Week 3 – Framing Questions

1. In Chapter 5 the authors argue that the mass communications experience will differ from person to person based on the symbols each is exposed to and through the media in which those symbols are distributed. Therefore, this experience will be, to an extent, selected and constructed with certain biases. Looking at my own media use, what are the symbols that construct my mass communications reality and what biases might play into my user experience?

2. The idea of using propaganda to influence public opinion is an issue that’s extremely interesting to me. Although, we may not have as blatant media materials influencing the public as we did during the world wars, in what way are propaganda techniques still used today? What are some modern examples of this?

3. In Chapter 8 the commodification of culture is discussed where the media “treats information as a commodity and is ‘selling’ it through the mass media.” What does this mean and how do media conglomerates and advertisers play into this idea? If news distribution is highly diluted by third-parties, can the news process still be considered as serving the public good or just serving the public a biased reality?

Tags: framing, mass communications, propaganda, public opinion