problem 1: prepare brief definitions or descriptions of the given terms or abbreviations, giving exs, where helpful and suitable:

a) Stereotypes
b) HD-TV
c) Agony aunt
d) Advertorial
e) Paradigms
f) Propaganda
g) Iconography
h) Dystopia
i) Focus groups
j) Niche market

problem 2: Describe the development of mass communications and the main elements and innovations which have contributed to that growth.

problem 3: What styles and genre of television programs would you expect to see on an ideal Public Service Broadcaster?

problem 4: describe the major features of content analysis, giving suitable exs of each feature. Then discuss the strengths and weakness of this approach compared with other systems of analysis.

problem 5: What is the General Theory of Narrative? Media analysts argue that there are eight main character roles which appear to be common across all stories. What are they? describe their main characteristics.

problem 6: Describe the main characteristics of a stereotype and why it is significant in the study of the media.

problem 7: Globalization has traditionally been seen as essentially a problem of US cultural and economic dominance; though, the rise of the BRICs economies, and particularly China, raises the possibilities of a significant shift. Describe the possibility of China as a global power.

problem 8: Semiotics gives a highly valuable way of evaluating and interpreting the qualitative elements of every aspect of the media approaches. Describe what you understand by semiotics and their relevance to the study of the media.