Binary Models, Monopoly, and Demassification Lecture

This lecture to me was both easy and confusing.  What I mean by that, is that to me, most of the binary models were very simple to understand but I stumbled upon a communication process during this lecture.  The binary model, hot-cold, was very easy to comprehend and I understood elitist-populist well.  I could differentiate elitist as a purpose to inform, whereas populist is only in it for the money and to get the most viewers.  I felt like elitist-populist connected to information-entertainment. I have grown up in a generation where we are trampled by “news” on the latest Hollywood breakup which is a populist company using “entertainment news” instead of news that we could really be educated by elitist companies. 

Things then got a little complicated…Content-distribution boggled my brain.  Personally, I could only tell you what content-distribution is by memorizing a model we were given and tell you that companies make money on advertisement, sponsors, donations, etc. I felt that we needed to spend more time on this concept.  I particularly didn’t understand how the process connected and what part of the company is content and which distribution is.

I also wasn’t very confident on my knowledge of monopoly.  All I could tell you is that vertical monopoly is legal and horizontal monopoly is illegal.  I do know, though, that horizontal is illegal because it eliminates all of their competitors. 

I thought it was very interesting when we talked about niches.  It explains why there are cooking magazines for people who have an interest in food and a sports magazine for people who are interesting in athletics.  It creates a fan base for each niche that companies rely on or they will lose audience, talent, and advertisement…therefore, demassify.   There goes another fad! Remember silly bands or wheelies?!?

Overall, I thought that the concept of binary models is very important to communication, and I look forward to answering all my questions so I am more confident on this matter.