This week we discussed methods of persuasion. Which technique do you think is most effective? Further, do you think persuasion that plays on people emotions or biases is acceptable in advertising? #UWJ201 #301

Why do you think conspiracy theories gain so much traction online if there are clear efforts made by credible sources to debunk myths and deliver truthful information? Should media outlets work to counter conspiracy theories or simply ignore ridiculous claims? #UWJ201 #301

Have you ever experienced the hostile media effect? Do you often find yourself becoming defensive of your position when reading/viewing something that is critical of it or do you tend to approach such media with an open mind? Further, how might we combat this effect in ourselves? #UWJ201 #301

This week we discussed a component of digital media marketing - user generated content. In past lectures we discussed how people tend to be skeptical of overt advertisements. Do you think UGC overcomes this issue or do you find that UGC can be just as likely to cause negative reactions? #UWJ201 #301

The Valenzuela article suggests that in order to combat low-quality news and avoidance of news altogether, governments could utilize quotas for public affairs content on users’ feeds. What role, if any, should the government play in this situation? Should news be monitored for quality? #UWJ201 #301

Considering the Devega and Noble readings from this week, do you think paid/promoted content should be allowed in search engines? Could this type of content help rectify the issues Devega discussed or exacerbate them? #UWJ201 #301

This week we discussed framing in mass communications. Can framing ever be avoided, especially considering cognitive biases or the nearly impossible-to-reach standard of complete objectivity? Is framing necessarily a bad thing? #UWJ201 #301

We discussed the societal functions of journalism on Monday, one of which being to keep those in power accountable. Do you think today’s press fulfills that function consistently? Over time, has the press maintained its position as a reliable and capable source of power-checking? #UWJ201 #301

This week we discussed horizontal and vertical integration in media. I’m curious to know - which of the two types of integration is more common among owners of media companies? Which, if either, provides a greater opportunity for viewers to be presented with diverse, unbiased news? #UWJ201 #301

We discussed how those consuming news from heterogeneous sources were more likely to engage in split-ticket voting. Does this imply such a demographic is better informed than those who solely consume partisan news and may be more likely to use heuristic reasoning when voting?#UWJ201 #301