Framing Questions Wk 2

We talk a lot about old theories, Bullet Hypodermic Theory, Public Opinion and Progaganda Theory, etc.   Do they still apply today, and if so, how?  Has the huge shift in communication paradigms at all affected how these theories are applied?  And if they are still relevant, where is their place in current mass media theory?

Propaganda is a loaded word, but fascinating to think about.  The idea of propaganda as being effective in today’s world is hard to imagine.  Look at the shift in advertising as a prime example; individuals are more informed than ever.  What is propaganda’s role in the current paradigm?

What are the normative theories of social responsibility?  Fourth Estate Theory, theories of the press.  Does the internet and its greater communication abilities enhance how society should be?