Media DIET

What you need to do:

  1. Create a chart (similar to the example below) and record your media use for a 24-hour period:
  2. Keep track of how many minutes you spend exposed to various media.
  3. Note whether you are paying full attention, have something on in the background, or you are media multitasking. Make your log as detailed as possible. Be mindful of advertisements; they sneak up on you.
  4. Add up the total number of minutes you have spent with each medium in 24 hours.
  5. Add up these totals to arrive at a total number of minutes of media exposure for 24 hours.
  6. Attach your media log as a separate page (not counted towards the essay page total). 

Effect of Media Multitasking on Advertising

Media DIET Assignment 1: Log Example

Time

(total min)

TVRadio/musicNewspaper/

Magazine

InternetBookFilmOther
8:00-8:10am

(10 min)

Listen to news on NPR
10:30-11:30am

(60 min)

Listen to Pop radio in the backgroundChat online with friends & update Facebook page
5:15pm

(1 min)

Text my brother
Totals0 min70 min0 min30 min0 min0 min1 min

 

  1. Write a 3-page essay, double-spaced, typed in a 12-point Times New Roman font (print and staple your essay). In your essay, analyze your media consumption in this 24-hour period and consider how it shapes your views of politics and the world.

First, consider your media use in the following ways:

  1. Compare your media use on this day to an average day for you.
  2. Compare your media use with information from this Oxford University’s report on Gen Z and news consumption :http://www.digitalnewsreport.org/survey/2019/how-younger-generations-consume-news-differently/  (链接到外部网站。)
  3. (链接到外部网站。)  (Links to an external site.)What does your level of exposure to various media say about you? How are you similar and/or different from other Gen Zers?

Next, consider your media diet in terms of social relationships:

  1. How does your media use connect you to other people of the same political beliefs? Of different political beliefs?
  2. How does it separate or isolate you?
  3. After carefully observing your media exposure for one day, is there anything you would like to change if you could about your media diet and why?
  4. Do you think you are getting the information you need to successfully operate in a democracy?

Grading:

 This paper is worth 20% of your final grade.  Essays will be graded according to the following criteria:

  1. Did the author follow the guidelines of the assignment, complete all requirements AND provide evidence of this in the essay? (50%)
  2. Did the author establish and support a clear position or argument? Does the essay go beyond description to provide critical insight informed by class readings and discussion? (40%)
  3. Is the writing clear, coherent and concise? Does the author use proper grammar, spelling and punctuation? (10%)

Last Updated on November 7, 2020

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