Chapter 8-Movies Are 3-D Effects Creating Two-Dimensional Films? Figure 8.1 In 2009, many moviegoers were amazed by the three-dimensional (3-D) film Avatar. Avatar grossed over $1.8 billion in theaters worldwide, $1.35 billion from 3-D sales alone.Brandon Gray, “‘Avatar’ is New King of the World,” Box Office Mojo, January 26, 2010, http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2657. Following in that vein, dozens of other movie studios released 3-D films, resulting in lesser box office successes such as Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the… Read More »Movies

Chapter 7-Radio Terrestrial Radio Stumbles Into the Digital Age Figure 7.1 In 1983, radio station WOXY’s new owners bought the station and changed its format from Top 40 to the up-and-coming alternative rock format, kicking off with U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday.”WOXY, “The History of WOXY,” 2009, http://woxy.com/about/. Then located in the basement of a fast-food restaurant in Ohio, the station was a risk for its purchasers, a husband and wife team who… Read More »Radio

Chapter 6- Music From Social Networking to Stardom Figure 6.1 In 2006, Californian vocalist Colbie Caillat was an aspiring singer-songwriter. Although her audio engineer father, Ken Caillat, coproduced one of the biggest selling albums of all time, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, Colbie had never considered booking a studio, much less campaigning for a record deal. She considered her music to be a hobby rather than a career choice.“Colbie Caillat Turns Hobby into… Read More »Music

Chapter 5-Magazines Changing Times, Changing Tastes Figure 5.1 On October 5, 2009, publisher Condé Nast announced that the November 2009 issue of respected food magazine Gourmet would be its last. The decision came as a shock to many readers who, since 1941, had believed that “Gourmet was to food what Vogue is to fashion, a magazine with a rich history and a perch high in the publishing firmament.”Stephanie Clifford, “Condé Nast Closes Gourmet and 3 Other Magazines,” New… Read More »Magazines

Chapter 4-Newspapers Newspaper Wars Figure 4.1 The two major newspapers, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, battle for their place in the print world. On April 26, 2010, Wired magazine proclaimed that a “clash of the titans” between two major newspapers, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, was about to take place in the midst of an unprecedented downward spiral for the print medium.Eliot Van Burskirk, “Print War Between NYT and WSJ Is Really About Digital,” Wired,… Read More »Newspapers

Chapter 3 Books A Lost Generation of Readers? Figure 3.1 In 2004, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) released a report that it said represented “a national crisis.” What was under such dire peril that it threatened to “impoverish both cultural and civic life,” as NEA Chairman Dana Gioia put it? Reading—or, more aptly put, not reading. According to the report, Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in… Read More »Books

Chapter 2-Media Effects Harry Potter and the Media Bogeyman J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books about a young boy’s education as a wizard caused many parents—at least initially—to be somewhat wary. When they received an email warning them about the content of books, some of these parents had their fears justified. It seemed Rowling, the author of the books, was a Satan worshiper! According to the email, Rowling said the… Read More »Media Effects

Chapter 1-Media and Culture The Lost Cell Phone Figure 1.1 A New York City woman lost her cell phone in the back of a taxi cab. Sasha Gomez, 16, of Queens, ended up with the phone. She decided to keep it and use it. She did not realize the consequences. She was humiliated, harassed, and arrested. And she became the subject of a public shaming ritual only possible by today’s… Read More »Media and Culture

Table of Contents Chapter 1: Media and Culture Chapter Introduction Intersection of American Media and Culture How Did We Get Here? The Evolution of Media How Did We Get Here? The Evolution of Culture Media Mix: Convergence Cultural Values Shape Media; Media Shape Cultural Values Mass Media and Popular Culture Media Literacy Chapter 2: Media Effects Mass Media and Its Messages Media Effects Theories Methods of Researching Media Effects Media… Read More »Mass Communication Media and Culture

Chapter 14- ROI: msnbc.com Decides if the Campaign Worked Figure 14.1 Three Months after Launch! “Cool ad! But did it work?” That’s the million dollar question (or often even more). Advertising serves many roles, from building awareness of a new acid jazz group to informing us of an asthma drug’s side effects. But at the end of the day, advertising is a call to action: it can be pretty, funny, sexy, or cute—but… Read More »Advertising and Promotion ROI: Decides if the Campaign Worked