (p.192-193), answer the following questions:

1. How many TV channels were available in 1980? What were they?

2. What is digital broadcasting? How can it be received? Do you have to pay?

3. What does the term ‘interactivity’ mean? How is it used with TV programmes?

4. True or false – convergence is when different types of media come together across mobile phones, TV and internet?

5. How have newspapers developed over the last 30 years?


Using the information you have just read, copy and fill out the table:

Development in technology

What the term means What the development means for the consumer

Digitalization

Interactivity

Convergence

The Internet


Some sociologists have argued that new media have swamped people with information

We are overloaded with images and ideas, to the extent that reality has started to breakdown

This creates an alternative reality or hyperreality

People can become alienated from society and place great value on what they see on TV

Exam Style Questions

1. Explain what sociologists mean by the term ‘mass media’ (2)

2. Explain the difference between ‘traditional media’ and ‘new media’ (4)

3. What does the term ‘broadcasting’ mean? (2)4. Describe one way in which people can create

content on the Internet (2)5. Describe and explain two ways in which the

technology of the mass media has developed over the last 30 years (4)

News & Politics

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