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While the idea that “sex sells” in by no means a new concept; it was interesting to see just how many of the ads brought in by classmates banked on this concept. Often seeming irrelevant to the product being pushed, a scantily clad man or woman was most definitely the most used means of sales. It was interesting to see also that women were used to sell to both men and women, while men were used primarily to entice women to a certain product.

All the President’s Men

The Watergate scandal is something that I have only been vaguely familiar with for a long time. It was a nice opportunity to watch this film about how the scandal was brought to the public’s attention. It demonstrates how powerful journalists can be, and also how big of a risk they can be taking – not only the journalists themselves, but also their editors and the newspaper as a whole. Such daring and investigative journalism, gone wrong, can certainly leave for damaged or even destroyed reputations. However, gone right, a journalist can go down in history for uncovering something important.

Fahrenheit 451: The Danger of Books

Quite simply, the danger of books in Fahrenheit 451 is that they lead to knowledge. Knowledge leads to ideas. Ideas lead to thinking and thinking leads to individual thinking. In a society where everyone is expected to do only as they are intended to do, individual thinking would be a very dangerous thing. Without books, it would be much easier to control the thoughts people have and the knowledge that they possess. This sort of backwards brainwashing stops the thinking before it is even allowed to begin.

Chapter 7 Knowledge Claims

1.) “Entrepreneurs quickly realized that drawing the middle and upper classes to movies required something more attractive than a sheet hung in an abandoned pawnshop.”

This idea led to what the book refers to as “movie palaces.” Seattle’s 5^th Avenue Theatre is used as an example of this. I thought that this point was worth mentioning because it differs from some of the other media forms we have talked about. For example, newspaper began as something that only the wealthy could afford and later was able to trickle down to the masses as the cost was lowered. Going to the movies originally seemed to be something that appealed more to the masses, and gimmicks had to be employed to attract the wealthier consumers.

2.) “Film has generally been called a director’s medium.”

The book explains that, while it certainly takes hundreds of people to make a movie, the director is designated as the main author of a film. The director’s techniques for making a film can make it what it is. The angle or distance from which a scene is shot can make or break it. The director must make sure that all aspects of the movie work together to make it a success. Today we have what the book calls “celebrity directors” who may be known for their techniques. Sometimes we may watch a movie and instantly know who the director is, even though we never once see him on screen.

3.) “Despite the development of made-for-television movies, pay-per-view, and home video, the movie business has continued to thrive.”

This is interesting and unique because it seems that this is one of the rare media forms that has not been strongly effected by developing technologies and competition. Americans still love to go to movies and they still love to buy them.

Chapter 10 Knowledge Claims

1.) “Most publishers employ acquisition editors to seek out and sign authors to contracts.”

This section of the chapter was interesting because I was previously unfamiliar of the process in which publishers and authors join forces to publish and distribute a book. These acquisition editors might work with book agents or simply read through manuscripts that have been sent to the publisher directly from a writer. These editors are often the same people who handle the rights to works. They may be the ones who work with others to adapt a book to a screenplay or into some other form.

2.) “While copy editors attend to specific problems in writing or length, design managers work on the look of the book, making decisions about type style, paper, cover design and layout.”

As an English major, and someone who is interested in one day working in some sort of print media, I appreciated the opportunity to learn about all of the different people involved with bringing a book to its final product. I think that often when we think of a book editor, we fail to think about the fact that many different people work together to ensure that a book’s components tie together in the end to create a success.

3.) “In terms of selling books, two alternative strategies have worked for a number of years – book clubs and mail order.”

I remember being in elementary school and looking forward to the book club events being held in our library, as well as the monthly Scholastic pamphlets that my teacher would distribute to the class. Most book clubs use cheaply priced introductory books to lure people into them. Once someone has joined they are expected to buy books from the club at regular prices. Book clubs do offer benefits in that they often have lists of recommended books, as well as things such as online chat rooms in which members may discuss the books that they have purchased and read.

Chapter 9 Knowledge Claims

which offered occasional investigative articles but covered a wide variety of topics aimed at a broad national audience.”

The book gives some examples of general interest magazines that still exist today – Reader’s Digest, Life, etc. It then goes on however to discuss the fall of general interest magazines. It seems that as many different media forms evolved (radio, television, print, etc) demand came for specialization that would satisfy the individual interests of consumers. In looking at all of the niche magazines of today, it is obvious that magazines are able to be very successful by specializing in certain interests.

2.) “The most widely circulated ‘elite’ magazine in the twentieth century was The New Yorker.”

The New Yorker was founded by Harold Ross in 1925 and openly catered to those of the upper-class. The magazine made no excuses for being “uppity” and found success in its venture to be the choice magazine for society’s upper-crust. I thought that it was interesting to read about the magazine because it seems that today so many forms of media are concerned with presenting themselves in a way that would offend any potential consumers. This case is interesting because I think that the fact that they were so adamant about being a magazine for only the elite, the elite were that much more interested in subscribing.

3.) “The advertising and sales department of a magazine secures clients, arranges promotions and places ads.”

In reading about the circulation and sales of magazines, I’ve learned that the main source of income for magazine publications is in the advertisements that companies pay to place in them. It could probably be said than that without the advertising and sales department of a magazine, the magazine would not be able to survive. You could have a staff of the greatest journalists and photographers of all time, but without the means to get the magazine funded and sold, it would never have the opportunity to be successful.

Chapter 8 Knowledge Claims

1.) “By the late 1820s, the average newspaper cost six cents a copy and was sold not through street sales but through yearly subscriptions priced at ten to twelve dollars.”

In these times the cost of a newspaper subscription was too much for the average American to afford, and nearly all subscribers were affluent. As technology allowed for cheaper production costs, more and more people were able to afford a daily paper. Paper sales also became a common practice in the street. It seems that, just like newspapers, many different forms of media and communication began as being only available to the wealthy. A more modern example of this might be the MP3 player. Originally very expensive, today many different companies offer inexpensive versions of the music players.

2.) “Labeled the era of yellow journalism, this late 1800s development emphasized profitable papers that emphasized human-interest stories, crime news, large headlines and more readable copy.”

The idea of yellow journalism is said to be similar to sensationalism. Sensationalism is what today’s tabloids stem from. These types of stories may be about celebrities, crime, disasters and scandals – things that are likely to pique the reader’s interest but may not have very much educational value or merit. Even in looking at today’s newspapers and magazines you can see that American readers are still interested in these same sorts of articles.

3.) “With the rise of radio in the 1930s, the newspaper industry became increasingly annoyed by broadcasters who took their news directly from papers and wire services.”

This conflict caused a major battle between radio and print journalism. Newspapers tried to protect their work with copyrights and lawsuits. As newspapers pressed for rules that would restrict radio broadcasters to commenting on their stories only, the path was paved for today’s talk radio shows. It’s interesting to see how, in this and other chapters of the book, we can see how the different forms of media and their offspring grew out of conflicts.