Cognition in Mass Communication Media

Over a five-day period I kept a journal of my media habits to later review them and reflect on how I use the media I examined my media habits with the functional approach called the uses and gratifications model. The uses gratification model suggests that audiences, meaning receptors of media have driven and needs satisfied by using media and non-media sources. These uses and gratifications are categorized as cognition, diversion, social utility, affiliation, expression, and withdrawal.

In examining my media habits each of these categories will be reviewed and discussed in detail as related to those habits. First I will examine my habits using cognition which in Dynamics of Mass Communications: Media in Transition is defined as the act of knowing. It further states that when a mass medium is used to obtain information about something it is used in a cognitive way.

In reviewing my journal, I used cognition to keep up with current events and also to satisfy my general curiosity.

On a typical day, I wake up to an alarm on my cell phone I check my cell phone’s calendar and weather app as a form of habit. I begin my morning by watching and listening to cable Channel 39 ESPN Sports News. On Monday, June 17th, ESPN covered the Stanley Cup Finals game three predictions and recapped the NBA Finals. During the day I chime in to new through social networking sites and review Youtube Clips. To satisfy my own curiosity I watched TMZ at 7:30 p.

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m., which is celebrity gossip and news. There was no major news on Monday and I did not spend much time on TV or radio. I did not read any magazines, newspapers orjournals. Cognition is a need for my day to day life as I am often looking for information or reflecting on something. The second category in the uses and gratifications model is diversion. Diversion has three forms and are categorized as stimulation, relaxation and emotional release of built-up energy.

In my opinion, my own need for stimulation derives from boredom. On Tuesday my morning began like the day before using cognition, I woke up to my alarm, checked my calendar and realized it was my cousin’s birthday. I sent her a text message and also messaged her on Facebook to wish her a Happy Birthday. ESPN Sports News covered a statement issued by New England Patriots owner, Robert Kraft. In a meeting with Vladimir Putin in 2005, he took off his 2004 Super Bowl ring to show it and the Russian President took it as a gift. The news statement says that it was not a gift and Kraft wants his ring back. I also watched the NBA finals game between the Spurs and the HEAT. The NBA finals was stressful and | used diversion to deal with my emotions. During commercials and periodic breaks from the game I checked in on Facebook and also watched Youtube clips.

This was my emotional release as there was tension due to the finals games. In my opinion, cognition sometimes leads to the need of diversion. This is especially true when the news or information is disturbing or sways your emotions. Diversion is a healthy way to deal with these emotions. Social Utility is the third uses and gratifications model and according to Dynamics of Mass Communications: Media in Transition, fulfills our needs to strengthen ties with family, friends and society. When you use current events or media to strike up a conversation it is conversational currency. A great example of this model was when l was at the checkout line in Safeway. Another shopper and I discussed Miami Heat player Chris Bosh and the possibility of him being traded to another team. This conversation allowed us to strike up a conversation and pass the time while we were waiting in line. During the week my dad and I watched the NBA Finals and sports is usually a way that we bond and communicate I also comment and discuss sports with my friends online using Facebook and text messages.