Audience research

MORAL PANICS

Moral panic is used to describe media presentation of something that has happened that the public will react to in a panicky manner. Moral panic usually exaggerates statistics to create a bogey-man (known as a folk-devil in sociological terms). Used commonly in newspapers to attract attention and interest to the audience.

HYPODERMIC NEEDLE THEORY

The Hypodermic needle theory talks about media’s power on audience. The message in this theory is said to be like a magic bullet which enters the minds of audience and injects a particular message. The theory explains how media controls what the audience views and listens to and the effects, which can be immediate or later in future. Social media is a clear example of how easily brainwashed we can become as a result of the hypodermic needle theory due to us believing most things we see or read.