Blog #9: EOTO Reactions

        After observing the second set of EOTO presentations, I learned a lot of new information about different media terms and concepts. From my group, we presented Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sherman Anti-Trust Act, media consolidation, net neutrality, news deserts, and deep fakes. Some of the other terms and concepts presented in class were propaganda, alternative media, and mainstream media. It was very interesting learning about the different media concepts and how they impact society. 

    

    The first term that I learned about was propaganda, which is misleading or biased information to promote a particular side of the government. This was often seen during times of war and other worldwide crises. One main characteristic of propaganda is name-calling. This is 100% opinion-based, which means it causes controversy in society and influences the spread of misleading information. Propaganda is designed to evoke an emotional response from the viewers using information that appeals to concerns and insecurities. On the left is a famous example about World War II, designed in 1943 by J Howard Miller. 

    The second concept that I learned about was alternative media, which is any non-mainstream source of communication media. Some examples of this include social media apps, billboards, graffiti, podcasts, and newsletters. These sources tend to advocate the interests of those excluded from mainstream media. There are many minority target audiences of alternative media sources. Some of the interests that are streamed on alternative media include issues of LBGT, labor groups, as well as poor and racial minorities. Mainstream media is able to represent the society as a whole. However, alternative media provides and inclusive environment for people of those minority groups. 

    Although we were supposed to focus in on only one term or concept, I decided to discuss both of these, because I found them equally interesting. Propaganda was more popular around the time of the World Wars. On the other hand, alternative media is more popular in the present day with access to social media apps such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram. These are two great examples of how communication media concepts have had an influence in history and are still impacting today's society.