We all consume and create media everyday, even if we don’t realise it. This can be for many different reasons, as explained by Blumler and Katz with their Uses and Gratification Theory in 1987. Producers create media and we use media for Entertainment, Social Interaction, Personal Identity, and Information.

• Information: Self education to suit personal needs; advice on practical matters; information on events or issues of personal interest; curiosity or general interest.
• Personal Identity: Media reinforces personal values; models of behaviour; content explored to challenge, adjust or affirm sense of self.
• Social Interaction: Identify with others to gain a sense of belonging; find basis for real life interactions; substitute for real life relationships
• Entertainment: Escape; diversion; emotional release; filling time; aesthetic enjoyment

E.g. Netflix:
entertainment and aesthetic enjoyment
social interaction as we discuss our favourite shows and films with one another.
personal identity is shown through what you watch
information such as Documentaries allow us to learn and self educate

This mood board demonstrates the media platforms that I consume and create daily, from flicking through Twitter, sending Snapchats to reading the news in the Guernsey Press.

To make my music magazine successful I will need to consider the four Uses and Gratifications, to help me give the magazine a strong purpose. If the magazine fits into all four categories, then there will be something to target everybody, allowing the magazine to be enjoyed by all. This will help the magazine to be successful as it will have many purposes and suit many different readers.

Here is an example of a Ecology Component that I created out of Lego with my group. It demonstrates how everything relies on each other to function

• Without the reservoir the people have no water to drink.
• Without the farm people have no food to eat
• Without the prison the community would have no safety
• Without the school the people would gain no education so would be unable to get a job
• Without the solar power the town would have no energy
• Without the compost the food wouldn’t grow

Media Ecology is ‘the study of media, technology, and communication and how they affect human environments.’

Here is a mind map of the concepts and mediascapes. It demonstrated how each of the elements rely on one another to continue producing media, and without one there would be a big impact on all of the others. My group’s focus was on the Creators impact.  An example of a system in the world is the Water Cycle and the Global Oceanic Currents.

When making my magazine, it needs to fit into the system. It requires thought to all of the elements to be a successful magazine.

For example the Government, it must abide by the rules set in place so that it can be published. Another example is the magazine needs to distributed so relies on the distribution centre.

Below are all of the other components of media ecology, and how they affect each other and are important to one another.

As I begin my work in Media Studies, there are many skills that I am looking forward to learning and undertaking!

I am hoping to learn about…

• The production of different types of media
• Filming and editing techniques
• How to make a Blog
• How media ecosystems work

I feel like I have many skills that will already help me with my media studies

• Photoshop and photo editing
• Photography and work with cameras
• Short film editing
• Time management
• Organisation

I think many skills will help me in other walks of life

• Time Management
• Communication
• Group Work
• Listening to and sharing mine or others ideas
• Keeping up to date with Coursework