This assignment requires you to evaluate your current interpersonal and mass med

This assignment requires you to evaluate your current interpersonal and mass media relationships based upon your media and production consumption habits and create your media target-marketing identity.
PART 1: MEDIA CONSUMPTION LIST:
1. You will chronicle (in diary format) your electronic media consumption for one average day. List any books, magazines, newspapers, comic books, television programs, videos, online or video games, dvds, Web sites, radio shows, music (cd or online), events (concerts, plays, etc.) List the content and the amount of time you spent consuming. An entry might look like this:
DAY/DATE MEDIUM CONTENT AMOUNT OF TIME
MONDAY
7/5
RADIO NPR: FRESH AIR
INTERVIEW PROGRAM 1 HOUR
” BOOK (FICTION) HARRY POTTER
STORY ABOUT A BOY AT WIZARD SCHOOL. 30 MINUTES
” IPOD PODCAST: ROOSTER TEETH 1 HOUR
” VIDEO GAME SWITCH: ANIMAL CROSSING 5 HOURS
2. Review your media consumption. How much of your media consumption time is active and purposeful. And how much is mindless and a waste? What is the ratio of screen time (tv, videos, computer, gaming) to non-screen time in your life?
3. Take a photo of your television/video viewing situation. Perhaps you watch your video on a big screen television in a living room. Perhaps you watch on your computer or through your xBox. Where ever it is, take a photo of the situation. Do NOT show any identifying information in the photo (there should be NO people in the photo.)
4. Write a brief paragraph describing your viewing situation. What is important to you when setting up your viewing situation? Do you watch alone? With others? If you could change anything about the environment, what would it be?
PART 2: PRODUCT CONSUMPTION LIST
1. You will provide an inventory os the products you’ve purchased and currently have in your home by making a list of EVERY product you use from the time you wake up, to the time you step out of the door to begin your day (one day only). I’m talking EVERY product you can think of: Bed, sheets, toilet paper, soap, clock radio, smart phone, breakfast food, furniture, the clothes you wear—EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF. If you prefer a specific brand of product, name it. For example, you can write down toothpaste (if you don’t care what brand) but if you have a brand preference, list it (e.g., Colgate Toothpaste). You must also describe why you use the product. An entry might look like this (but your list should be MUCH MUCH LONGER):
PRODUCT/BRAND WHY DO YOU USE THIS PRODUCT? IS THIS PRODUCT NECESSARY?
WHY OR WHY NOT?
TOOTHPASTE
(COLGATE)
TO KEEP MY TEETH HEALTHY AND MAKE MY SMILE WHITER
YES, oral hygiene is part of being healthy
CEREAL
HONEY-NUT CHEERIOS I LIKE THE WAY IT TASTES. IT IS QUICKER THAN COOKING BREAKFAST YES, we have to eat
LIP GLOSS
MAC SPITE I LIKE THIS COLOR AND IT KEEPS MY LIPS FROM GETTING CHAPPED NO, it is a “beauty” product
2. Take a photo of your basic products. Include the photo in your paper (don’t upload it separately, please). On your bathroom sink, set out the products you use to get ready in the morning and take a photo of them. Do NOT show any identifying information in the photo (there should be NO people in the photo or reflected in the mirror.)
3. Write a brief paragraph describing your products. What percentage do you consider absolutely necessary? Are there items you can cross off your product list, because you don’t really need them? Why do you think you bought them?
PART 3: LIST OF CULTURAL GROUPS BASED UPON CONSUMPTION LISTS
1. Review your media consumption (in PART 1) and your product consumption (in PART 2), then make one final list of cultural groups into which you think the media might categorize you based upon your consumer behavior. For example, if you wear sweat pants, Nike shoes and a t-shirt, would that indicate that you are an athlete? Are you an athlete? If you watch a lot of football (maybe because another member of your family controls the TV) you would still put sports fan on your culture list because media do not know you watched because of someone else. Or, maybe your food list indicates you are a vegetarian (whether you are or not) because there isn’t meat on your list. Does your list identify you as feminine/female? Masculine/male? Both? Neither? Are you religious? Do you own a pet? These are just examples of how to evaluate your lists.
PART 4: CONSUMPTION ANALYSIS PAPER
Review your product consumption lists, then answer the following questions:
1. Do you believe your consumption (media and products) and your cultural-consumption profile is consistent with your self-perception (who you think you are)?
2. Are there areas where your consumption misrepresents who you are or who you want to be?
3. Are you over consuming? Do you find you purchase more food than you can eat (throwing away leftovers or food that’s been in the fridge too long). Do you find your closets are stuffed or that you have too much stuff to manage?
EXTRA CREDIT (put at the end or bottom of your assignment):
I’ve required this assignment in the past and the results have been great (and interesting). At some point, I’d like to post some of the photos (for discussion) or publish them in a study. If you would be willing to grant me permission to use your photo, please let me know and provide me with your email address.