Tuesday 7th October lesson write up - Audience Theory

Blumler & Katz

- Uses and gratification theory

- We are an active audience we control the media

- We are an active audience

- All watch the same things but interpret in different ways

The Theory;

• the uses and gratification model represented a change in thinking as researchers began to describe the effects of the media from the point of view of audiences.
• the model looks at the motived of the people who use the media, asking why we watch the TV programmes that we do, why we bother to read newspapers', why we find ourselves so compelled to keep up to date with our favourite soap, or consume films.
• The theory makes the audience active as they choose what they want to consume, they aren't forced into consumption for e.g. you only watch they films you watch as you're in control of your choice, the media simply supply it.

The Surveillance

- The surveillance's need is based around the idea that they know what;s going on.

Personal Identity

- Personal identity need explains how being a subject of the media allows us to confirm the identity and positioning of ourselves within society.

Personal relations; two parts;

1. Relationships with the media
2. Media within relationships

Diversion

- The diversion need describes what's commonly termed as escapism,watching the TV so we can forget about our own lives and problems for a while and think about something else.