Colegiul National Pedagogic Constantin Bratescu" Constana

Atestat la limba engleza

Elev Profesor indrumator
Marin Cristiana Doina Carlsson
Clasa a XII-a E

Constanta
2010
Argument
Chapter I Newspapers in the UK and the USA
!!Britis" Ne#s$a$ers
!%&'( Ne#s$a$ers
Chapter 2 Teleision in the UK and the USA
%! )elevision in t"e &*
%% )elevision in t"e &'(
Chapter ! "adio in the UK and the USA
+! ,adio in t"e &*
+% ,adio in t"e &'(
Con#lusion
$ibliograph%
Anne&es
Argument
I "ave c"osen t"is su-.ect -ecause of t"e #orld im$ortance of t"e mass media/ ric"
"istor0/ diversit0/ and ever0 da0 usage and common use of it
)"e media is t"e most im$ortant tool for mass communication in t"e modern #orld
In general/ "media" refers to various means of communication 1or e2am$le/ television/ radio/
and t"e ne#s$a$er are different t0$es of media )"e term can also -e used as a collective noun
for t"e $ress or ne#s re$orting agencies In t"e com$uter #orld/ "media" is also used as a
collective noun/ -ut refers to different t0$es of data storage o$tions
'ass media denotes a section of t"e media s$ecificall0 designed to reac" a ver0 large
audience suc" as t"e $o$ulation of a nation state )"e term #as coined in t"e !3%4s #it" t"e
advent of nation#ide radio net#or5s/ mass-circulation ne#s$a$ers and maga6ines 7o#ever/
some forms of mass media suc" as -oo5s and manuscri$ts "ad alread0 -een in use centuries )"e
term publi# media "as a similar meaning8 it is t"e sum of t"e $u-lic mass distri-utors of ne#s
and entertainment across media suc" as ne#s$a$ers/ television/ radio/ -roadcasting/ #"ic" ma0
re9uire union mem-ers"i$ in some large mar5ets suc" as Ne#s$a$er :uild/ (1),(/ and te2t
$u-lis"ers
( ne#s$a$er is a $u-lication containing ne#s/ information/ and advertising :eneral-
interest ne#s$a$ers often feature articles on $olitical events/ crime/ -usiness/ art;entertainment/
societ0 and s$orts Most traditional $a$ers also feature an editorial $age containing columns t"at
e2$ress t"e $ersonal o$inions of #riters 'u$$lementar0 sections ma0 contain advertising/
comics/ and cou$ons 1eatures in a ne#s$a$er include editorial o$inions/ criticism/ $ersuasion/
entertainment and o$-eds< o-ituaries< comic stri$s and ot"er entertainment/ suc" as cross#ords/
sudo5u and "orosco$es< #eat"er ne#s and forecasts< advice/ gossi$/ food/ and ot"er columns<
critical revie#s of movies/ $la0s/ restaurants/ etc< classified ads and dis$la0 ads
'ass wire media is a ne# frontier of ne#s re$orting in t"e "ig"-tec" age ( fe# decades
ago ne#s re$orting #as t"roug" ne#s$a$ers and radio and television )"e radio -roadcasts t"at
#ere made famous -0 1ran5lin D ,oosevelt during =orld =ar II c"anged t"e #a0 radio #as
loo5ed at )"ese fireside c"ats made t"e radio ne#s and ne#s radio )"ings are different no# as
#e are #itnessing a revolution of $eo$le-oriented re$orting in real time and ot"er times )"is
element of intimate 5no#ledge of t"e event or stor0 -eing re$orted "as dramaticall0 c"anged t"e
#a0 #e all vie# ne#s stories
)"is is called -0 some t"e 'ocial Media ,evolution )"is revolution "as intrinsicall0
altered t"e #a0 ne#s is re$orted almost t"e #a0 it "a$$ens )"e trend of $eo$le-oriented
re$orting is onl0 on t"e rise as re$orting ne#s -ecomes more $ersonal and more accurate -
alt"oug" also more su-.ective
)"e Internet >also 5no#n sim$l0 as "t"e Net" or "t"e =e-"? is a more interactive medium
of mass media/ and can -e -riefl0 descri-ed as "a net#or5 of net#or5s" '$ecificall0/ it is t"e
#orld#ide/ $u-licl0 accessi-le net#or5 of interconnected com$uter net#or5s t"at transmit data
-0 $ac5et s#itc"ing using t"e standard Internet Protocol >IP? It consists of millions of smaller
domestic/ academic/ -usiness/ and governmental net#or5s/ #"ic" toget"er carr0 various
information and services/ suc" as electronic mail/ online c"at/ file transfer/ and t"e interlin5ed
=e- $ages and ot"er documents of t"e =orld =ide =e-
Chapter( 1 Newspapers in the United Kingdom And The USA
1(1 $ritish Newspapers
)raditionall0 ne#s$a$ers could -e s$lit into serious-minded ne#s$a$ers/ usuall0 referred
to as -roads"eets due to t"eir large si6e/ and sometimes collectivel0 as t"e 9ualit0 $ress/ and less
serious ne#s$a$ers/ 5no#n for t"eir small si6e as ta-loids/ and collectivel0 as t"e $o$ular $ress
7o#ever/ due to considerations of convenience of reading/ for e2am$le in caf@s and on trains/
)"e Inde$endent and )"e )imes -ot" s#itc"ed to a com$act format/ not muc" -igger t"an t"at
used -0 ta-loids )"e :uardian s#itc"ed in 'e$tem-er %44A to #"at it descri-es as a Berliner
format/ slig"tl0 larger t"an a com$act Its sta-lemate )"e B-server "as since follo#ed suit
Bt"er 'unda0 -roads"eets "ave tended to 5ee$ t"eir larger si6e/ as t"e amount of content
and num-er of sections t"e0 $rovide #ould/ in ta-loid form/ -e too t"ic5/ "eav0 and
cum-ersome (ll ma.or &* ne#s$a$ers no# "ave a free online version/ t"oug" t"e four
Murdoc" titles $lan to introduce c"arges for content(s #ell as individual ne#s$a$ers t"ere are
ne#s$a$ers #"ic" collect ne#s from eac" of t"e ma.or ne#s$a$ers and com-ine it into one In
t"e &* t"ere is t"e )"e =ee5end Cit0 Press ,evie# >=CP,? #"ic" summari6es -usiness and
financial ne#s from !+ $a$ers and distri-utes t"e $a$er electronicall0 on a su-scri$tion
-asisMost to#ns and cities in t"e &* "ave at least one local ne#s$a$er/ suc" as t"e Evening
Post in Bristol and )"e Ec"o in Cardiff 7o#ever/ t"e0 are not 5no#n nationall0 for t"eir
.ournalism in t"e #a0 t"at >des$ite muc" s0ndication? cit0--ased ne#s$a$ers in t"e &'( are
>eg )"e Ne# Cor5 )imes/ )"e =as"ington Post/ )"e Boston :lo-e?
( ma.or e2ce$tion to t"is $attern #as t"e #ell-regarded Manc"ester :uardian/
#"ic" dro$$ed t"e DManc"esterD from its name >!3A3? and relocated its main o$erations to
Eondon >!3FG? )"e grou$ continues to $roduce a Mancunian $a$er/ t"e Manc"ester Evening
Ne#s 1rees"eet ne#s$a$ers in ur-an centres ) Metro >est !333? H o#ned -0 Dail0 Mail and
:eneral )rust $lc< distri-uted free< #or5ing to#ards national status/ #ide availa-ilit0 in t"e
ma.or cities ma5es it t"e &*Ds Gt" "ig"est circulation $a$er )"e Metro en.o0s "ig" circulation
among users of $u-lic trans$ort/ #it" ne#s$a$ers $laced on trains and -uses and distri-utors
o$erating near stations
Most to#ns and cities in t"e &* "ave at least one local ne#s$a$er/ suc" as t"e Evening
Post in Bristol and )"e Ec"o in Cardiff 7o#ever/ t"e0 are not 5no#n nationall0 for t"eir
.ournalism in t"e #a0 t"at >des$ite muc" s0ndication? cit0--ased ne#s$a$ers in t"e &'( are
>eg )"e Ne# Cor5 )imes/ )"e =as"ington Post/ )"e Boston :lo-e? ( ma.or e2ce$tion to t"is
$attern #as t"e #ell-regarded Manc"ester :uardian/ #"ic" dro$$ed t"e DManc"esterD from its
name >!3A3? and relocated its main o$erations to Eondon >!3FG? )"e grou$ continues to
$roduce a Mancunian $a$er/ t"e Manc"ester Evening Ne#s
1(2 USA Newspapers
Ne#s$a$ers "ave declined in t"eir influence and $enetration into (merican "ouse"olds
over t"e 0ears )"e &' does not "ave a national $a$er )"e Ne# Cor5 )imes and t"e =all 'treet
Iournal are sold in most &' cities
(lt"oug" t"e )imesD $rimar0 audience "as al#a0s -een t"e $eo$le of Ne# Cor5 Cit0/ t"e
Ne# Cor5 )imes "as graduall0 -ecome t"e dominant national "ne#s$a$er of record" ($art from
its dail0 nation#ide distri-ution/ t"e term means t"at -ac5 issues are arc"ived on microfilm -0
ever0 decent-si6ed $u-lic li-rar0 in t"e nation/ and t"e )imesD articles are often cited -0 -ot"
"istorians and .udges as evidence t"at a ma.or "istorical event occurred on a certain date )"e
Eos (ngeles )imes and t"e =all 'treet Iournal are also ne#s$a$ers of record to a lesser e2tent
(lt"oug" &'( )oda0 "as tried to esta-lis" itself as a national $a$er/ it "as -een #idel0 derided
-0 t"e academic #orld as t"e "McPa$er" and is not su-scri-ed to >let alone arc"ived? -0 most
li-raries
($art from t"e ne#s$a$ers .ust mentioned/ all ma.or metro$olitan areas "ave t"eir o#n local
ne#s$a$ers )0$icall0/ a metro$olitan area #ill su$$ort at most one or t#o ma.or ne#s$a$ers/
#it" man0 smaller $u-lications targeted to#ards $articular audiences (lt"oug" t"e cost of
$u-lis"ing "as increased over t"e 0ears/ t"e $rice of ne#s$a$ers "as generall0 remained lo#/
forcing ne#s$a$ers to rel0 more on advertising revenue and on articles $rovided -0 a ma.or #ire
service/ suc" as t"e (ssociated Press or ,euters/ for t"eir national and #orld coverage =it" a
ver0 fe# e2ce$tions/ all t"e ne#s$a$ers in t"e &' are $rivatel0 o#ned/ eit"er -0 large c"ains
suc" as :annett or McClatc"0/ #"ic" o#n do6ens or even "undreds of ne#s$a$ers< -0 small
c"ains t"at o#n a "andful of $a$ers< or in a situation t"at is increasingl0 rare/ -0 individuals or
families
Most general-$ur$ose ne#s$a$ers are eit"er -eing $rinted one time a #ee5/ usuall0 on
)"ursda0 or 1rida0/ or are $rinted dail0 =ee5l0 ne#s$a$ers tend to "ave muc" smaller
circulation and are more $revalent in rural communities or small to#ns Ma.or cities often "ave
"alternative #ee5lies" to com$lement t"e mainstream dail0 $a$er>s?/ for e2am$le/ Ne# Cor5
Cit0Ds Jillage Joice or Eos (ngelesD E( =ee5l0/ to name t#o of t"e most #ell-5no#n Ma.or
cities ma0 also su$$ort a local -usiness .ournal/ trade $a$ers relating to local industries and
$a$ers for local et"nic and social grou$s
Pro-a-l0 due to com$etition from ot"er media/ t"e num-er of dail0 ne#s$a$ers in t"e
&' "as declined over t"e $ast "alf-centur0/ according to Editor K Pu-lis"er/ t"e trade .ournal of
(merican ne#s$a$ers In $articular/ t"e num-er of evening ne#s$a$ers "as fallen -0 almost one-
"alf since !3L4/ #"ile t"e num-er of morning editions and 'unda0 editions "as gro#n
1or com$arison/ in !3A4/ t"ere #ere !/LL% dail0 $a$ers >and !/GA4 H or a-out L4 $ercent H of
t"em #ere evening $a$ers? #"ile in %444/ t"ere #ere !/GM4 dail0 $a$ers >and LFFHor a-out "alf
Hof t"em #ere evening $a$ers?
)"e $rimar0 source of ne#s$a$er income is advertising H in t"e form of "classifieds" or
inserted advertising circulars H rat"er t"an circulation income 7o#ever/ since t"e late !334s/
t"is revenue source "as -een directl0 c"allenged -0 =e- sites li5e eBa0 >for sales of second"and
items?/ Monstercom >.o-s?/ and Craigslist >ever0t"ing?)"e largest ne#s$a$ers >-0 circulation?
in t"e &nited 'tates are &'( )oda0/ t"e =all 'treet Iournal/ t"e Ne# Cor5 )imes and t"e Eos
(ngeles )imes
Chapter 2 Teleision in the UK and the USA
2(1 Teleision in the UK
$ritish teleision broad#asting started in !3+F/ and no# "as a collection of free and
su-scri$tion services over a variet0 of distri-ution media/ t"roug" #"ic" t"ere are over GM4
c"annels
Nn- !O
for consumers as #ell as on-demand content )"ere are si2 main c"annel o#ners
#"o are res$onsi-le for most vie#ing )"ere are %L/444 "ours of domestic content $roduced a
0ear at a cost of P%F -illion (nalogue terrestrial transmissions are currentl0 -eing s#itc"ed off
and t"is is due to -e com$leted in %4!%
1ree and su-scri$tion $roviders are availa-le/ #it" differences in t"e num-er of c"annels/
ca$a-ilities suc" as t"e $rogramme guide >EP:?/ video on demand >JBD?/ "ig"-definition >7D?/
interactive television via t"e red -utton/ and coverage across t"e &* 'et-to$ -o2es are generall0
used to receive t"ese services< "o#ever Integrated Digital )elevisions >ID)Js? can also -e used
to receive 1reevie# or 1reesat )o$ &$ )J and B) Jision utilise "0-rid -o2es #"ic" receive
1reevie# as #ell as additional su-scri$tion services 7ouse"olds vie#ing )J from t"e internet
>Cou)u-e/ Ioost/ do#nloads etc? are not trac5ed -0 Bfcom )"e &*Ds five most #atc"ed
c"annels/ BBC Bne/ BBC )#o/ I)J/ C"annel G and 1ive/ are availa-le from all $roviders
>alt"oug" in man0 areas/ including almost t"e #"ole of =ales/ 1ive is not receiva-le on analogue
terrestrial television?
)"is #as t"e traditional #a0 of receiving television in t"e &*/ "o#ever it "as no#
largel0 -een su$$lanted -0 digital $roviders )"ere are A c"annels #it" regional variations/ of
#"ic" t"e first to launc"/ under t"e current &71 P(E s0stem/ #as BBC )#o in !3FG 'ince
!33M/ a small num-er of local c"annels o$erate under ,estricted service licences 7istoricall0/
BBC Bne and I)J #ere also availa-le using t"e J71 G4A-line television s0stem #"ic" ceased in
!3MA
(s of Ianuar0 %443/ BBC Bne/ BBC )#o/ I)J and C"annel G -roadcast from a net#or5
of !/!+G transmitters 1ive -roadcasts from A% transmitters/ and t"e ,estricted 'ervice Eicence
stations -roadcast from !G transmitters
N!3O
'ee Categor08)ransmitter sites in t"e &nited *ingdom
for information on some of t"ese )"e transmitters are o$erated -0 (r9iva
Digital terrestrial television launc"ed in !33M as a su-scri$tion service named BNdigital
'ince Bcto-er %44%/ t"e $rimar0 -roadcaster is 1reevie#/ #it" )o$ &$ )J and E'PN
>$reviousl0 'etanta '$orts -efore it #ent -ust? $roviding additional su-scri$tion services
)"ere are t"ree $roviders of ca-le television/ targeting different geogra$"ic areas #it"in t"e &*
In all cases ca-le )J is a su-scri$tion service normall0 -undled #it" a $"one line and
-road-and
Smallworld 'edia is availa-le in sout"-east 'cotland and nort"-#est England Pricing ranges
from P!4A4 >cost of $"one line #it" DfreeD )J? to PM4 $er mont"
*ightCable is availa-le in t"e Isle of =ig"t
+irgin 'edia is availa-le to AAQ of &* "ouse"olds Pricing ranges from P!! a mont" >$"one
line #it" DfreeD )J? to P+4A4 a mont"/ #it" additional fees for $remium services suc" as '50
'$orts Jirgin also mar5et JR/ a digital video recorder and "ig"-definition receiver
Jirgin Media is t"e onl0 ca-le $rovider to su$$l0 "ig"-definition television and video on
demand/ alt"oug" t"ese arenDt availa-le in areas $rovided #it" t"eir analogue )J
serviceE2isting Jirgin Media customers can end t"eir ongoing su-scri$tions
2(2 Teleision in the USA
Teleision is one of t"e ma.or mass media o, the United States Ninet0-nine $ercent of
(merican "ouse"olds "ave at least one television and t"e ma.orit0 of "ouse"olds "ave more t"an
one)"e t"ree in t"e &' are t"e National Broadcasting Com$an0 >NBC? and Colum-ia
Broadcasting '0stem >CB'?/ #"ic" date to t"e earl0 da0s of television >in fact/ t"e0 -ot" -egan
in t"e !3%4s as radio net#or5s?/ and t"e (merican Broadcasting Com$an0 >(BC?/ #"ic" -egan
its life as a radio net#or5 s$un off from NBC in !3G+ In -ig cities/ affiliates of t"ese net#or5s
#ere almost al#a0s -roadcast in t"e J71 -and -efore t"e transition to digital television in %443/
#"ic"/ in t"e da0s -efore ca-le -ecame #ides$read/ #as $remium real estate Ma.or-net#or5
affiliates run ver0 similar sc"edules
)0$icall0/ t"e0 -egin #ee5da0s #it" an earl0-morning locall0 $roduced ne#s s"o#/
follo#ed -0 a net#or5 morning s"o#/ suc" as NBCDs )oda0/ #"ic" mi2es ne#s/ #eat"er/
intervie#s and music '0ndicated $rogramming/ es$eciall0 tal5 s"o#s/ fill t"e late morning/
follo#ed often -0 local ne#s at noon >Eastern )ime? Net#or5 run 'oa$ o$eras dominate t"e
earl0 afternoon/ #"ile s0ndicated tal5 s"o#s suc" as )"e B$ra" =infre0 '"o# a$$ear in t"e late
afternoon Eocal ne#s comes on again in t"e earl0 evening/ follo#ed -0 t"e national net#or5Ds
ne#s $rogram at F8+4 or A8+4 $m/ follo#ed -0 more ne#s 1rom !3AA until !3MF/ all Englis"-
language stations not affiliated #it" t"e -ig t"ree net#or5s #ere inde$endent/ airing onl0 locall0
$roduced and s0ndicated $rogramming Man0 inde$endent stations still e2ist in t"e &'/ usuall0
"istoricall0 -roadcasting on t"e &71 -and '0ndicated s"o#s/ often reruns of old )J series and
old movies/ ta5e u$ muc" of t"eir sc"edule
Pu-lic television "as a far smaller role t"an in most ot"er countries )"ere is no federal
state-o#ned -roadcasting aut"orit0 7o#ever/ a num-er of states/ namel0 =est Jirginia/
Mar0land/ *entuc50/ and 'out" Carolina/ do "ave state-o#ned $u-lic -roadcasting aut"orities
#"ic" o$erate and fund all $u-lic television stations in t"eir res$ective states )"e federal
government does su-sidi6e non-commercial educational television stations t"roug" t"e
Cor$oration for Pu-lic Broadcasting )"e income received from t"e government is insufficient to
cover e2$enses and stations rel0 on cor$orate s$onsors"i$s and vie#er contri-utions &nli5e
-roadcast net#or5s/ most ca-le net#or5s air t"e same $rogramming nation#ide )o$ ca-le
net#or5s include &'( Net#or5 >general entertainment?/ E'PN and Jersus >s$orts?/ M)J
>music?/ 1o2 Ne#s and CNN >ne#s?/ '0f0 >science fiction?/ Disne0 C"annel >famil0?/ Nic5 and
Cartoon Net#or5 >C"ildrenDs?/ Discover0 C"annel and (nimal Planet >documentaries?/ )B'
>comed0?/ )N) >drama? and Eifetime >#omenDs?
Ca-le-)J su-scri-ers receive t"ese c"annels t"roug" local ca-le s0stem o$erators/ #"o
receive t"e $rogramming from t"e net#or5s and transmit t"em into "omes &suall0/ local
governments a#ard a mono$ol0 to a s0stem o$erator to $rovide ca-le-)J service in a given area
(merican television "as "ad ver0 successful $rogramming t"at "as ins$ired television net#or5s
across t"e #orld to ma5e s"o#s of similar t0$es or -roadcast t"ese s"o#s in t"eir o#n countr0
'ome of t"ese s"o#s are still on t"e air and some are still alive and #ell in s0ndication )"e
o$$osite is also true< a num-er of $o$ular (merican $rograms #ere -ased on s"o#s from ot"er
countries/ es$eciall0 t"e &nited *ingdom and CanadaPrimetime comed0 "as included situation
comedies suc" as I Eove Euc0/ MS(S'S7/ (ll in t"e 1amil0/ )"e Ieffersons/ )"e Cos-0 '"o#/
'einfeld/ 1riends/ :eorge Eo$e6 and Ever0-od0 Eoves ,a0mond/ as #ell as s5etc"
comed0;variet0 series suc" as Milton BerleDs earl0 s"o#s/ )"e Carol Burnett '"o# and ,o#an
and MartinDs Eaug"-In
Chapter ! "adio in the U(K( and the U(S(A(
!(1 "adio in the U(K(
)"ere are over %A4 radio stations in t"e &nited *ingdom 1or a more com$re"ensive list
see Eist of radio stations in t"e &nited *ingdom
)"e most $rominent stations are t"e national net#or5s o$erated -0 t"e BBC
BBC ,adio ! -roadcasts mostl0 current $o$ music out$ut on 1M and digital radio/ #it"
live music t"roug"out t"e 0ear
BBC ,adio % is t"e &*Ds most listened-to radio station/ featuring $resenters )err0 =ogan
and Ionat"an ,oss/ and $la0ing $o$ular music from t"e last A decades as #ell as s$ecial
interest $rogrammes in t"e evening
BBC ,adio + is a classical music station/ -roadcasting "ig"-9ualit0 concerts and
$erformances (t nig"t/ it transmits a #ide range of .a66 and #orld music
BBC ,adio G is a current affairs and s$eec" station/ #it" ne#s/ de-ate and radio drama It
-roadcasts t"e dail0 radio soa$ )"e (rc"ers/ as #ell as flags"i$ ne#s $rogramme )oda0
BBC ,adio A Eive -roadcasts live ne#s and s$orts commentar0 #it" $"one-in de-ates
and studio guests
)"e introduction of digital radio tec"nolog0 led to t"e launc" of several ne# BBC
stations8
BBC F Music transmits $redominantl0 alternative roc5/ #it" man0 live sessions
BBC !Xtra -roadcasts ra$/ ,nB and drumDnD-ass
BBC ,adio L uses t"e BBCDs large arc"ive of s$eec" $rogramming to -roadcast classic
comed0 and drama/ mainl0 originall0 from ,adio G
BBC (sian Net#or5 - aimed at t"e large 'out" (sian communit0 in t"e &* >also
availa-le on (M in some areas?
BBC ,adio A Eive '$orts E2tra - a com$anion to 1ive Eive for additional events
coverage)"e BBC also $rovide G4 local radio services/ mainl0 -roadcasting a mi2 of
local ne#s and music aimed at an older audience
(lso availa-le nationall0 are t"ree national commercial c"annels/ namel0 (-solute
,adio/ Classic 1M and tal5'PB,) (s #it" t"e BBC/ digital radio "as -roug"t a-out man0
c"anges/ including t"e roll-out of local stations suc" as Xfm/ *iss !44 and *errang ,adio
Commercial radio licences are a#arded -0 Bfcom/ a government -od0 #"ic" advertises a
licence for an area and "olds a so-called -eaut0 contest to determine #"ic" station #ill -e
granted $ermission to -roadcast in t"at area 'tations su-mit detailed a$$lication documents
containing t"eir $ro$osed format and t"e outcome of researc" to determine t"e demand for t"eir
$articular st0le of -roadcast Briginal !4F >(-erdeen? #as t"e last radio station to -e granted a
licence -0 Bfcom
Communit0 radio stations -roadcast to a small area/ normall0 #it"in a + mile >A 5m?
radius/ and are mostl0 not-for-$rofit organisations/ o#ned -0 local $eo$le/ on #"ic" t"e
-roadcasters are volunteers )"e0 are recognised under t"e Communications (ct %44+ as a
distinct t"ird tier of radio in t"e &* )"e communit0 radio movement in t"e &* #as founded in
t"e mid-!3L4s/ -roadcasting t"roug" ,estricted 'ervice Eicences/ t"e internet and ca-le
!(2 "adio in the USA
)"e -eginning of regular commerciall0-licensed sound -roadcasting in t"e &nited 'tates
in !3%4 ended t"e $rint mono$ol0 over t"e media and o$ened t"e doors to t"e more immediate
and $ervasive electronic media B0 !3%M/ t"e &nited 'tates "ad t"ree national radio net#or5s -
t#o o#ned -0 NBC >t"e National Broadcasting Com$an0?/ and one -0 CB' >t"e Colum-ia
Broadcasting '0stem? &ntil !3G+/ t"ere #ere four ma.or national radio net#or5s8 t#o o#ned -0
NBC/ one o#ned -0 CB'/ and one o#ned -0 Mutual Broadcasting '0stem )"e NBCDs second
net#or5 -ecame (BC/ t"e (merican Broadcasting Com$an0
)"oug" mostl0 listened to for entertainment/ radioDs instant/ on-t"e-s$ot re$orts of
dramatic events dre# "uge audiences t"roug"out t"e :reat De$ression of t"e !3+4s and =orld
=ar II President 1ran5lin D ,oosevelt recogni6ed t"e $otential of radio to reac" t"e (merican
$u-lic/ and during "is four terms >!3++-!3GA?/ "is radio "fireside c"ats" informed t"e nation on
t"e $rogress of $olicies to counter t"e De$ression and on develo$ments during =orld =ar II
(fter =orld =ar II/ televisionDs visual images re$laced t"e audio-onl0 limitation of radio as t"e
$redominant entertainment and ne#s ve"icle
,adio ada$ted to t"e ne# situation -0 re$lacing entertainment $rograms #it"
sc"edules of music inters$ersed #it" ne#s and features/ a freeform format ado$ted -0 NBC
#"en it launc"ed its $o$ular #ee5end-long Monitor in !3AA During t"e !3A4s/ automo-ile
manufacturers -egan offering car radios as standard accessories/ and radio received a -ig -oost
as (mericans tuned in t"eir car radios as t"e0 drove to and from #or5
)"e e2$ansion and dominance of 1M radio/ #"ic" "as -etter sound 9ualit0 -ut a more limited
range t"an traditional (M/ re$resented t"e ma.or tec"nical c"ange in radio in t"e !3L4s and
!3M4s 1M radio/ aided -0 t"e invention of ever smaller $orta-le radios and ine2$ensive
"=al5man" "eadsets/ dominates music $rograms/ #"ile (M "as s"ifted to "tal5" and ne#s
formats Barel0 in e2istence %A 0ears ago/ "tal5 radio/" in #"ic" cele-rities and e2$erts from
various fields ans#er listener "call-in" 9uestions and offer t"eir advice on various to$ics/ "as
gro#n s$ectacularl0 in recent 0ears It "as contri-uted to t"e come-ac5 of (M radio Bot" 1M
and (M radio "ave -ecome increasingl0 s$eciali6ed Music formats/ for instance/ com$rise a
variet0 of s$eciali6ationsHt"e to$ five in !33! -eing "countr0 and #estern/" "adult
contem$orar0/" "to$ G4/" "religious" and "oldies"
In an era in #"ic" )J is clearl0 t"e glamour medium/ t"e reac" of radio is still e2tensive
Ninet0-nine $ercent of (merican "ouse"olds in !333 "ad at least one radio< t"e average is five
$er "ouse"old Ever0 da0/ radio reac"es M4 $ercent of t"e &' $o$ulation at one time or anot"er
,evenues more t"an dou-led from TMG -illion in !334 to more t"an T!L -illion in %444
&ntil t"e !3M4s/ most commercial radio stations #ere affiliated to t"e large net#or5s/
suc" as Ca$ital Cities;(BC/ CB'/ Mutual Net#or5/ NBC/ and ot"ers NBC sold its radio
net#or5 in !3MM Mutual #as $urc"ased -0 =est#ood Bne Ca$ital Cities;(BC/ later sold to
Disne0/ reduced graduall0 its radio o$erations No#ada0s/ most commercial radio stations are
controlled -0 media conglomerates li5e Clear C"annel Communications/ Infinit0 Broadcasting
and man0 ot"ers
( ne# form of radio t"at is gaining $o$ularit0 is satellite radio )"e t#o -iggest
su-scri$tions -ased radio services are 'irius 'atellite ,adio and XM 'atellite ,adio &nli5e
terrestrial radio music c"annels/ most c"annels feature fe# or no commercials 'atellite radio is
not regulated -0 t"e 1CC
Con#lusion
Media studies definitions are c"anging 9uic5l0 as digital tec"nolog0 evolves/ ta5ing mass
media and advertising and mar5eting communications in ne# directions
B0 definition/ mass communication is a message created -0 a $erson or a grou$ of $eo$le sent
t"roug" a transmitting device >a medium? to a large audience or mar5et
'o ="at E2actl0 is Mass MediaU
Mass media is an0 medium used to transmit mass communication &ntil recentl0 mass media
#as clearl0 defined and #as com$rised of t"e eig"t mass media industries< Boo5s/ Ne#s$a$ers/
Maga6ines/ and ,ecordings/ ,adio/ Movies/ )elevision and )"e Internet
Defining mass media is no longer clear cut or sim$le )"e continuing e2$losion of digital
communication tec"nolog0 is $roducing more t"an a little confusion on t"e su-.ect
Develo$ing ne# tec"nolog0 -reeds ne# 9uestions '"ould cell $"ones -e included in a definition
of mass mediaU ="at a-out video and com$uter gamesU Is =orld of =arcraftV a mass medium
strictl0 s$ea5ingU
Considera-le de-ate surrounds t"is to$ic at t"e moment and t"e ans#er is still not entirel0
clear
( cell $"one or an0 $"one for t"at matter is not t0$icall0 considered to -e a mass medium (
tele$"one is a sim$le t#o #a0 communication device/ ca$a-le of serving onl0 fe# $eo$le at
time Eoo5ing at t"e definition of mass media/ it is clear t"at a mass medium must communicate
a message to a large grou$/ often simultaneousl0 7o#ever/ modern cell $"ones are no longer a
single use device Most cell $"ones are e9ui$$ed #it" internet access and ca$a-le of connecting
to t"e #e- #"ic" is in fact a mass medium Does t"is ma5e cell $"ones a mass medium or sim$l0
a device to access t"e #e-U
Currentl0/ t"ere is a $lan in motion t"at #ill allo# mar5eters and advertisers to ta$ into
satellites and -roadcast commercials and advertisements directl0 to millions of cell $"ones/
unsolicited -0 t"e $"oneDs user )ransmitting mass advertising to millions of $eo$le is indeed
mass communication 'omeda0/ in t"e near future/ 0ou ma0 c"ec5 0our cell $"one and find it
flas"ing a message t"at 0ou "ave t#o missed calls (ND t"at four out of five dentists c"ose
)rident
Jideo games ma0 also -e evolving into a mass medium Consider t"e fact t"at video
games certainl0 contain messages and ideologies conve0ed to users &sers sometimes s"are t"e
e2$erience -0 $la0ing online -ut $la0ers of video games are also s"aring a common e2$erience
#"en t"e0 "ave $la0ed t"e game se$aratel0 It is $ossi-le to discuss in great detail t"e events of a
video game #it" a friend 0ou "ave never $la0ed #it" -ecause t"e e2$erience #as identical to
0ou -ot" (re 0ou receiving t"e same message along #it" millions of ot"ersU Is t"is mass
communicationU E2$erts disagree -ut once again/ t"e 9uestion ma0 soon -ecome moot as
advertisers are loo5ing into $lacing advertisements as #ell as incor$orating $roduct $lacement
into t"e games t"emselves
(s digital communication tec"nolog0 continues to e2$and/ e2actl0 #"at devices
constitute a mass medium #ill undou-tedl0 continue to evolve and e2$and t"e current definition
-e0ond t"e eig"t mass media industries
Bi-liogra$"0
$ain- .eorge( .ot#ha/ 0ow The 'edia 1istort the News( Toronto2 Ke% 3orter $oo4s- 1556(
$ian#ulli- 1aid( Telelitera#%2 Ta4ing Teleision Seriousl%( New 7or42 Continuum- 1552(
Castleman- 0arr% and 3odrazi4- *alter 8( *at#hing T+2 9our 1e#ades o, Ameri#an
Teleision( New 7or42 '#.raw 0ill- 15:2(
Charren- 3egg% and Sandler- 'artin *( Changing Channels2 ;iing <Sensibl%= *ith
Teleision( Addison)*esle%- 15:!(
Crisell- Andrew( Understanding "adio( ;ondon2 'ethuen- 15:>(
9is4e- 8ohn( Teleision Culture( ;ondon2 'ethuen
9ortnatale- 3eter and 'ills- 8oshua ?( "adio in The Teleision Age( *oodsto#42 @erloo4
3ress- 15:0(
.oodwin- Andrew and *hannel- .arr% <?ditors=( Understanding Teleision( ;ondon2
"outledge- 1550(
Keith- 'i#hael C( and Krause- 8oseph '( The "adio Station( 2 9o#al 3ress- 15:>(
;ewis- 3eter '(2 3ubli#( Commer#ial and Communit% "adio( ;ondon2 'a#millan- 15:5(
'asterman- ;en( Tea#hing About Teleision( ;ondon2 Comedia- 15:A.
'asterman- ;en <?ditor=( Teleision '%thologies2 ;ondon2 Comedia- 15:6.
3arenti- 'i#hael( Inenting "ealit%2 The 3oliti#s o, the 'ass 'edia( New 7or42 St( 'artinBs 3ress(
15:>(
"obinson- 8ohn 3( and ;e% 'ar4 "( The 'ain Sour#e2 ;earning 9rom Teleision News(
;ondon2 Sage- 15:>(
Stewart- Sand%( 0ereBs ;oo4ing At Us2 A 3ersonal 0istor% o, Teleision l2 C$C ?nterprises-
15:>
Anne&es