Media Vocabulary

Online platforms that allow users to create and share content and participate in social networking

“Social media has transformed how political campaigns reach voters.”

The activity of promoting products, services, or ideas to persuade people to buy or adopt them

“Targeted advertising on social media raises serious concerns about data privacy.”

The suppression of speech, information, or other content deemed objectionable by authorities

“Internet censorship restricts citizens' access to information in several authoritarian states.”

False or inaccurate information spread without the intent to deceive

“Misinformation about vaccines spread rapidly on social media during the pandemic.”

The ability to critically access, analyse, evaluate, and create media in various forms

“Schools must teach media literacy to help students distinguish credible sources from unreliable ones.”

The right of journalists and media organisations to report news without government interference

“Press freedom has declined in many countries as governments restrict independent journalism.”

A social environment where people encounter only beliefs and opinions that coincide with their own

“Algorithmic curation on social media creates echo chambers that reinforce political polarisation.”

Deliberately false information spread with the intent to deceive or manipulate

“State-sponsored disinformation campaigns have been used to influence elections in multiple countries.”

A term for the press and news media, regarded as a pillar of democracy alongside the executive, legislative, and judicial branches

“A free press as the fourth estate acts as a watchdog against government abuse of power.”

The way in which media organisations present and contextualise stories to shape audience perception

“News framing of immigration issues significantly influences public attitudes towards migrants.”

Online content designed with sensational or misleading headlines to attract clicks and advertising revenue

“The dominance of clickbait content is blamed for declining standards in digital journalism.”

The process by which fewer large companies own an increasing proportion of mass media outlets

“Media consolidation reduces the diversity of viewpoints available to the public.”

The idea, developed by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman, that mass media shapes public opinion to serve elite interests

“The concept of manufactured consent argues that media ownership shapes editorial priorities.”

Relating to circumstances in which objective facts are less influential than emotional appeal and personal belief in shaping public opinion

“The post-truth era has made it increasingly difficult for voters to distinguish fact from rhetoric.”

A breakdown in shared standards for determining what is true, leading to widespread distrust in institutions and expertise

“The proliferation of social media platforms has accelerated the epistemic crisis threatening liberal democracies.”