Phase 1
Start from the time you get up - do you have a clock radio set to play a radio station as your alarm? Keep a record till you go to bed- do you watch TV to fall asleep?
Is there a TV on in the cafeteria? Do you listen to the radio in the car? Is there music in the gym? Do you watch movies on your computer? Do you read the local newspaper? Record ALL your media use.
What you're keeping track of:
• Content - Record the content you're accessing - fictional novel, drama, music, sports, etc.
• Medium - What medium did you use? Internet (via phone or computer), TV, Radio, etc.
• Who you were with - with friends, with family, by yourself?
• Whether it was intentional or unintentional exposure. Coming home to watch your favorite sitcom would be intentional. Hearing music while you are in the Mall may not be intentional - unless that was the reason you went there.
• Description of media encounter & additional notes - Give a brief summary of your media encounter. For example, watched a movie with friends at movie theatre, listened to music on iPod while riding the bus, watched TV while falling asleep, etc.
This assignment is designed to make you aware of the extent to which all types of electronic media and non-electronic media are woven into your daily routine. Specifically, the assignment should
a) enhance your awareness of the uses, functions, and gratifications of media technology use, and
b) serve as a vehicle for self-discovery whereby you closely examine taken-for-granted aspects of your personal media technology dependency.
You will receive full credit if you keep a relatively close track of your media use (we are always surrounded by media, so there shouldn't be too many gaps during a day).
Phase 2
Phase 2 involves writing your Media Diary Paper. This 1-2 page paper should be a thoughtful analysis of the uses and gratifications received from media technologies in your daily life.
In the 1-2 pages, answer these questions/cover these topics:
1. Summarize your media use - totals, types of media you used the most, day you used the most media, the least media, time of day you use media most often, etc.
2. Why do you use media in general? Identify specific reasons that seem to go with specific media. Are there moods that cause you to tend to use one media over others?
3. Do you multi-task- do other things while using media? When and why? Or why not?
4. Would you say you use mostly traditionalmedia (newsprint, printed magazines, television, radio) or digital(DVD's, CD's, MP3s, the Web, email)
5. What did you learnabout your own media use - anything surprise you about the data?