Intro to Media Questions

1. List as many types (example: TV) of media as you can think of.

• TV, email, cell phones, tv, social media, radio, internet, newspapers, journals/magazines are all examples of media. 

2. Investigate ownership of the media in the US. Find an article or chart that will allow you to identify the corporations that actually own mainstream media outlets like ESPN, Disney, FoxNews, CNN, NBC, Etc., Write down what you find.

• Six corporations control 90% of the media in America. They are GE, Newscorp, Disney, Viacom, Time Warner, and CBS. 

3. Find a list that identifies universities with what are considered the top programs for journalism. Pick anyone you like, and then go to the website to investigate that school’s journalism program, as if you were a prospective student. What can you learn about the professional values, standards, and practices associated with professional journalism? (Write it down)

• Emerson College's Department of Journalism trains ethical journalists to write original, convicting news stories that can really move people. They teach their students to bring their stories to life through broadcast, print, web, and multimedia platforms. "As a student, you’ll gain rich experience in the field through class assignments, internships, and extracurricular activities that range from conducting on-street interviews and attending State House press conferences to providing multimedia coverage of the Emmys". 

4. Historically, the media in the United States has often been viewed as playing the role of “watchdog.” Do research to understand the watchdog role of the media so that you can answer these questions: Who is being watched? Who is being protected? And from what?

• Watchdog Journalism informs and protects the public when a significant problem is found. Watchdog Journalism refers to the media. The media is watching businesses and the government to prevent abuse of power. 

5. What have you heard about “liberal bias”? (Don’t do research for this one – just write down what you have heard about this phrase. If you have never heard this phrase before, say so, and then explain what you think it might mean.)

• I don't know exactly what "liberal bias" means, but I am pretty sure that it means a leaned favor of the Democratic party. Many news sources today are liberal bias, meaning they favor the Democratic party's views.