A poll of ten people suggests:

Burke (18): He read about three books over the last six months, his favorite was Eragon, a fantasy adventure story.
Ashley (18): Ashley has read many books over the last six months including Left to Tell, Hamlet, The China Study, and textbooks for various classes. Her favorite source for leisure is fantasy and inspirational stories.
Cheryl (my mom): My mom reads many books, she guessed that she has read over 20 books in the last six months. This summer she enjoyed reading the Twilight series and is currently reading Hearing the Voice of the Lord by Gerald Lund. She enjoys Christian romance novels.
Nicole (18): Over the past six months Nicole read Pride and Prejudice and two other Jane Austen books. Her favorite is romance.
Kamry (20): Kamry read all four of the Twilight books over the past few months and enjoys life experience stories and memoirs.
Candice (19): Candice is an avid book reader and enjoys suspense. She reread all the Harry Potter books over the past six months as well as textbooks for various classes.
Rachel (19): She read about 10 books over the past months, her favorites including the Twilight series, What Happy People Know, The Golden Compass, and I Captured a Castle.
Kayleen (20): Kayleen read over 15 books these last six months. Her favorites were Timeline, Angels and Demons, and Harry Potter. For leisure she enjoys reading historical fiction.
Landon (18): Landon estimated reading two books over the past months. He concluded that he was not a big book reader.
Chris (21): Chris is a recently returned missionary so he read The Book of Mormon over the past six months. Since being home, he has been catching up on readings such as Harry Potter. He has also recently read The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Red Wall series.

According to my survey, I concluded that books are still popular and they won't be disappearing anytime soon. My samples polled said they like having a real book instead of an internet source. Also, I concluded that series are extremely popular such as Harry Potter and Twilight. Classics are also well read such as Jane Austen. I think this is true of the overall public as well and that books are still universally enjoyed.

Tuning Out the Real World

The use of technology is ever increasing in our lives today and people are becoming more and more immersed in the world of mass media. For example, the use of text messaging has been constantly increasing by over 250% every year (Cellsigns) and the average person watches four and a half hours of television every day (Nielson Media Research). With this trend, who knows what the future holds in regard to the use of mass media. This could eventually produce lifestyles where individuals tune out the real world and live in the world of media such as videogames, television, and internet. If people begin to overly distance themselves from the reality of the outside world, we could expect a dramatic increase in social problems. There are many negative effects from media such as social isolation, violence descencitizaton, and confusion between fantasy and reality (National Institute on Media and the Family).
In my home ward, we had an inactive girl who had recently become paralyzed from an accident. She turned to the internet for entertainment and eventually became fully immersed in online chat rooms and other programs. She slowly began to tune out the real world and chose not to face the world with her new conditions.
Also in an article in the Daily Universe, a student in Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to child endangerment after found with a homemade grenade. The article said, "(He) had left public school in seventh grade and was being home-schooled. Over time, violent Internet sites fueled his revenge fantasies"(Sept. 24, 2008, Page 12).This is becoming more common with the easy accessibility of internet, television, and games and is a threatening problem needing address.

Textbooks

I would definitely prefer regular textbooks over electronic textbooks. Although electronic textbooks are easily accessible and cheaper, the feel of having a tangible book makes a big difference. With normal textbooks I can easily highlight and make notes in the margins which helps me study more effectively. A normal textbook is easier to transport and more convenient. I don't have to worry about plugging in my laptop or damaging it while reading. For leisure, regular books allow me to curl up anywhere and enjoy the story. Lets just stick with the good old-fashioned textbooks.

Stereotypes in the Media

Many stereotypes occur in the media in a variety of forms. According to the Media Awareness Network, "Stereotypes act like codes that give audiences a quick, common understanding of a person or group of people, usually relating to their class, ethnicity or race, gender, sexual orientation, social role or occupation." Stereotypes are everywhere in the media and influence the general public negatively. For example, women have become stereotyped in the media as tall, thin, and flawless. Although many see this as a stereotype, it still affects the way many women see themselves. This causes many cases of depression, low self-esteem, and unhealthy eating habits such as anorexia or bulemia. Studies show that the diet industry is worth 40 to 100 billion a year and that 90% of women are dissatisfied by their overall appearance (Media Awareness Network).

Another less known stereotype in the media focuses on men as being aggressive, scary, unemotional, powerful, overly muscular, and lustful. This also promotes negative effects in men and can lead to depression, low self esteem, and unhealthy habits such as steroids or other supplements. Women and children become affected by this stereotype as well. In a study by Children Now, one third of the tested children had never seen a man working in the home on TV. This can leave lasting impressions on children of the role of the father.

The Best

As of right now, I think television and newspaper perform the job of informing the best. There are 1,500 daily newspapers being published currently and from personal experience, I turn to the newspaper for the big news because of details and pictures. Television also informs the best because of its easy access to a wide range of people. There are now TVs everywhere; in homes, restaurants, schools, and gyms. This provides an opportunity to inform many people around the world. After 9/11, I constantly read the newspaper and watched the news to learn new updates and gain a greater perspective of those horrific events.

Depending on the individual, entertainment sources vary. For me, television entertains the best. I have my favorite shows and movies that I can kick back, relax, and enjoy. I can immerse myself in someone's life, watch the latest soccer game, or root for my favorite American Idol. I look forward to Monday nights when my friends and I can hang out and watch Prison Break, constantly on the edges of our seats, intensely focused on their next move. This weekly entertainment allows me to escape my daily hassles and enjoy an action-filled hour with good friends.

Also from personal experiences, I think television and advertising persuade the best. This is because methods of persuasion are hidden in commercials and TV shows. Whether it is to buy a new product or vote for a certain candidate, television can send the message across to a wide audience. Television can be seen and heard, differing from newspapers and radio and can therefore use more methods of persuasion. I love commercials and I am often persuaded into buying new products, such as the new Venus Embrace, with five blades.

Communication Model

Communication Model: a newspaper article

The sender is a Wenatchee World news reporter, a local covering the annual Ridge to River race. The reporter interviews participants and encodes the message through writing an account of the day's proceedings. The article includes winners, times, and a personal account, the message. A small family reads the paper in the morning with their breakfast, the receivers. They decode the message by fully reading its contents and looking at the included pictures. Impressed with the coverage, the mother writes to the newspaper, complimenting the story and photos, the feedback.

Communication Model: a magazine article

Seventeen Magazine, is a fun composure for teens with new fashions, celebrity news, and dating secrets, the sender. A seasoned fashion editor encodes the message through a full spread of the newest hairstyles, complete with celebrity pictures. The message presented is the most fashionable way to wear your hair this fall. A stylish seventeen year old from California decodes the message by reading its contents and analyzing the new looks. Deciding that she would never wear any of those hairstyles, she places her feedback on the magazine's website.

Communication Model: a radio program

The sender KW3 is the funnest radio station in town with the latest music. The DJ encodes the message by picking a song and entering it on the transceiver machine. The message is that the song "One Step At a Time" by Jordin Sparks is the latest and greatest song. A teenage girl, the receiver, drives home from school, windows down, radio blaring. She decodes the message through listening to the song and analyzing its quality. Loving the beat and lyrics, the girl calls the radio station, requesting to play it again, the feedback.

Communication Model: a TV show

Disney Channel, the sender, is a favorite in my house. The editors and producers encode a message through the taping, editing, and transmitting of Hannah Montana. The message from a new song on the episode is to enjoy life and have fun. My little sister decodes this message through watching the episode on the television and singing along with the lyrics. She places her feedback through continuing to view Hannah Montana and buying her song.

The communication model works more efficiently in some media than for others in certain aspects. Newspapers and magazines generally receive more feedback from the public than television shows and radio programs. Perhaps this is because newspapers and magazines are on a more personal level. For example, a home and gardening magazine has a smaller audience than American Idol, and this allows more feedback to be heard and answered. However, as technology advances, different ways of communication are becoming more efficient and allow feedback. Although American Idol has a wide audience and feedback cannot be directly viewed and answered, the audience chooses the winners, making the communication model effective.