Lesson 11 — Activity 2: Purposes of the Media


Today, we must prepare ourselves for learning in a global culture that is connected through multimedia and influenced by powerful images, words, and sounds. We can figure out some of the purposes behind the media by asking questions, such as:


  • Who is this message intended for?
  • Who wants to reach this audience and why?
  • Whose voices are heard, and who or what is trying to get the reader's attention and make them form an opinion?


Image courtesy of www.pixabay.com

We know that we can communicate for many different purposes, and this is true of communication in the media.

Traditionally, the media have been used as sources of information. People watch the news on television, listen to the news on the radio, or learn about current events by reading the newspaper. However, the media has become much more readily available through access to the Internet. The Internet provides us with instant access to information, and it is available in real time. 

Another purpose of the media is to persuade us or convince us to do different things: to buy certain products, to think about ideas in a certain way, or to have a particular opinion (point of view) about various subjects. One form of persuasion we are likely familiar with in the media is advertising.

A third purpose of the media, and another one we are likely quite familiar with, is entertainment. Sometimes, the entertainment we get through movies, TV, music, and so on can be combined with the first two purposes of the media to give information or to persuade.


The purpose of communication in the media is to:

  • inform
  • persuade
  • entertain

Find something around you to view (e.g., a magazine, poster, billboard, etc.) OR watch something on TV (e.g., a commercial, TV show, etc.).

Click here to download a checklist to find out the purpose of what you viewed — was it to inform, persuade, or entertain?



Social media is quickly becoming an alternative to traditional media. Social media refers to the interactions among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Popular social media tools and networking sites include:


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Blogs


Did you know ...


The number of teenagers who use cellphones and smartphones has increased substantially. According to a national study conducted in 2013 of 802 teenagers aged 12 –17, one in four teens are “cell-mostly” Internet users, who say they mostly go online using their phone and not using some other device such as a desktop or laptop computer. Other findings show that:

  • 78% of teens now have a cellphone, and almost half (47%) of those own smartphones. That translates into 37% of all teens who have smartphones, up from just 23% in 2011.

  • One in four teens (23%) have a tablet computer — this is a level comparable to the general adult population.

  • Nine in ten teens (93%) have a computer or have access to one at home. Seven in ten teens (71%) with home computer access say the laptop or desktop they use most often is one they share with other family members.

Digging Deeper!

Click on the Play button below to watch a video on the Social Media Revolution!