Literacy Assignment Mass Media

Mass Media: Development and Literacy Assignment Options

Jasmin Melanson

HUM 186

August 21, 2017

Allyson Wells

Mass Media: Development and Literacy Assignment Options Mass media has evolved throughout the years. Over the last century, a numerous and significant amount of changes have impacted us Americans. From older methods of communication such as telegraphs, radios, and newspapers, to a digital era of cable, internet, cellular phones, tablets, internet, and social media forums, just to name a few. These major developments have greatly influenced American culture in various ways, and can be identified by media convergence.

What were the major developments in the evolution of mass media during the last century? Over the last

The ability to video chat, or send a quick text when you are geographically separated enables you to remain connected to your loved ones. However, it can consume the way we do things and cause a level of personal/social detachment. “This turn to digital media forms has fundamentally overturned traditional media business models, the ways we engage with and consume media products, and the ways we organize our daily lives around various media choices” (Campbell, Martin, & Fabos, 2016, p.

According to Oxford Bibliographies (2017), “Media convergence is the merging (or joining together) of previously distinct media to create entirely new forms of communication expression. Convergence is at the heart of today’s digital media revolution and includes such technologies and software applications as the Internet and electronic commerce, smartphone technology, digital-film animation, DVD (digital video disc) music and high-definition television (HDTV), and videogame systems to name only a few” (para.1). Media convergence has made every day life a bit more manageable opening doors for increased multitasking. Oral communication is now in the form of emails, text messages, and social media avenues. Although newspapers and magazines still exist, they have been redefined into electronic apps that can be accessed by the internet via computer, tablet, or cell phone. There isn’t a need to be home at a certain or day to tune into your favorite shows. You can catch up at your own convenience thru websites/apps like Netflix, Hulu, on demand channel options, and even the very same company that broadcast the show via their own app (Campbell, Martin, & Fabos, 2016, p. 12). “In the past, we read newspapers in print, watched TV on our televisions, and played video games on a console. Today, we are able to do all these things on a computer, tablet, or smartphone, making it easy—and very