Language and Mass Communication
Overview & Learning Outcomes
In Part 2: Language and Mass Communication, we focus on the way language is used in mass media, including: newspapers, magazines, advertising, political campaigns, social media, and speeches. We consider how both the production and reception of texts is shaped by its medium of delivery.
Throughout this part of the course, we will:
In Part 2: Language and Mass Communication, we focus on the way language is used in mass media, including: newspapers, magazines, advertising, political campaigns, social media, and speeches. We consider how both the production and reception of texts is shaped by its medium of delivery.
Throughout this part of the course, we will:
- Examine different forms of communication within the media.
- Show an awareness of the potential for educational, political or ideological influence of the media.
- Show the way mass media use language and image to inform, persuade, or entertain.
Five Key Questions: Ask yourself these questions when analyzing any media text.
Advertising - Related Articles & Websites
Advertising Introductory Task - complete this after the sample in class on an ad of your choice
Advertising & Propaganda Techniques - read through the presentation and take notes on the techniques
The Techniques of Propaganda - textbook excerpt to read through for various propaganda techniques
Adweek - a magazine and website that covers news media, including print, technology, advertising, branding and television.
100 Brilliant Print Ads - Creative print ads for analysis and discussion
Little Money, Big Difference - campaign article and posters
Guerilla Advertising - examples
The Gender Ads Project - Tons of old and new print ads for analysis, with gender stereotypes as far as the eye can see...
Corporations and Advertising (culturalsurvival.org)
Ads That Speak the Language of Social Media - New York Times article
The Seven Digital Media Sins - The Guardian interactive feature
Advertising & Euphemism
A ban on internet slang
Status Anxiety - What the logos you're wearing really say (the Atlantic)
Kids care about brands - is the feeling mutual - Corporations and Consciences (The Observer)
When Popularity Pays - brands pay teens to promote their brands (cbc.ca)
Advertising & Propaganda Techniques - read through the presentation and take notes on the techniques
The Techniques of Propaganda - textbook excerpt to read through for various propaganda techniques
Adweek - a magazine and website that covers news media, including print, technology, advertising, branding and television.
100 Brilliant Print Ads - Creative print ads for analysis and discussion
Little Money, Big Difference - campaign article and posters
Guerilla Advertising - examples
The Gender Ads Project - Tons of old and new print ads for analysis, with gender stereotypes as far as the eye can see...
Corporations and Advertising (culturalsurvival.org)
Ads That Speak the Language of Social Media - New York Times article
The Seven Digital Media Sins - The Guardian interactive feature
Advertising & Euphemism
A ban on internet slang
Status Anxiety - What the logos you're wearing really say (the Atlantic)
Kids care about brands - is the feeling mutual - Corporations and Consciences (The Observer)
When Popularity Pays - brands pay teens to promote their brands (cbc.ca)
Types of Bias
News - Key terms
Types of Media Bias
Examples of Media Bias
Fair.org - Fairness & Accuracy in reporting
www.allsides.com - articles on the same issues from
the Left, Centre, and Right
Snopes.com - "Attempts to give accurate information about rumors and urban legends on a variety of topics, including war, business, events, toxins, science, etc."
Newseum Digital Classroom - Video lessons related to this part of the course
Gaza War Seen Differently in UK & US Newspapers - Article related to bias in the media
Reporter's Glossary of Loaded Language in the the Israeli-Palestine Conflict (International Press Institute)
Stephen Colbert discusses Israeli-Palestine Conflict & Media Bias (Video link)
Taking the Shame out of Opinion Journalism (Huffington Post)
Internet Killed the Newspaper Star (Jon Stewart Show clip)
Spain's Newspapers Squeezed by Government and Debt (nytimes.com)
How Technology Disrupted the Truth - Social Media has swallowed Journalism, and you should care (theguardian.com)
How the Web Distorts Reality and Impairs Our Judgment Skills (the guardian.com)
Facebook's Fake News Problem Won't Fix Itself (Poynter.org)
The Distorting Reality of "False Balance" in the Media (WashingtonPost.com)
Types of Media Bias
Examples of Media Bias
Fair.org - Fairness & Accuracy in reporting
www.allsides.com - articles on the same issues from
the Left, Centre, and Right
Snopes.com - "Attempts to give accurate information about rumors and urban legends on a variety of topics, including war, business, events, toxins, science, etc."
Newseum Digital Classroom - Video lessons related to this part of the course
Gaza War Seen Differently in UK & US Newspapers - Article related to bias in the media
Reporter's Glossary of Loaded Language in the the Israeli-Palestine Conflict (International Press Institute)
Stephen Colbert discusses Israeli-Palestine Conflict & Media Bias (Video link)
Taking the Shame out of Opinion Journalism (Huffington Post)
Internet Killed the Newspaper Star (Jon Stewart Show clip)
Spain's Newspapers Squeezed by Government and Debt (nytimes.com)
How Technology Disrupted the Truth - Social Media has swallowed Journalism, and you should care (theguardian.com)
How the Web Distorts Reality and Impairs Our Judgment Skills (the guardian.com)
Facebook's Fake News Problem Won't Fix Itself (Poynter.org)
The Distorting Reality of "False Balance" in the Media (WashingtonPost.com)
Speeches: Language & Politics/Power
Rhetorical Devices with audio/video examples! (Americanrhetoric.com)
Do you speak presidential? - the language of politicians
Presidential Genres - speech conventions
Manner of Speaking - speeches and analyses of speeches
Harvard College ‘House Masters’ to get new titles because of slavery connotation (Wall Street Journal)
Do you speak presidential? - the language of politicians
Presidential Genres - speech conventions
Manner of Speaking - speeches and analyses of speeches
Harvard College ‘House Masters’ to get new titles because of slavery connotation (Wall Street Journal)
Language & Social Media
How Social Media is Changing Language (blog.oxforddictionaries.com)
The Future of Language on the Internet (Slate.com)
Like This So I Know I'm real (Hazlitt.net)
Social Media use and Moral Shallowness? (Nationalpost.com)
For Rare Languages, Social Media Provides New Hope (npr.org)
The origins of text speak - we have been using "text speak" since 1828?!
Is texting killing the English language? - John McWhorter (Time Magazine article)
How One Tweet Can Ruin a Life (NYtimes.com article)
If you don't have anything nice to say, SAY IT IN ALL CAPS (Thisamericanlife.org - podcast)
The New Mind Control - how the internet controls us (aeon.co)
How #BlackLivesMatter Came to Define a Movement - the power of Mass Communication (nytimes.com)
The Future of Language on the Internet (Slate.com)
Like This So I Know I'm real (Hazlitt.net)
Social Media use and Moral Shallowness? (Nationalpost.com)
For Rare Languages, Social Media Provides New Hope (npr.org)
The origins of text speak - we have been using "text speak" since 1828?!
Is texting killing the English language? - John McWhorter (Time Magazine article)
How One Tweet Can Ruin a Life (NYtimes.com article)
If you don't have anything nice to say, SAY IT IN ALL CAPS (Thisamericanlife.org - podcast)
The New Mind Control - how the internet controls us (aeon.co)
How #BlackLivesMatter Came to Define a Movement - the power of Mass Communication (nytimes.com)
Websites & Resources
100 Brilliant Print Ads - Creative print ads for analysis and discussion
Little Money, Big Difference - campaign article and posters
The Gender Ads Project - Tons of old and new print ads for analysis, with gender stereotypes as far as the eye can see...
About-face.org - Questions and satirizes the demeaning portrayals of women in media
Higherunlearning.com - A discussion about men and masculinity
DroppingKnowledge.com - Media created to inspire inquiry and critical thinking about a variety or social and political issues
TheOnion.com - "America's Finest News Source" - features hilarious examples of satirical writing
MediaSmarts.ca - Great information on media & body image, gender and race representation, violence, and consumerism
Newseum.org - There's More to Every Story
Little Money, Big Difference - campaign article and posters
The Gender Ads Project - Tons of old and new print ads for analysis, with gender stereotypes as far as the eye can see...
About-face.org - Questions and satirizes the demeaning portrayals of women in media
Higherunlearning.com - A discussion about men and masculinity
DroppingKnowledge.com - Media created to inspire inquiry and critical thinking about a variety or social and political issues
TheOnion.com - "America's Finest News Source" - features hilarious examples of satirical writing
MediaSmarts.ca - Great information on media & body image, gender and race representation, violence, and consumerism
Newseum.org - There's More to Every Story