Aspects of Communication Overview

Introduction to Aspects of Communication

• Presentation title: Aspects of communication
• Introduction date: October 2024
• Presenter: Rev Dr Joseph Borg

Questions Before the Introduction

• Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination, photos of her body parts posted on social media; ethical implications of this posting.
• Why such photos were not published in traditional media (newspapers/TV).

Changing Communication Practices

• Selfies and generational differences in communication habits.
• Virtual vs. physical friendships and communication
• Dependence on Smart Phones

Media Products and Audiences

• The existence of social media for specific audiences.
• The free nature of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.
• Google's role in providing web information (relevance/popularity).

Media in Malta vs. Overseas

• Reasons for preference for newer media over traditional media.
• Comparison between media organizations in Malta and other countries.

Media Influence

• Personal influence from media
• Ethical questions about naming and publishing information of accused individuals.

Media, Culture, and Society

• Media as technologies, structures, and content
• The role of media in Maltese society
• Media ethics beyond journalistic ethics
• Doing what is right, regardless of convenience

Media as Technologies

• What would happen if the internet and social media were to disappear?
• Scenario: If TV and radio were to vanish.
• The role of print technology and its disappearance.
• Consideration of a day without technology .

New Media and Technology

• Comparing image in smart phones with how ancient Moses was given a message on stone tablet at mount Sinai.
• Comparison in writing/receiving of messages.
• Innis' view on written words being more important than words themselves.

Media Technologies and Concepts

• Analysis of "The Global Village": is it really a village—comparison to Marshall McLuhan's view.
• Quote from Marshall McLuhan: "The medium is the message."

Changes due to New Media

• Digitalization and convergence in media.
• Increased interactivity and network connectivity in communication.
• Mobility and delocation of sending and receiving information.
• Adaptations to publication and audience roles

Norms and Conventions in New Media

• Norms on the internet, new media, and new organizations.
• More informal mechanisms in media.
• New languages (e.g., emoticons).
• Different characteristics and audiences on varying platforms.
• Potential abuse of systems (e.g., Cambridge Analytica).

The Structure of Media

• Media are among other social structures, including, the economy, politics, as well as education and culture.

Societal Influences on Media

• Political system
• Economy and industry
• Religious values and culture.
• Legal frameworks and education.

Media Systems: USA vs. N.Korea

• Comparison of media systems in the USA and North Korea.

Globalized Media Influences

• Influence of globalization on media practices in Malta and similar contexts.
• Imported programs
• Copied media genres
• "Foreign world views" and "value systems"

Media as Businesses

• Commercial media
• Opinion-oriented or private non-profit media
• Public service
• State-owned media

Special Responsibilities of Media

• Media as businesses but with specific responsibilities.
• Should not be like any other business.
• Influence of media on values; Symbolic universe; essential role in democracies.

"Those who finance media"

• Second law of journalism: media content reflects interests of those who financially support them (Altschull, 1984).
• Significance/importance of this.

Media Content

• Different forms of media content
• News
• Opinion
• Entertainment
• Advertising
• Advocacy

News Worthiness

• The objectivity/inherent nature of news events vs. the ways journalism conventions and organizational needs affect news construction.
• Different viewpoints of news worthiness.
• Constructed news
• Distinction between processes and events

The Manufacture of News

• Routine news gathering and reporting practices determine the news itself.
• Understanding journalistic judgment.

Newsworthiness

• Newsworthiness is not always inherent in events.
• It is socially constructed by journalists and media organizations.
• Journalistic practice affects determining news worthiness.

Market-Driven vs. Normative Journalism

• Distinguishing between market-driven and normative journalism.
• Need for awareness from citizens on this issue.
• Interest in hard news; soft news; lifestyle; fake news.

Dogs and Lampposts

• Quote from Jeremy Paxman on media respect toward individuals.

Advertising and Consumer Culture

• Media celebration and normalization of consumer-capitalist lifestyles.
• Normalization of middle and upper-middle-class lifestyles.
• Promoting an "individualistic" worldview that ignores collective values.

Media and Reflection of Reality

• Media rarely reflect reality but often use fantasy as a means to interpret the world and to educate.
• Stereotyping, and how it's a key element in this construction.

Media Influence on Audiences

• Impact of media on audiences; how audiences are perceived (as servants or bosses); and an overview of active / passive audience debate.

What is an Effect (of Media on Audiences)

• Media impact is about changes in thought processes, views, and/or actions.
• Example: Support of a team; from an English team to an Italian team, and/or from acceptance of a political leader to the fervent love for that leader.

Attitudes and Types of Change

• Media impact often affects information, attitudes, and behaviours.

Impact Factors

• Media influence depends on the media's pervasiveness and credibility.
• The media's consonance with other media coverage
• The level of contrary public opinion.
• The ability of audiences to critically analyze media messages.
• How entrenched a viewpoint is within society.

Theories on Media Effects

• Snooker-style theories, such as Two-Step Flow, and theories where audience interpretation matches their personal desires, such as selective exposure.
• The Hypodermic Model – very powerful media.
• Uses and Gratifications
• Reception theories

Diffusion of Innovations

• Mass media plays a role in information dissemination.
• The strength of mass media depends on the ease of adopting new ideas/information or products.
• The credibility of the medium affects public reception.
• Levels of the diffusion process are identified.

Interpersonal Communication

• Interpersonal communication is a significant factor in innovation adoption.
• The theory includes stages of persuasion, decision, implementation, and confirmation.

Agenda Setting

• Media have influence on how audiences perceive issues of importance.
• They also emphasize the importance of specific topics.
• This is a theory formed and theorized by Combs and Shaw in 1976.

The Spiral of Silence

• Avoidance of social isolation motivates individuals to conform to perceived majority views.
• Media play a role in demonstrating which viewpoints appear to be the majority’s.
• Audiences adjust their expressions in line with the perceived predominant opinions, as per the above theory.

Cultivation Theory

• Media reinforce certain values and attitudes in society.
• Media are significant in shaping societal perspectives and how diverse audiences experience the world.
• Media can instill particular views about violence on various audiences, while also inducing attitudes of rejection for different kinds and forms.

Reception Theory

• Audience takes an active role in interpreting media messages, with the process affecting interpretation.

Media and Ethics

• The presence of media ethics does not impede freedom but confirms media quality.
• Ethical decisions are carefully considered.
• Ethical media enhance human dignity.
• Ethical media promote the voiceless.

Media Ethics

• Ethical media serve humans, not just capital
• Ethical media foster global solidarity
• Ethical media support common good, not only specific sectorial goods.
• Ethical media uphold information rights while protecting privacy.

Ethical Considerations in Media

• Ethical media are truthful and factual but are not sensationalist.
• Avoid propagation of stereotypes.
• Media need contributions from journalists, producers, and audiences to promote ethical values.

Course Content

• Different ethical theories discussed in the course.
• Holistic approach to ethical considerations in media, such as the Potter’s Box.
• Relationship between media ethics and legal considerations.

Content Concerns

• Media content concerns: truth and accuracy, deceit and entrapment, privacy, editorial considerations concerning print and advertising, entertainment, and principles that affect audiences.

Media in Malta Context

• Existing media in Malta.
• Political parties and institutions own some media in Malta.
• Social media usage in Malta is widespread.
• Success of some Maltese radio stations and the failure rate of Maltese TV.
• Influence and presence of foreign media.

Maltese Media Stations and Platforms

• 13 national FM radio stations in Malta.
• Other digital media services.
• Number of community radio station
• Seven TV stations in Malta that showcase teleshopping and GIO platforms.

Media Usage Statistics

• Media usage statistics (Malta, 2022).
• Newspapers' usage rate: 8%
• News websites' usage rate: 72%
• Magazines' usage rate: 7%
• Radio usage: 50%
• Television usage: 69%
• Internet usage: 31% through TV and directly.
• Internet and social media usage: 95% use the internet and 85% use facebook at least once per day.
• Facebook use: 71%several times per day; YouTube: 51%; Smart phone usage: 87%

Preferred News Sources

• Preferred news source (Malta, 2021)
• News links on FB: 72.4%
• Television: 58.2%
• Radio: 30%
• Online newspapers: 41.6%
• Printed newspapers: 3.2%
• Social media profiles (Facebook): 17.6%
• Others: 13.2%

Media Regulators in Malta

• Broadcasting Authority regulates broadcasting content.
• Malta Communications Authority regulates broadcasting and web-based media networks and services.

Explore key themes in communication practices, including the impact of social media on ethics and friendship dynamics. Understand the differences between traditional and modern media in Malta and internationally. This quiz covers the evolution of communication habits in today's digital world.