1. Respond to the below discussion with thoughtful and thorough commentaries about your ideas, your experiences, and any questions you may have.

 

When consuming media, I do not look for a thought-provoking experience; I like true crime and legal drama. That being anything mafia-related or my current favorite show, the Lincoln Lawyer, on Netflix. In addition, outside of reading newspapers and watching the news, I don't apply my convictions to media consumption. I would be interested in speaking to someone who does not watch a particular show because of their beliefs. I honestly cannot think of anything on television that I would put my foot down and say I cannot watch this.

This question brings to mind individuals being targeted with political ads on Facebook. I would like to preface this with the fact that I've never seen any ads on Facebook while I was using the platform, possibly because I am a proponent of ad blockers. In fact, I go out of my way to limit ads in my day-to-day web browsing experience. That said, I think targeting groups with political campaigns, health care, or childcare matters does bring societal harm. I believe one needs to develop one's own un-swayed opinion regarding certain life choices.

 

As a technology professional, I can say there is some annoyance at the cost of the Internet itself. Working from home and dealing with various cloud platforms, servers, network appliances, and endpoints, I pay for upgraded bandwidth, which comes at a cost. To me, the Internet itself should not cost hundreds of dollars a year. That said, we live in a capitalist society, and if a dollar can be made, there's a company with an idea to take that dollar. In addition, with a significant number of brick-and-mortar stores closing, more companies are headed online to provide consumers services. That, coupled with the fact that personal information is now a revenue-generating stream, has turned the Internet into an economic-driven platform.

I'm a little older, so growing up, there wasn't a TV in every room, and the literacy I received about media, in general, was from my parents, and it was simple: there's a time to turn off the television. I had reading assignments outside of school that were given to me by my parents, and I spent a lot of time alone reading. As a teen, there were no iPads, iPhones, or social media. So, when these items were available to the masses, my media literacy was formed and solidified. What I mean by that is I can glance at an article or ingest something visually on television, turn the channel, or turn the TV off altogether. I'm not personally swayed by movie stars promoting products or podcasters and their opinions. So, the most significant piece of media literacy that I learned was that there's a time not to consume any media at all.

 

 

 

2. Respond to the below discussion with thoughtful and thorough commentaries about your ideas, your experiences, and any questions you may have.

 

Does your list of "must have media" reflect your personal values? How?

My list of "must have media" does reflect my personal values because most of the media I consume is for information. I watch the local news to stay informed of current events in my city because it is where I work and travel. The content and framing do not affect me because my perception of the information notes the possible bias. Potter (2009) advises my perceptions of the news are based on the skills and knowledge structures that I have developed over the course of my life. As a young man, I was more susceptible to believe everything reported on the news as fact. I now have the skills to decipher between the truth and added opinion. Additionally, I try not to watch anything on television or the internet that would not be appropriate to watch with my family. Potter (2009) concluded his chapter on media literacy by stating consumers must have strong values so the values expressed in the media will not go unchallenged. I am a firm believer that just because a certain level of violence or sexuality is acceptable for main stream media, it does not make it acceptable for my family. As a parent, it is my responsibility to educate and influence my children to be the best version of themselves. My media choices must help accomplish this mission because we often watch television as a family.

Do you feel that media's targeting of specific groups for specific content has had adverse effects or our society? Positive effects? Explain and cite examples.

On one hand, Sreberny (2004) states that the commercial media characteristics of the United States combined with immigration and demographics have spawned specific media channels and content for minorities. I believe this is a positive attribute because it allows these citizens to enjoy their cultural heritage in the media and also allows other citizens to explore new cultures other than their own.

Conversely, Potter (2009) cautions that it is important to not let the anyone limit exposures to diverse forms of the media or the meanings that can be derived from those exposures. I agree with Potter (2009) because if individuals do not possess some form of media literacy, the media will set agendas, standards, and values for those people.

Therefore, targeting specific groups for specific content has a negative effect on society because it limits diverse perspectives and eliminates the possibility of a consumer challenging the message that is conveyed in the content. A conservative person who is constantly bombarded with conservative ideals may never be able to form a progressive idea and vice versa.  

Considering the concept of the digital divide as you read in this week's readings, is it problematic that the internet is becoming driven by economic objectives? Explain your answer.

Absolutely, Strover (2014) reported that the FCC proposed the elimination of net neutrality, which was supported by the internet service providers. The proposal would allow the providers to charge for fast and slow download speeds. It would be profitable for the providers as those who could afford to pay for faster service would do so. However, it would widen the gap in the digital divide. According to Sanders and Scanlon (2021) the FCC is aware that approximately 21 million people do not have home internet in the U.S., 162 million people do not have access to broadband internet, and low-income households have the lowest rate of connectivity to the internet. The elimination of net neutrality would only expand the divide and marginalize more people from accessing the internet.  

After reading 21st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook, Chapter 62: Media Literacy, you read that "media education is a lifelong process."

Give examples of times that you have become enlightened about media, resulting in increased media literacy. Or, if you have no personal examples discuss what situations might force media literacy.

Recent examples of my increased media literacy are highlighted in two stories presented about police staffing shortages in Baltimore. Pryor (2023) detailed the shortages of police officers in Baltimore City and the discrepancy between the perceived shortages between union leaders and the police department. Simms (2023) reports on a similar issue at Morgan State University in Baltimore, where a recent campus shooting highlighted the shortage of officers. The union that represents the university's officers states the shortages are higher than reported by the university.

In both cases, the underlying issue is staffing shortages. The media outlets both reported on the debate, but failed to divulge underlying issues that affect the staffing shortages. Neither outlet mentioned why there is a discrepancy in the numbers as the mayor of Baltimore does not want to admit any failures and neither does the university president. The police departments do not want to admit any fault in relation to officer retention and recruitment. My media literacy has taught me to dig deeper into news reports and ask more questions about the stated and unstated facts. Media literacy promotes inquisitiveness and exploration. I want to know the truth for myself and make a decision based on my research. I also know that news reporters make friends with union representatives and police commissioners to guarantee future information sharing. Therefore, information can be biased and full of conjecture.

References

Potter, W. (2009). Media literacy. (Vols. 1-2). SAGE Publications, Inc., https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412964005

Pryor, R. (2023, August 2). Baltimore Police Department offers hefty bonuses to cover staffing shortages and shift imbalances. WBFF. https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/baltimore-police-department-turns-to-drastic-measures-amid-severe-staffing-shortages

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