Mass Communication is a primary contributor to the construction and maintenance of culture. The precise relation of culture to mass communication and its function in our lives has long been debated (Baran, 2010).
Because of the power mass communication has in shaping culture, it presents us with both opportunities and responsibilities. Media industries must operate ethically or risk negatively influencing the culture in which they exist. Consumers likewise have the responsibility to critically examine media messages (Baran, 2010).
Both technology and money shape the mass communication process. Innovations in technology bring about new forms of media, or make older forms more accessible. As profit-making entities, the media must respond to the wishes of both advertisers and audience. Ultimately, though, the consumers choose which forms of media they support and how they react to the messages that face them. Technological and economic factors such as convergence and globalization will influence the evolution of mass communication (Baran, 2010).
[N]ewspapers are downsizing, consolidating to survive, or closing all together; radio is struggling to stay alive in the digital age; and magazine circulation is decreasing and becoming increasingly more focused on microaudiences. The information function of the news has been criticized and called “infotainment,” and rather than bringing people together, the media has been cited as causing polarization and a decline in civility.
(Charles et al. 2009)
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- 2012 Chinese Leadership Change
- Gatekeeping Functions of Mass Media
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text explores the role of mass communication in shaping culture and the specific case of propaganda in China. It aims to shed light on the gatekeeping function of mass media and its impact on the flow of information during the 2012 Chinese leadership change. The text also examines the use of propaganda by the Chinese Communist Party and its impact on public and international opinion.
- Mass Communication and Culture
- Propaganda in China
- Gatekeeping Functions of Mass Media
- 2012 Chinese Leadership Change
- Influence of Technology and Money on Mass Communication
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction provides an overview of the relationship between mass communication and culture, highlighting the ethical considerations and responsibilities involved. It also discusses the influence of technology and economics on the evolution of mass communication.
The chapter on the 2012 Chinese leadership change focuses on the unveiling of the new leadership and the media coverage surrounding it. It explores the peaceful power transition, the new leadership's vision, and the media's role in shaping public perception. The text analyzes the use of propaganda by the Chinese Communist Party and discusses the shift towards a more professional approach in journalism within the context of the leadership change.
The chapter on the gatekeeping functions of mass media examines the role of mass media in controlling the information flow and shaping public discourse. It outlines the four key functions of mass media: relaying, limiting, expanding, and reinterpreting information.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this text include mass communication, culture, propaganda, gatekeeping, China, Chinese Communist Party, 2012 leadership change, information control, media coverage, and journalistic professionalism.
- Quote paper
- Nick Birch (Author), 2014, Propaganda in China, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/269685
