Instructor Resource
Dainton, Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Case Notes
Chapter 11: Mass Communication
Answers to Case Study 11: The New (Media) Culture Wars
Question 1. Compare how the mainstream media framed the budget cuts with how the Facebook
stories that Evelyn read framed the budget cuts. How would agenda setting explain why Evelyn
was so engrossed with the Facebook stories?
Question 2. Based on the description of Evelyn, how might her attitudes have been cultivated by
the Facebook stories? Be sure to use mainstreaming and resonance in your answer.
Question 3. Apply social cognitive theory to the case. How would it explain Evelyn’s limited
abilities with Facebook? How would it explain her decision to support the online petition?
Question 4. What might be the dominant, negotiated, and oppositional code readings to the
budget cuts to the arts? Which does Evelyn take, and why do you believe this to be the case?
Question 5. What ethical issues emerge from this case? Which, if any, of the mass media theories
provide insight into resolving these ethical challenges?
Question 6. Do any of the mass media theories provide a “better” explanation than the others?
Why do you believe this to be the case? What additional factors might have been included to
make a different theory or combination of theories better at explaining the situation?