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Baran Book Cover
Introduction to Mass Communication, 2/e
Stanley J. Baran

Media Literacy and Culture

Glossary

CNN effect  the power of television pictures to emotionally move people so powerfully that important military and political decisions are driven by those pictures rather than by well-reasoned policy considerations
conventions  in media content, certain distinctive, standardized style elements of individual genres
genre  a form of media content with a standardized, distinctive style and conventions
griots  the "talking chiefs" in orally based African tribes
ideogrammatic alphabet  a symbol- or picture-based alphabet
information society  a society where the creation and exchange of information is the predominant social and economic activity
literacy  the ability to effectively and efficiently comprehend and utilize a given form of communication
literate culture  a culture that employs a written language
media literacy  the ability to effectively and efficiently comprehend and utilize mass communication
multiple points of access  ability of a literate media consumer to access or approach media content from a variety of personally satisfying directions
oral (or preliterate) culture  a culture without a written language
papyrus  early form of paper composed of pressed strips of sliced reed
parchment  writing material made from prepared animal skins
production values  media content's internal language and grammar; its style and quality
syllable alphabet  a phonetically based alphabet employing sequences of vowels and consonants, that is, words
third person effect  the common attitude that others are influenced by media messages, but we are not