Assignment 2
Assignment 2
Due: January 28
Purpose: To sensitize you to your own regular use of new and traditional mass media, including
preferences, motivations, and concurrent behaviors.
Directions: For 3 consecutive days keep a list of all your daily use of television, radio, newspapers,
magazines, videos, CDs, films, Internet, chat rooms, video games, and e-mail every day. Note the time
spent on each media activity, and note what else, if anything, you were doing while you watched or
listened. Include a total time for each medium over the three days. A sample log for one day appears
below.
Television/Film
Radio
Newspapers
Computer
Music
After you have kept your three-day log, add up the total time spent with each medium for the three
days and respond briefly to the following questions:
2. What are the media that you use most heavily? Consider the balance of print, electronic, and
computer-mediated communication.
3. Why do you favor these over others? For what purposes do you use media?
4. What kinds of broadcast programming, print, and internet particularly appeal to you and why?
5. Were you surprised in any way at your log after you saw it complete? If so, how?
6. What kinds of other activities do you often do while you consume media? How are these activities
affected by having the radio, TV, or computer on?
Feel free to add further comments about your own media use.