How did DIsney Change Copyright Laws? Do you Agree?

Michael Eisner, head of Disney at the time of the copyright law changes, was a brilliant business man, who saw the need to protect Disney's vast fortune in copyrighting all of it's movies, soundtracks and productions.  

Eisner persuaded Rep Sonny Bono to pass a bill in congress that would protect the Disney name, and its properties with a copyright law that would last life+20 years in an attempt to keep the Disney name and it's properties untouchable by other companies and to make sure that the Disney name, and Mickey Mouse would never become part of the public domain.  Anyone wanting to use anything Disney without approval would be breaking copyright infringement laws, and thus have to pay steep fines for retribution.

Amazingly, very strong copyright laws were passed as Congress may have been focusing on the extracurricular activities of our then President, Bill Clinton.

These copyright laws are still in effect and have been wreaking havoc on the business world at large.  With the increase in technology over the last twenty years, many companies have acquired patents and copyrighted their inventions/merchandise to keep other companies from manufacturing or being able to use their software.

I agree that their should be a way to protect yourself and your intellectual property.  I think Eisner was a genius in how he protected the Disney Brand and the Disney properties, so that no one can ever touch them.

What is the role of the creative artist in Mass Media?

The role of the Creative Artist in Mass Media is to create, via writing the written word or creating the artistic elements of the message, to suit the audience that the message is intended for.


The "Artists" must take the information they are given and transform it into the next great commercial, radio spot, sit-com, or movie.  They must also use their god-given talents to shape and form our society and our norms.  As discussed in the chapter, these artists provide unlimited knowledge into the information world, via their creativity and modes of expression.  Whether they be writing, painting, filming, or producing, each artist has a special way to create an incredible work to be shared by the masses.  Mass Media in all it's forms could not exist without the Artist, otherwise known as the "Creator".

"The internet's no written in pencil, Mark. It's written in ink, states Erica, seething at the comments he blogged about her. Why is the typed word so powerful> Why is it tempting to misuse this power online? What positive things can social networking sites achieve when used to their full potential?

The typed word is so powerful, because anything that is typed via the Internet or on our computers is, as they say, written in stone.  You cannot remove it from being available out there for someone to see.  Each word that we write on our computers is saved for future reference.


It is tempting to misuse this power via the Internet, because you can say anything you want about someone, send it into cyberspace for millions of individuals to see, and the person sending it wields the power because regardless if the information is true or not, proving it to the contrary may become a daunting task as you try to reach each person who received the false information, and that may be impossible.


From a positive perspective, social-networking opens up a way to communicate with people that otherwise you may have never met, or help you to find someone you haven't had the opportunity to see in a long time.  As easily as you can't put false information out there for the masses, you can also spread positive messages that can effect millions of people in a positive way as well.  I believe that using this medium in a very positive light, is how it will reach its full potential by educating and providing a social medium not seen before.

How did the computer make the transition to everyday technology

The computer actually evolved itself over decades, as we as a socialistic society became technologically advanced in our work, which made things work smoother and more quickly, and provided us loads of information.  As our corporations started using more and more technology, it was a natural evolution for our society to want to be able to have technology available to use in our own homes as well.


As technologists began to create computers the size of rooms, and began to use punch cards to store information, this technology became so intriguing that more technologists had to step forward to make computers smaller, better and less costly than in the 1980's.  As this evolution progressed, the next step would be to be able to devise a computer that each and everyone of us could use and afford.  This is how the computer made the transition form workplace to  us being able to access most of our knowledge from our own computers, in our own homes.

Compare the evolution of mass media in various regions of the world.

As one would assume, mass media and its impact vary around the world.  American mass media is described as being Libertarian, but has been criticized for its view and excess, which has authoritarian and debates of social responsibility with the freedom that our media sources have.


Canada and Europe have closely related forms of mass media.  Western Europe and Canada are now under guaranteed expressionism, which is similar to the First Amendment in our own constitution, providing us with freedom of speech.


Eastern Europe has been evolving over the last century as it tries to define its own balance between having free expression and continued government control.


Middle Eastern and Africa's Mass Medias are strictly controlled by the government.  More mass media is produced in these countries in the highly populated areas.  The Middle East is strictly controlled by its government entity.  And in Africa, with it being so sparsely populated throughout, they rely on radio as their primary mass media source.


Asia, India and Australia find themselves in a mass media explosion, and their countries are ruled by mix of private and government run companies providing their media sources.


Latin American and the Caribbean mass media sources comprise part of the power structure of the country.  The government, corporations and family dynasties throughout the country owning and deciding what mass media is shared with the public.

Why do we need to take intercultural communication into consideration as communicators?

It is vitally important to take intercultural communication into consideration as communicators, as widely explained in the text, to avoid the downfalls of portraying the wrong message if you do not understand your target audience.


Many countries are different than the United States and other countries view our     ways of communicating offensive and not acceptable.  Further understanding the significance of what a culture thinks - how they act - and what is acceptable for their culture is key in producing an informative and educational campaign in a foreign country.  


It is as important to understand the message that you are to convey, as it is to understand your clients and what message you want then to take away from the information you are providing.  Understanding the research that you have done regarding the culture of your target market, will assure that you are an educated communicator that can produce positive results for any client or company.

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN INVESTIGATION AND GIVING ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S ELECTIONS FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO THE REPORTERS IS SO IMPORTANT? IS IT WORTH DOING SO?n

ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN brings to light the importance of investigative journalism and doing what is right, regardless of the consequences.  I do believe that it is our civic duty to participate in any investigation regarding any any elected official.


The Citizen participation was key in the investigation, and consciously most individuals will come forward to disclose the truth, so that it does now way on their conscience. The importance of this type of disclosure is pertinent to our way of living in this country.  Politicians for centuries have felt untouchable, and knowing that you can and will be found out, may stop some individuals from acting inappropriately.  Luckily Woodward and Bernstein contacted enough sources to corroborate their stories, thus showing that the information they were providing was accurate and undeniable.  


Also, it is important to set the stage for our elected officials to be above reproach and to disclose their election financial resources, regardless of their elected position.  All financial information should be available for the public and media to view since the inclusion of the freedom of information act.  Elected officials are paid from taxes, which means that the tax payers should have knowledge as to how their taxes are being spent.


It would be wonderful to have investigative reporting of this caliber in today's society.

You are the President of CBS. You have been summoned to Washington to explain your network's behavior in the quiz show affair before a public session of congress, which passes laws regulating the broadcasting industry. Explain how the quiz show scandals effected CBS and how you propose to get out of this mess

The Quiz Show scandals effected CBS negatively, but it seemed for only a short time, since our country was hooked on television.  It was fascinating to see how easy it was for the producers, writers, even the CEO of the broadcasting networks to through out all they were taught from a child, just to increase ratings of their quiz shows.  Many viewers were turned off by the negative affect they felt by being duped by the networks after they thought what they were seeing was actually fact, when it was actually fabricated and untrue.


These scandals stopped many talented individuals, but from the movie we watched, it only slowed these liars down for a short time before they were picked up by other television networks and shows.


I am not sure what do get the network out of hot water.  I personally would have to fully disclose the situation, take the fine and possible incarceration for my wrong-doing.


If I was hired to protect the Network, I would have to take a different spin on the story and explain that it was done for ratings and entertainment, and that giving the answers to the contestants was nothing more than a way to produce a great show that drew in viewers; besides isn't that what TV is all about, entertaining the viewers.  Then the network would pay the fine placed for falsely portraying the show and its contestants, and then move on the the next project.

Manufacturing Consent - What is covered by the news and how? Where do the conventions of balance and objectivity come from? How do they function within the news discourse?

I must first share that as hard as I tried to get into Mr. Noam Chomsky's view of news and the media, listening to his views was remotely painful.  He seemed to say the same thing over and over again in an attempt to be saying something different.  Maybe, intellectually we are not on the same wavelength, but I believe I understood the message he conveying.


I think that his viewpoints brought to mind that all mass communication is subjective and that the only balance put in place with the news media, is that of the individuals who are producing the material.


The news format in this nation is speculative, as we as educated individuals must seek out the most accurate of the news that is being told.  Many of us choose one news format over another, mostly I believe, because we agree with the "mostly factual" information they are providing us.  What is actually covered in a 24 hour period within the news mediums in our country, is decided by individuals just as you and I, who think that the story that is unfolding is of significant importance and must be told.  But, from Noam's point of view, there may be other information out there that we may personally feel is of significance, but since the producers don't feel the same way, this information is not communicated. I agree with his foresight regarding this point.  


I also believe that there is a balance put in place between what is aired and what is not.  When a major catastrophe happens, all news media is on it, but when something happens in our own "neck of the woods", not all media is covering the story.  I also believe that objectivity of the stories that are told is subjective to the person providing the information.  Each individual has their own subjective mechanisms in place which have to come into play when deciding what news is to be reported and what is not.

Review three functions of mass communication as discussed in the text. Do you Agree?

As stated in the Essentials of Mass Communication Theory, all mass communications functions play a key role in our society.


The first function, Surveillance, is the theory that all mass communication is used to keep in touch with the world, allowing for inspection into people's lives, and to assure that they are well educated in what is happening around them.  I agree with this function as it pertains to my everyday life.  From watching the morning news and listening to radio in the car on my way to work, having this surveillance function of media is how I personally stay in contact with the world everyday.


Entertainment and Play Function of Media:  It has been theorized that mass communication plays a significant role in the entertainment of our society, and it has.  But our text also brings to light the fact that in conjunction with providing entertainment, mass communication also informs the public, making it of significant importance to everyone as well.  I agree that a significant amount of the mass media that I take in daily is for a self gratifying effect.  I thoroughly enjoy media of all types, but entertainment media is on the forefront of the information I personally seek out.


Cultural Continuity Function of Media:  This function has been described in many different ways for centuries.  The bottom line is that we all know that our lives have been touched in a significant way by "Popular Culture".  As each of us are exposed to what is new, exciting and what "Everyone wants", we too form our own opinions and desires by what is presented to us through mass communications.  Whether the messages are appealing to the lowest or highest common denominator in our society, everyone is touched by mass communication of the form, and it does effect our perception of what is important or significant in our lives, and helps us to  form our collective behaviors.  Once again, I agree with this function, because I know that what I have viewed or been subjected to has helped me personally to form opinions about what I consider to be significant element of my culture and my views.

How well and how fairly do you believe African Americans, Latinos and other ethnic groups are represented in American Media?

Not to expose exactly how old I am, but I can remember the days when very few ethnic groups were represented in the media.  But I believe with the civil rights movement and the evolution of our society, this representation has changed drastically.  From ethnic individuals holding positions throughout the  media companies, to advertisers changing who their target demographics are, ethnicity is alive and well in our current communications.


In the 1970's, situation comedies had introduced shows that focused solely on ethnic families and their struggles - from The Jefferson's and Good times, to eventually the affluent and educated matriarch, Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show, African Americans were represented.  At the same time, African American individuals were becoming key contributors as radio and television personalities.


In the 1980's, more importance was placed in representing the Latino and Asian populations.  Remember Connie Chung and now Lisa Ling.  The African American segment in present media seems to have surpassed the representation of whites and other ethnic groups with what is being shown and distributed today. With the widely known talk show host OPRAH WINFREY appealing to the masses, the African American representation had grown by leaps and bounds.


For the Latino populations, either than their explosion on the music scene, it seems that they are represented, but not in a significant manner.  They are still written into sitcoms and have a few of their faces in media, but their representation has not reached the peak of the African American populations.


I believe in 2012 that all ethnic groups are represented fairly throughout media.

In your opinion, what were the three most important developments in communication history?

As we have studied the history of communications, I find myself hard-pressed to limit the three most important developments, as the way I see it, there are actually 4 important developments that have taken place in communication history:


3.  The Newspaper - As we have learned from our class, the newspaper was the first communication medium that changed how the world received their information.  This medium not only brought about change by providing information to the masses, but it also brought the world to the shores of the United States.  Being able to learn of things happening all over the world, and in your own backyard was groundbreaking.  


2.  The Radio - Opening up a whole new world to it's listeners, Radio was the next medium that changed the history of how we communicate.  Still in existence today, many of us get most of our information throughout the day by this medium.  The Radio has also provided us with hours of enjoyment, just by "turning the dial" or "pushing the programmed button" to our favorite stations. Whether we want to listen to music, get the latest news, or hear our favorite talk show host, Radio has changed and will continue to affect our communication.


1.  The Television - With the invention of television, communication was set on it's ear.  Being able to view what was actually happening in war, in politics, even at a local event, the television was the largest significant change for communication to the masses.  Even though at first most families couldn't afford a television, once the competitive drive drove down the price, most families in the US had to have one!  most families today have 2, 3, 4 televisions throughout their households.  This medium gives us up-to-the-minute communications that are available 24/7


4.  The Internet - The latest of the communication geniuses was the development of the Internet.  If you have access to it, it can provide more knowledge that you can ever actually take in.  I rate this medium 4th in line behind the radio, television and newspapers, because not all individuals have access to the  Internet.  Although, this was such an incredible invention which has ultimately changed the world as we now know it, so it had to be included in the most important changes in communication.

Are we storytellers or rational thinkers

As I read Walter Fisher's Narrative paradigm, I found myself becoming angry, but enlighted at the same time.  I do not normally feel these types of emotions at the same time, but I was getting a little "on-edge" in portions of his explanation of President Reagan, but I was also becoming informed as to the rational of the liberal side of politics.  I guess the question for this post raises another question in my mind, "why do you think we have a two-party system in our country's political system.  Fact of the matter is, I believe that we are all rational thinkers and if we are articulate at all, storytellers.


As we focus on our maturing throughout our lives, we all are bombarded with many different ideals and cultures within our own society.  We as American's have both a rational thought process that we use daily and a way to express ourselves daily through stories to get our messages across.


We also as American's have deep and profound convictions as to what we feel our nation should and should not be doing.  I personally do not think of myself as a Republican or a Democrat, as a Rational thinker or a storyteller.  I think of myself as an educated, white, middle class female who has beliefs that originated with both political parties and both states of being.  I rationalize daily that what our country needs are more Republican business men in congress, that know that in order to turn our country to turn around, we have to cut our excessive spending.  I do not want to take anything away from anyone, and part of me wants to help those in need, who are not able to support themselves.  The problem has become that we have entire families who have lived off of our "socialistic" government with the programs that have been put in place for way too many years, without having the notion or  means of learning to live any other way.  Generations of families have never worked, never paid taxes, never had to contribute to this nations economy.  This has lead us down the road to where we are today.  To many social programs, not enough funding and not enough instruction of "for an hour of work, you receive an hour of pay"
I believe that we must think rationally when making decisions and stating our convictions, but having the ability to share our ideals and convictions through the sharing of ideas and past experiences, makes the rational thinking shine through in my story telling!

hy do Journalists embrace the belief that confidential sources should be protected? Do you agree?

Journalists embrace the belief that confidential sources should be protected because many stories would never surface if journalists did not agree to protect the sources who have given them the information.  Coming forward to tell a story that may be incriminating, may be of value to the individual, but knowing that you will not be revealed as the story unfolds, bring forth an added sense of security for the individual who has the information.  Also, journalists consider this confidentiality agreement as a corner stone of their profession.  Not revealing your sources, especially regarding potentially damaging stories, is necessary to get factual, accurate, and corroborated information.


Like was explained in our Text Media/impact, many individuals over the years have held their sources secret for 30 or more years, as in the case of "Deep Throat" the source for the Watergate scandal.  Also discussed was the Judith Miller story, where Judith went to jail for 4 months, not revealing her source for naming a CIA operative, until her source came forth, and then resigned from hi position with Vice President Cheney.


I agree that no revealing sources, once the story is corroborated by numerous sources, is fair.  Journalists have been telling the world what they have needed and wanted to know for centuries.  Having the ability to share important information with the public at large has made us a more informed society.  And the fact that not being forced to reveal your source, also allows the journalist to keep their integrity as a reporter of the facts.

How did photography and sound impact communication history?

The invention of photography and the ability to record sound and apply it to the images, profoundly impacted communications in this era.  As we learn from our Communication in History text, early photographers started working for newspaper outlets, as more technologically advanced cameras came into fruition.  With the increase in newspapers and magazines, and with the ability to photograph individuals and provide newsworthy information to go with the photos, more and more communications evolved as a result.  

Even Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt began to use the new age of technology.  Where past presidents would only be able to have a stage photo taken, with the invention of "Moving pictures"  action shots could be taken and distributed via the newspapers printing that would show these men in action.

These newspapers then evolved into producing sound footage to put sound with the pictures they were taking to include ones voice in conjunction with the pictures, adding another dimension to the communication process.

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH - Question? Would you have revealed the source? Why?

The Movie Nothing But the Truth was a very compelling story about a journalist and what she would go through to not reveal her source for an article that would    receive admiration from fellow journalists, but at what cost.

Would I personally reveal my source?  As I was watching the movie, I was drawn to reveal my source, as she was loosing time with her child, and her husband for months on end.  I kept wondering, would it really be worth all the pain and agony being away from my own family to keep my word and not reveal the source for my story.  I kept saying, that I definitely would have folded long before the heroine in the story.  Especially when she found out that the schmuck she was married to was cheating on her.  She still held her ground.  I was amazed at the fact that even being beaten in prison and having her ex-husband take her child from her didn't get her to reveal the source.

I knew that I would not have been able to be as strong as she was, I would have cracked somewhere along the line, but I thought that I might change my mind once we finally found out who her source was.  Knowing that you were protecting another child, may have changed my mind, and I hope that I could have sustained what she went through to save this child from disgrace and agony, knowing that she (the child) sharing what she did, may have been the reason her mother was killed.  

I really cannot say exactly what I would have done.  Knowing the pain my own child was going through, may have outweighed my desire to save the feelings of another child.  I really cannot say that I know exactly what I would have done.

What is the most important trend explored in this chapter?

The most important trend explored in this chapter was the trend of Expositions of Commerce which eventually evolved into department stores. From the mid 1800's, fairs or what was otherwise known as expositions were held to teach, as explained in our text"a lesson of things".  As the early 1900's rolled around, Paris began to hold expositions that featured an menagerie of tools and exhibits of machinery, that were the newest inventions of the modern age.


There were also expositions held to show the wonders of scientific discovery, including the making of electricity, and the beginning of the photograph age.  As the decades continued, these expositions began to evolve into something quite different.  They began to place price tags on items and starting selling things right from the expo.  They also started to use advertising to entice the participants into wanting the products and services that were being displayed.  Then they started adding food and entertainment to these venues.  Pretty soon what was meant to be an educational forum, became a medium to entice all that entered the hall.


Eventually these expos also included information about far off foreign places, enticing individuals to travel abroad.  Eventually these expos became so popular that, Marketers decided to start their own "department stores" which could offer numerous goods and services for a set price, enabling them to encourage buying of their products for a set price.  This eliminated the bartering for what the consumer was going to pay, and in essence, gave the buyer more time to gaze at the merchandise, allowing their senses to be overwhelmed with the feeling that they "must have" the products.


This trend is still alive and well and in place today.  Goods and services are offered in the exact same way, whether you are traveling in Paris or living in the  U.S., goods and services are offered in numerous places to be purchased and consumed.

Explain how the OFFICE of WAR Information contributed to positive public relations for WWII

According to Chapter 11 in MEDIA/IMPACT, in the 1930's Franklin Delanor Roosevelt used public relations to sell the NEW DEAL proposal her had to the American People.  He asked his head PR employee, Louis McHenry Howe to help give him an image of self-confidence and happiness, therefore, if the country felt good about him as his demeanor, what he decided we should do would be acceptable by the general public as a whole.

Once FDR had established his credibility with the American public, he forged forward into WWII in the same fashion.  To gain support of this entry into war, FDR mounted the largest public relations drive in our history to that point, by establishing the Office of War Information, which was lead by former newscaster Elmer Davis.  This agency promoted the positive role that we were playing in the war, including many news broadcasts on radio and television and newspaper and magazine mediums, which painted a positive picture of the War and of the President himself.  This in turn helped FDR gain additional support from the public to stay in the war and until it was over.  The Federal Government is the largest single employer of public relations employees to this day.

Do Audience Members have the power to subvert messages brought to them by the mass media?

As was brought to our attention in Chapter 4 of Essentials of Mass Communication Theory, all audience members, regardless of age, sex, or culture and surroundings have the ability to challenge what messages are being brought forth by the media.  Furthermore, even though we are exposed to  different types of communication from numerous sources, including radio, television, cable, magazines, etc., we can decifer these mediums and their messages to fit our own likes and dislikes, and make a conscious decision to follow the message and be agreeable to it, or to dismiss the message and not give it another thought.

Having the power to subvert these messages is what makes us all individuals.  These communications, even though we are subjected to them from the minute we rise in the morning, till we go to bed at night, are exactly that, messages.  If we remember to consider our own self, and our acquired belief system, we can subvert any thought or message put before us, based on our own ideals and realizations.

For example, you can take any commercial that you have seen throughout your life, and what may have been acceptable, and even humerous when you were younger, if given the same message to view today, you might find it to be of bad taste or even gross, thus proving the theory that as we age and mature, so does our ability and power to subvert the messages that are conveyed to us through mass media.

What can the film "Wag the Dog" tell us about techniques of propoganda

In the film we viewed last week, Wag the Dog, we learned various techniques of propaganda and how easily they can be used and very convincingly.  


The first use of this technique, came from the beginning of the story.  When Robert DeNiro is hired to get the President of the United States out of a jam with a possible molestation charge of a young girl, DeNiro attempts to create and facilitate lies to redirect the American public from the story at hand, thus creating a fictitious war with the small, little known country of Albania.  When things don't go as planned, DeNiro, with the assistance of a famous Movie Producer, played by Dustin Hoffmann, redirects the focus once again, ascertaining additional stories of propaganda,  as they formulate yet another fictional character, an American War hero who served in the fictitious war.   


As the 'Stories" are created and used to redirect the focus of the general public, you begin to wonder if anything in our own lives is actually true.  As more and more elements are created to deceive all of us, you really have to think about how propaganda may be used in our own everyday lives, and we don't even know it.  This movie is too factual with how easy propaganda is used, that it puts everyone on edge.  

What three technologies introduced in the film could you not live without? Why?

The three technologies introduced in the film Modern Marvels DIGI-TECH that I personally could not live without would have to be the RADIO, the TELEVISION and the DVD.


I have always loved to listen to music, so the radio would be of a necessity for me.  I know that they have come up with MP3 players and other alternative modes to listen to music, but I am from the old school, and I enjoy changing the channels in search of something I want to listen to.


Addiction is the word when it come to TELEVISION.  I know that I am addicted to watching television, because with my hectic work schedule and going to school, if and when I ever get a free moment, all I can think about is sitting down and watching a television program that I like, maybe a re-run of FRIENDS or the latest PROJECT RUNWAY......oh and thank GOD for the creation of DVR, so that when I do get a moment, I can watch AMERICAN IDOL any time I want.


The third thing I could not live without would be my DVD's.  I own hundreds (how pathetic is that to say out loud!)  Movies are my passion and being able to view them on my BLUE RAY Player when they are newly released is like a euphoria for me.  How sad is that.  And being able to watch movies that I have reviewed with my family after the fact, is an incredible high too!

Do You believe that you have a Genderlect style? Give Examples......

Do I believe that I have I have a Genderlect style?  I can neither confirm or deny this question, since I feel that I do, but yet, I do not.  Like many individuals I suppose of both groups studied, I find myself being very genderlect in the female way of communicating, but then in other situations, I feel that I an actually have more of a male genderlect style in my way of thinking and reacting.


My mother and I always laugh about the fact that we really think like a man in most aspects of life, but our darn female emotions still take over from time to time.  I know in my career, I tend to enjoy working with men as opposed to women, because with a man, you know where you stand.  If you have done something wrong, they tell you flat out, you don't have to wonder or speculate. On the other hand, where a female will usually tell you that you have done a great job, a man will not so easily convey this message to his employees.  


When I worked in management, I found that I did tended to be more concerned about the women that worked for me as opposed to the men.  Maybe this is reverse genderlect style, where the female manager is showing more compassion for the female employee as opposed to the male employee, since he should be stronger and more in control of his life, as we have been taught.


All I know is that, according to my daughter who is 21, the women of our generation have ruined it for her and her generation in finding a "REAL" man.  This has been explained to me, numerous times, because in her quest to find a "REAL" man, there are not any out there.  The women of "my generation" have raised men that are "in touch with their feelings" and that are winier and more feminine than most of her girlfriends.  With that said, maybe Tanner's viewpoint of how men and women communicate may also be generational.  If I place her thoughts and theories on my own marriage, she is extremely accurate to the conflict that my husband and I have had throughout our entire 26 year relationship.  But, with the younger generations, maybe her theory needs to be reevaluated as the "TIMES ARE CHANGING!"

Explain the concept of the DIGITAL DIVIDE. Why does the divide exist. List and explain three actions by government, corporations, or individuals that would help eliminate the divide.

The concept of the DIGITAL DIVIDE as it pertains to our subject matter in communications, is the Divide between those who have access to the online information and those who do not.  


According to our MEDIA/IMPACT book, almost 20 % of individuals in the US still do not have access to the Internet.  Whether this is by choice because they are afraid of this medium, or because the cost is too significant for their budgets, has yet to be determined. 


There are a few ways in which the government, corporations and individuals could help eliminate this divide.  First, the government could work harder with their lawyers to put in place a form of regulation, eliminating the "we can do what ever we want" attitude of those providing the Internet service.  With these mandates, and control of the Internet, the government could do away with the fees associated with the service.


From a corporate standpoint, Corporations could come forward and offer to individuals who do not have a computer, viable working computers that they are disposing of at little or not cost to the consumer.  They could also provide a particular number of computers to non-profits, libraries, schools, etc. to give more people more access to a computer.


and finally, as individuals we could protest the high fees and suggest that since we are always bombarded by numerous messages and advertisements anyway, why not make the access free and charge more for the advertisements, thus allowing for greater access to the Internet.

Why was the Telegraph considered the Victorian Internet?

The telegraph was considered the Victorian Internet because it changed the way that people in the 1800's communicated, just like the Internet changed how people starting in the 1990's did and how we still do. Of course, too, it was called Victorian, because of the era it was invented, which was during the 1800's. 


The Telegraph brought with it a new and quicker way to communicate.  The Pony Express took up to 10 days for a message to go from East to West throughout the country.  With the Telegraph, messages could be sent almost immediately, depending on where it was going and how many exchanges of the message had to be made till it reached it's intended recipient.  Even if the message had to sent by courier once the transmission was received at it's destination, it was still a much faster form of communication.


Just as the Internet has brought about immediate exchange of Internet in our lifetime, back in the 1800's, the TELEGRAPH did the same thing.  

The competition between television manufacturers helped to produce better, less expensive television sets for consumers. Compare the competition between television manufactures during the 1940's and 1050's with the computer companies of today?

With the scientific breakthrough of television, two parties had the expertise and know how to create this new technology.  For years they battled for the patent and the hardware to produce a television that the masses could afford.  The original television cost around $600 which in the 1940's and 50's was an astronomical amount of money.  With the development of competition between these companies, came the urge to produce in mass quantity a television that was both affordable and reliable - thus the beginning of the supply and demand concept.  With supply and demand in place, the pricing could come down as more and more televisions were being sold.

The same premise applies today with our computer companies.  As a newly developed electronic devise is created, the computer companies try to create a similar or completely "new and improved" version of this technology to provide to the consumer.  Initially when a device is manufactured, the price is usually high.  After mass production and mass sales of the device occur, then the initial company, along with the competing companies, seem to be able to produce the same or similar device for significantly less than the original.  Once again the supply and demand concept comes into play - once the demand is high and significant numbers are sold, the price tends to decrease.

What are the agenda setting and gate-keeping functions of media?

Agenda Setting functions of Media pertains to our own thought process of what we choose to view and what we decide to focus our thoughts and attention on. Particular programming peeks our interest and usually centers around the we considered is of significant importance in our loves.  Most of this type of information is received from talk shows, news programming, narratives, etc. 


This type of media, according to agenda setting theorists, predominately Maxwell E Combs and Daniel Shaw, plays a significant role in how we learn about issues and things we deem important in our lives, thus focusing more attention on these matters.  Having access to news programming, dramatic programming and certain subject matter gives us the insight to make informed decisions of what is important to us, and what is not.


The Gate-Keeping function of Media lies in the hands of who ever is producing this information on a daily basis.  The "Gate-Keeper" decides from what news information is out there, what is deemed important or of less importance, and this is how they decide which stories are viewed first, and in succession thereafter.  This function is subjective to the individual in control of producing the program.  The "gate-keeper" has also been in place since the beginning of television.  The Gate-keepers viewpoint, background and culture will also come into play when he or she is deciding the importance of the show they are producing.  Edward R Murrow was a "gate-keeper" because in producing his own show, he decided what stories were to be covered, to what extent they were going to investigate their topic, and inevitably what would or would not be shared with the viewer.

How did the Quiz Show Scandals of the 1950's affect the relationship between advertisers and the networks> Is the relationship between advertisers and the networks different or the same today?

The Quiz show scandals of the 1950's not only changed the relationship between the advertisers and the networks, but it changed the viewers perception of what they were saying and selling on TV as well.  


Quiz shows were all the rave of the new networks and advertisers played a large part in deciding the programming that was produced for television.  After it was confirmed that a contestant on the Quiz Show 21 was fed the answers to make the show more exciting, the networks decided that giving advertisers so much control over programming was not a good thing, and this information also soured the public, who thought they had been duped by the network lying to them, which in turn made them leery the advertisers and the networks.


The relationship between advertisers and networks today is very different.  Advertisers are allowed to pay for time to advertise their products and they can choose time slots in conjunction with programming they prefer their products to be tied to, but they have no say over the programming of the network or what shows will or will not be shown.  This control is strictly controlled by the networks themselves, who apparently learned that it was in their own best interest to not allow advertisers to control any of their programming, as to not relive the discrepancies of the past.

What was the Social Impact of TV?

From the initial thought and science of creating a TELEVISION, Television has had an effect on society and how we view it and one another.  Before television, radio was the dominant media that brought families together to enjoy a moment listening to a variety show or news program.  With the invention of TV, it brought a whole new social aspect to the American family by adding the a three dimensional form for us to view, adding a realism to what we were seeing visually.  The social shift which occurred was manifested by programming that may, or may not have been in line with the customs, practices or values of our own family.  Television brought new ideas and concepts into homes, in view of ALL family members.  This formed a new consciousness of awareness to the world around us for even the youngest viewer.  


TV also changed society by its mere presence.  With the manufacturing and pricing wars, came easy access to acquiring a television, which became the integral piece of furniture in every home in the 1950's and 1960's.  It also forged an additional way for family members to gather to watch their favorite shows and programming.  Billed as the perfect way for families to gather and enjoy one another's company, it became an integral part of everyone's lives.


Socially acceptable programming became the norm, and the television became such an integral part of "American Family", that we even started to add an additional room to our homes, called the "FAMILY" room which centered on the presence of a television.  


Studies have been conducted since the beginning of television that show that television has been both a negative and positive for the social interaction of our family structure.  Bottom line, TV has changed our word, and as we explore new ways of producing shows and the programming that is shown on TV, the Social changes and impact that TV has on our society will continue to change and evolve.

Which audience age category is most attractive to today's movie goers?

According to Chapter 7 in our Media/Impact book, today's studios focus on the "Mature" movie goer (those over age 30) and children (who in turn have to bring their parents along to get into the film).  


I would love to be able to interview the head of one of the major studios to see why they focus on these two age groups.  I can only guess that it is because, like I have already stated, children's films are a good draw and money-maker since the parents must pay to get in to bring their children.  And I am speculating that the over 30 crowd is who can afford to go to the theater, since on average the price to enter a film is now $8.50 per person.  


Frequently, like in the TWILIGHT & Harry Potter Series, they must focus on the teenage moviegoers.  When I have reviewed these movies, the theater was definitely filled with teen and 20-somethings.  And I do want to note that every time I go to review a film that is playing at my favorite theater, the CHASE PARK PLAZA Cinema, the theaters are not filled with 30 somethings, usually they are filled with 50 or 60 somethings going for an afternoon viewing or night "out on the town."

Why do we watch RASHOMON in a communication class?

I think that we watched the movie RASHOMON in our communications class because the movie places significant relevance on the communication of it's characters and it's story line.  Communication is key in any circumstance, but in the movie, the lead characters convey the same story in 5 different ways, from the thief who rapes, to the Samurai whose greed takes over his common sense,  to the woodcarver who ends up being in the wrong place at the wrong time, to the married woman who surrenders to her attacker, to the medium who conveys the story of a "dead man".


Each character in the film communicates "their story" of what happened, but as we soon find out, each character has a different TRUTH.  Each character is telling their TRUTH of the story, but what is the real TRUTHFUL depiction of the circumstances happening in the story.  You never really find out what was "THE REAL" story, which once again takes you to a circumstance where the communicator relays what they feel is a factual depiction of a story, but the fact is it all depends on how the listener interprets it within their understanding of the story in reference to their own life experiences and circumstances.


This film brings to light the significance of communication and how for each of us the way we receive messages or information can be translated in numerous different ways.  What we    feel is our truth and reality, may not be how another feels.  This is the key communication component, learning how to convey a message and have it interpreted by the masses as we have intended.

What is the Rashomon Phenomenon? Which of the interpretations discuseed in the text do you find most intriguing?

The Rashomon Phenomenon pertains to how we dissect the information that is presented to us and interpret whether this information is truth (fact) or a lie (untruth) that was conveyed to us.  Depending on how we rationalize the information given to us by numerous sources, and how we interpret the information in our own thought process, is what the Rashomon Phenomenon is all about.  


I find myself drawn to both the Marxist and Ethical interpretations of the film as interpreted by Arthur Asa Berger, writer of the book we are reading.  The Marxist interpretation explaining that Rashomon is a movie depicting the hierarchy of the classes is what I was drawn to from the beginning of the film.  But as I read the Ethical interpretation of the film, I was also moved by the way each character in the film had a self serving depiction of the circumstances surrounding the death of the Samurai warrior.  Even in the way the "dead man" told his story through a medium, his tail was self serving to "save face" with his factual account of what "really happened" even in death.


All of the interpretations were intriguing and made you think about how you yourself felt about the film. Each had significant validation of how the movie could be interpreted.  Each of us must also consider that our own interpretation of the film will in some way be swayed by how our own life has evolved, or have we ever encountered any of the circumstances portrayed in the movie (which would give you a stronger sense of a particular story line within the film), plus you must also keep in mind your own belief system as you personally try to decide which character is telling the truth in their depiction about the death, or not.

What does the future of Mass Communications hold?''

Mass communications has been evolving since Gutenberg's printing press and has exploded in the last century, so to say what the future holds is any ones guess.  Masses of population in this country receive most of what they deem "factual information" for the mass communication mediums that we come in contact with daily.  Whether it be from the news programs we watch on television, or the radio programming we hear in our vehicles or in the office, or the magazines that we read while waiting in our doctors' office, Mass communications is the way we receive most of our information.  It is our job to then arbitrarily dissect what is important to us, or what we deem unnecessary knowledge that has been conveyed to us, and react accordingly.  With that in mind, one can only fathom with the addition of Internet and websites to the newspapers, magazines, radio, television and social media outlets that we come in contact daily, that the future of mass communications is only going to expand and exceed anyone's estimation of what these mediums can convey to the masses.  


Mass Communications have "taken over the world" per se, in how we are bombarded with information all day and night.  Mass Communications is an ever moving, ever evolving sector of our society, and it is my thought that the "sky is the limit" in what we can develop and pursue in the future for mass communications.

What did the early motion pictures do to change mass communication?cici

Initially, early motion pictures changed our way of communicating by creating a new artistic medium in which to express our thoughts, with images of real and imaginary subjects.  Motion pictures also changed how many inventors and businessmen made their fortunes.  


With the invention of the Kinetograph and the kinetoscope, the world of mass communications began.  Having a medium in which to show object and people to large masses on the big screen.  Having this knowledge evolved into having the ability to create commercials, television series, news shows and an endless world for the creative geniuses of early film to explore and prosper from.

Describe the contributions of two early Colonial American Women Publishers

Two early colonial publishers, who campaigned for Civil Rights for women were Ida B Smith and Ms Jane Grey Swisshelm.  


Swisshelm's views became public as her writings in the Spirit of Liberty publication in 1844 were made public.  She also continued her writings for women's rights in the Pittsburgh Saturday Visitor.  Swisshelm also penned her writings for the New York Tribune in Washington DC and eventually she became the Senate Press Gallery, under the direction of President Millard Fillmore.


Ida B Smith's legacy started as she began to write about and take a stand against the lynching of her people in the 1890's.  Her career in journalism grew to incorporate her being part owner of the Free Speech and Headlight publication in Memphis, which highlighted the plight of emancipation and racism.  


Ida eventually became a writer for the Negro Press Association in Memphis and proceeded to write a story about three African-American men who had been killed. She traveled to New York, married a lawyer from Chicago, and decided to not return to Memphis, but actively campaigned for the rights of African Americans until she passed away in 1931.

How can Cognitive Dissonance help you as a communicator

According to Wikipedia, Cognitive Dissonance is described as The theory  in social psychology that proposes people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance by altering existing conditions or adding new ones to create consistency.


With that being said, The Cognitive Dissonance Theory as it pertains to Marketing a product, our your self for that matter, has real significance.  People are prone to want "want" the BEST!  It is built into our DNA. If you figure that someone is better than you, or that they use products or services that you yourself cannot afford, you work a little bit harder to become them or to be able to afford the products they use with those "name brands"  on them.  


Mastering the principals of Cognitive Dissonance help you to better communicate by bringing to light the thought process needed to determine what will make a encounter with another more positive, or a product or service more enticing to the consumer.  This process is critical to the Cognitive Dissonance theory which states that we strive for what is best for us, no matter what the circumstance,  to relieve the stress and anxiety in every aspect of our lives.


For example, you can become a better communicator by evaluating the situation you are presented with, evaluate all of the possibilities that will produce a positive outcome,  and then implement the strategic plan that focuses solely on the other person's interpretation of your thoughts and ideas.  

What was Edward R Murrow's style of Journalism and what impact did it have on the field of journalism?

According the the museum of Broadcast Communications, Edward R. Murrow is the most distinguished and renowned figure in the history of American broadcast journalism. He was a seminal force in the creation and development of electronic newsgathering as both a craft and a profession. 


Murrow's career began at CBS in 1935 and spanned the infancy of news and public affairs programming on radio through the ascendancy of television in the 1950s, as it eventually became the nation's most popular news medium. 


In 1961, Murrow left CBS to become director of the United States Information Agency for the new Kennedy administration. By that time, his peers were already referring to a "Murrow legend and tradition" of courage, integrity, social responsibility, and journalistic excellence, emblematic of the highest ideals of both broadcast news and the television industry in general.

In the Movie Good Night and Good Luck, his journalism style was portrayed as factual and no-nonsense.  He gave the public what they craved, news information that was informative and that kept you on the cutting edge of world affairs.  Even though the movie centered mostly on Murrow's aversion to Senator Joe R McCarthy's taking down of innocent people which McCarty viewed as Communist supporters throughout our nation, it portrayed the type of man that Edward R Murrow was, a man with integrity who believed in his career and craft of educating his listeners and then viewers on important topics that could change their lives or their perceptions of the world.

Would the same panic occur if the WAR OF THE WORLDS scandal occurred today?

NO - I do not believe that the same panic that occurred in the 1940's with the entertainment broadcast of WAR OF THE WORLDS.  Reason being because, at the time of the broadcast, we were just learning about space and the vast unknown of outer space.  We were also, for the first time, being shown movies that depicted fictional alien creatures, which made people focus in on what they had seen and were now hearing happen.


Close to 70 years have passed and sadly, most people do not listen to their radio to hear stories like that being told.  We listen to radio to hear our favorite music, or our favorite talk show hosts, but we have grown beyond the radio being a source of theatrical entertainment.  I also think that we are more cynical in our beliefs, and that, if we were to hear something of this magnitude, everyone would be questioning the incident and if it was real, it would be broadcast on the over 500 television stations we have access to, or it would pop up on our cells phones and computers, so that type of hysteria would not set in.

Discuss the "WAR OF THE WORLDS" broadcast and its effects upon it's audience. How did it change people's perceptions of Radio?

H.G. Wells "War of the Worlds" broadcast by Orson Wells and numerous other radio and stage entertainers, brought a nation to it's knees.  Even though it was announced that the depiction of the story was for entertainment on the radio that evening, many people had not turned in yet to hear this disclosure, and as the story continued, were in fear for their lives, as they assumed all of what they were hearing was real.


This sci-fi thriller was depicted so "life-like" by incredible radio entertainers, that many across the nation thought that our nation was really being attacked by aliens.  In order to get ratings, even though it was brought to the actors attention that their broadcast was causing a hysteria, they chose to finish the broadcast. The "realness" made many so scared that they tried to leave their homes and the cities in which they lived, before the alien aircraft and martians came to get them too.  


This event is one of those historical moments that will be told forever.  After the general public was reassured that this was just a fictional story being broadcast that evening, and that none of it was true, the public was outraged.  They demanded that there be policies and procedures put into place so that nothing like what happened with this broadcast, would happen again.  People were weary to believe anything that was broadcast via radio for quite some time.

What Impact did Radio have on Society?

With the invention of the Radio in 1894 by Guglielmo Marconi, the impact of the Radio was immediately felt around the world.  The impact on society was evident immediately.  The Radio offered to people, both rich and not so rich, the ability to have communication with other people, whether here in the US or from around the world, at any time, day or night.  


Societies all over the world began to evolve, change and flourish with this new and amazing machine bringing new ideas and information to them.  Broadcasts of all types could be heard by anyone who would listen.  Being able to learn about others, whether they were in your own town, or in another part of the world had been unheard of, until the creation of the radio.  No longer did you have to wait for mail to arrive, lots of pertinent information came across the airwaves daily.


Radio also gave entertainers and musicians another way to share their talents.  This in turn changed society by opening up a whole new world of entertainment to the masses.  It also brought about new jobs and different ways for advertisers and station owners to increase their profits, effecting the socio-economics in this country.

How does FACEBOOK illustrate social penetration theory

According to Wikipedia - Social penetration theory was formulated by psychology professors Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor as their attempt to describe the dynamics of relational closeness. They proposed that closeness occurs through a gradual process of self-disclosure, and closeness develops if the participants proceed in a gradual and orderly fashion from superficial to intimate levels of exchange as a function of both immediate and forecast outcomes.^[1] This psychological theory, as with many others, is applied in the context of interpersonal relationships such as communications. It can also be defined as the process of developing deeper intimacy with another person through mutual self-disclosure and other forms of vulnerability. 


With that said, Facebook illustrates this theory everyday, through each "Friends" willingness to disclose personal information about themselves, that in everyday life, they may not disclose.  On Facebook, I know that many of my friends have posted their marital status, their favorite movies, music and entertainers.  In the past, it would take months to find out all of this about a person, but thanks to Facebook, you can now know all of this and much more with the click of button on your computer.  


What is also astounding is that information even my close personal friends share with "the world" on Facebook, are things that in the past we would share only with one another, via phone or at lunch/dinner, and we asked one another not to share these things with anyone.  I personally find it very surprising that these same individuals now feel that they have to share these things with everyone on Facebook, because apparently if everyone else is doing it, then I can or must too! This type of self-disclosure was unheard of before MySpace and Facebook came into existence.  We were always warned at our jobs to make sure that we didn't put personal information out there unless it was mandatory, for fear of someone stealing your personal information and your identity.  


Altman and Taylor's psychological theory is proven constantly on Facebook.  And like one of the comedian's on Comedy Central shared last night "I think the Mark Zuckerberg didn't develop Facebook, I think the Federal Government did....think of how many less Agents they need now that the CIA can keep track of everyone through their Facebooks....people share everything, and aren't afraid to put it all out there.....

Why is the Google book project so controversial?I

The Google Book Project is taking volumes and volumes of books from select Universities throughout the Midwest and digitizing their contents.  This project is so controversial because it may change the future on how publishers publish their books.  Also,  Google may be stepping on if not breaking many infringement laws on the publications they are scanning, by recreating the original in a more condensed form or by allowing these texts to be viewed for a small fee via the Internet.  Google has already been forced to pay $125M in copyright infringement claims by publishers, but the project remains in full swing to encompass digitizing over 75 millions volumes, each at different universities that are taking part in the program.

How did the evolution of printing change communication?

The evolution of printing changed communication drastically all over the world.  With the invention of paper in China, to its' distribution and production  spreading throughout Europe, communication through this type of medium began to flourish.   Our Western Civilization also owes the Chinese for their wood block style printing, which was the precursor to the printing press.  The printing press opened the world of communication in book form to the masses, once again helping this type of communication to evolve.  


Once books and tablets were produced and inexpensively, and literature and language were easily attainable, communication became much easier than having to wait for the scribes to transcribe the stories of literary masters of the past.  The ability to print anything for anyone, and easily being able to share ideas and ideals, opened up a whole new world of intellectuals and scholars.     Having the ability to read noted works or to study the world was unavailable to the commoners until the production of the printing press, which revolutionized the way that we communicated from person to person, city to city and country to country throughout the world.  


Once books were spreading the words of many journalists, novelists and scholars, communication began to change form with people producing other  forms of communications, like flyers, newspapers, posters, broadsheets and hand bills (programs).  Communication sky-rocketed with the inventions of these formats of paper communications.  

Where do you stand on the ethical questions raised by Shattered Glass?

My stance on the ethical questions raised by the movie SHATTERED GLASS is that what Stephen Glass did was ethically and morally WRONG.  Furthermore, it was apparent that even though his moral compass should have directed him differently, the excitement from his colleagues with his "fabricated" and "fictional" stories, overshadowed his reasoning and ethical fortitude.  Again I take the stance that what he did, regardless of his reasoning was wrong and inexcusable.


Journalism is a profession where what you provide as factual information, should be nothing less than FACTUAL.  I feel that each and every journalist has the moralistic duty to provide straight forward information, regardless of the subject matter.  If Stephen felt so enlightened to fabricate his fictional characters and/or story content about real people, the he should have removed himself from his job as a writer at the New Republic and should have started writing books about the fictional characters he was creating.  

What is MASS COMMUNICATIONS?

Mass Communications is defined as a form of communication that is shared with  an individual or a large number of people at one time through a transmitting device.  This form of communication includes 6 entities known as the sender,   the message, the receiver and the channel.  These elements in turn produce feedback and noise. Mass Communications provides communication by sending out a message to consumers through a mass communication system.  This message is delivered very rapidly and then the message is sent to large numbers of individuals.   This type of communication also uses your senses to reveal the message.  Mass Communications involve the use of sight & sound to convey the message and evoke a response, whether immediately or at a later time or date after hearing or viewing the message.

These communications come through devices such as your radio, your television, your cell phone and the Internet.  But additional ways that Mass communications come into our lives are through Books, newspapers, magazines, DVDs and CD's.

Explain the differences between one-way & Two-way Communication and explain why two-way communication is important for the new communications network

One-way communication is generally the communication that you have with yourself regarding the information you are taking in and analyzing how to use it.  This type of communication is known as intrapersonal communication.  We use this type of communication individually thousands of times each day.


To communicate with other people in our lives, we evoke a response from our 5 senses and perform two-way communication, or what is called interpersonal communication.  This sharing of information between two people also numerous times throughout each day, as we engage with people at home, at work, at restaurants, stores, just about anywhere we decide to go in a days time.


This interpersonal two-way communication is vitally important in today's world.  Having a constant avenue of two-way communication allows us to be inundated with the communications that make up what we call MASS COMMUNICATIONS.  Being able to have a two-way channel of communication allows for us to take in information and provide instant feedback on how we like or dislike what has been shared.  Without two-way communication, networks like Facebook, my space or twitter would not exist.  These mass communication programs rely specifically on each of us wanting to have a two-way communication network with other people in our lives.

Why should we study media of earlier civilzations?

It is vitally important to study the media of earlier civilizations in order to  understand how communication began and continues to change, not only here in our country, but throughout the world.  Developing a strong understanding of communications and how they were formulated is important from an educational standpoint, not only for communication majors, but for the general public as well.  For example, it is important to understand the initial communications were found on cave walls and on clay tablets in every country in the world.  These "symbols" were drawn or painted onto surfaces enabling the exchange of ideas from one person to the another.  Understanding the discovery of ideograms and the use of these symbols throughout history is also pertinent in understanding communication through the ages.  Furthermore gaining understanding in the history of writing, as it serves as a form of exchanging ideas is most relevant.  This medium provided an additional communication avenue that had not been seen before, and gave way to providing an additional communication avenue that recorded pertinent information and shared ideas among the masses.