Ncert Solutions for Class 12 Sociology Chapter 7: Mass Media and Communications questions and answers
| Textbook | Ncert |
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | Sociology |
| Chapter | Chapter 7 |
| Chapter Name | Mass Media and Communications ncert solutions |
| Category | Ncert Solutions |
| Medium | English |
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Question 1: Trace out the changes that have been occurring in the newspaper industry. What is your opinion on these changes?
Answer 1: The newspaper industry has undergone significant changes over the past few decades due to technological advancements, changes in consumer behavior, and the rise of digital media. Below are the key transformations:
Changes in the Newspaper Industry
Shift to Digital Platforms Traditional print newspapers have increasingly transitioned to digital formats to cater to the growing online audience. Many newspapers now have websites, apps, and e-papers.
Decline in Print Circulation With the widespread availability of smartphones and internet access, fewer people rely on physical newspapers. Print circulation has declined steadily, especially among younger demographics.
Rise of Free and Instant News Social media platforms and free news websites provide instant updates, reducing the demand for paid newspapers. News is now consumed in real-time rather than waiting for the next day’s edition.
Economic Challenges Advertising revenue, once a primary source of income for newspapers, has shifted to digital platforms like Google and Facebook. This has led to layoffs, budget cuts, and even the closure of some traditional newspapers.
Personalization and Targeted Content Digital platforms allow for tailored news content based on readers’ interests and browsing habits. Algorithms now play a significant role in determining what news readers consume.
Emergence of New Revenue Models Many newspapers have introduced paywalls, subscriptions, and memberships to compensate for declining ad revenues. Hybrid models of free and premium content are also common.
Integration of Multimedia Digital newspapers incorporate videos, interactive graphics, podcasts, and live updates, offering a richer and more engaging experience compared to print.
Citizen Journalism The democratization of news reporting through social media has given rise to citizen journalism, where individuals share real-time events, often challenging traditional newspapers’ monopoly on information dissemination.
Global Reach and Competition Digital platforms have enabled newspapers to reach a global audience but have also exposed them to intense competition from international and local digital-only outlets.
Opinion on These Changes
These changes represent both challenges and opportunities:
- Positives
- Accessibility: News is more accessible than ever, reaching even remote areas through digital channels.
- Engagement: Interactive and multimedia content enriches the news consumption experience.
- Sustainability: Digital formats reduce the environmental impact of paper production and printing.
- Negatives
- Quality vs. Speed: The emphasis on instant reporting sometimes compromises the accuracy and depth of news.
- Loss of Credibility: The rise of misinformation and the decline of traditional editorial standards have undermined trust in the media.
- Economic Impact: Job losses in journalism and closures of local newspapers have weakened community-level reporting.
Question 2: Is radio as a medium of mass communication dying out? Discuss the potential that FM stations have in post-liberalisation India.
Answer 2: 1. With the advent of TV, internet and other audio visual forms of entertainment, people started believing that radio will bean outdated form of mass communication but this thinking proved wrong.
2. In 2000, AIR’s programmes could be heard in two-third of Indian household in 24 languages and 146 dialects, over some 120 million radio sets. The advent of privately owned FM radio stations in 2002 provided a boost to entertainment over radio.
3. In order to attract audiences, these privately run radio stations sought to provide entertainment to its listeners.
4. As privately rim FM channels are not permitted to broadcast any political news bulletins, many of these channels specialize in ‘particular kinds’ of popular music to retain their audiences. One such FM channel claims that it broadcasts ‘All hits all day’.
5. Most FM channels which are popular among young urban professional and students often belong to media conglomerates. Like ‘Radio Mirchi’ belongs to the Times of India group, Red FM is owned by Living Media and Radio City by the Star Network. But independent radio stations engaged in public broadcasting like National Public Radio (USA) or BBC (UK) are missing from our broadcasting landscape.
6. The use of radio m movies—In the two films ‘Rang de Basanti’ and ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’ the radio is used as an active medium of communication although both the movies are set in the contemporary period. In ‘Rang de Basanti’ die conscientious, angry college youth, inspired by the Legend of Bhagat Singh assassinates a minister and then captures All India Radio to reach out to die people and disseminate their message.
7. The potential for using FM channels is enormous. Further privatization of radio stations and the emergence of community owned radio stations would lead to the growth of radio stations. The demand for local news is growing. The number of homes listening to FM in India has also reinforced the worldwide trend of networks getting replaced by local radio.
Question 3: Trace the changes that have been happening in the medium of television. Discuss
Answer 3: The medium of television has evolved significantly over the years, driven by technological advancements, changes in consumer behaviour, and shifts in content delivery.
Here’s a breakdown of the key changes that have been occurring in television:
(i) Transition to Digital and HD: The digital television transition, also called the digital switchover (DSO), the analogue switch/sign-off (ASO), the digital migration, or the analogue shutdown, is the process in which older analogue television broadcasting technology is converted to and replaced by digital television.
(ii) Rise of Streaming Services: Streaming television is the digital distribution of television content, such as television series and films, as over-the-top media service (OTT).
(iii) Proliferation of Smart TVs and Devices: The Indian smart TV market has boomed in recent years thanks to the proliferation of high-speed internet and advanced TV operating systems.
(iv) Changing Viewing Habits: Television habits consist of patterns of behaviour determined by the amount of time and importance individuals give to watching television broadcasts and recorded videos and DVDs.
(v) Fragmentation of Audiences: Television audiences are fragmented to different degrees, even if the set of available viewing options is similar. The level of audience fragmentation depends on factors such as the audience’s geographic location and its demographic composition.
(vi) Interactive and Immersive Experiences: Advances in technology have enabled interactive TV experiences, such as interactive storytelling where viewers can choose storylines or outcomes (e.g., Black Mirror: Bandersnatch). Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are also beginning to integrate into television content, offering immersive experiences beyond traditional viewing.
(vii) Social Media Integration: Social media integration of television, also known as social television, is a digital technology that allows audiences to interact with television in real time.