Mary Hughes

Media Use Analysis

COM 450
Part One:
Of the 160 hours in a week, I was awake for 100 hours. While awake I spend a total of
77.5 hours on media use. This averages about 11 hours per day. In total I spent 77.5% of
my time being awake on media.
1. Books: 2% of awake time, 2 hours total. 1 hour reading for COM 450
(Requirement), 1 hour reading for Arts in Living (Requirement).
2. Magazines: 0% of awake time.
3. Newspapers: 0% of awake time.
4. Television: 12% of awake time, 12 hours total. 3 hours watching the Oscars, 9
hours of watching Super Store, Teen Mom OG, Fuller House, Food Network
(Diversion, Entertainment).
5. Radio: 13% of awake time, 13 hours total. 2 hours listen to radio in car while
driving to shoot for documentary production (Entertainment), 12 hours listening
to Pandora Radio (Entertainment).
6. Movies & Video: 14% of awake time, 14 hours total. 2 hours watching
documentary for Doc Production class (Requirment), 2 hours watching
documentary for Doc Analysis class (Requirement), 10 hours watching Good Will
Hunting, Forrist Gump, Cruel Intentions, The Wedding date (Entertainment).
7. Recorded Music: 1.5% of awake time 1.5 hours total listening to AWOLNATION
and Chris Brown on Itunes (Entertainment).
8. Internet/Social/Sharing: 20% of awake time, 20 hours total. 10 hours spent
Facetiming with my boyfriend (Social Interaction), 5 hours spent online shopping
for my birthday (Decision Making), 5 hours spent doing research for Both COM
450 essay and Doc Analysis essay (Education).
9. Email/Networking/Texting: 14% of awake time; 8 hours texting (Social
Interaction), 2 hours on email (Requirement), 3 hours on social media on my
phone (Social Interaction), 1 hour playing apps on my phone (Entertainment &
Distraction).
10. Phone Talking: 1% of awake time; 1 hour spent talking to my parents (Social
Interaction).

Part Two:

Media Use

Books; 2%

Magazines; 12%

Email/Networking/Texting; 23%
Newspapers; 13%
Internet/Social/Sharing; 1%
Recorded Music; 14%

Television; 14%

Movies/Video; 20%

Radio; 2%

Purpose

Self Understanding; 10% Surveillance/Education; 7%

Social Interaction; 28%

Diversion/Entertainment/Escape; 48%
Decision Making; 7%

Part Three:
One pattered I noticed was my preference to Pandora instead of recorded music.
The only time I listen to ITunes is when my suitemate buys a new cd and puts it on
while were hanging out. Also the 2 hours of listening to the actual radio in a car is
very rare. Since I dont have my own car I usually never listen to the radio.

I also see that the highest percentage is the Internet. This is high because of the
amount of time I spend FaceTiming with my boyfriend. Also since my birthday is
approaching at the end of the month I used to Internet to look up items that I want.
Books, magazines, and newspapers were the lowest. Being away at school I dont
read any magazines or newspapers. Occasionally I read The Records weekly
newspaper but the week I observed my media use I did not.
Since I am currently producing a short documentary for Spree Magazine and my
Documentary Production class, I go on my email a lot. For this project the main form
of communication with my contacts is done through email. I also check my email for
updates about class, school, tracking packages, and checking for discounts and deals.
Part Four:
My media use both reflects and influences my attitudes and beliefs in many ways.
Social interaction is a huge part of my life. I love talking to people and staying
connected with my friends and family. One reflection of this is the amount of time I
spend texting and FaceTiming.
While at school I use the media as a distraction and for entertainment. I dont
have a job or a car while Im at school. When Im home, Im usually working, out
driving around, or hanging out with my friends. But when Im at school I spend my
downtime relaxing and watching TV or a movie.
Through watching television and movies Ive been influenced to pursue a career
in that field. Ive always wanted to know how they were made. Since I now know
how they are made, when I watch a movie or a television show its entertaining, but I
also learn from it. I look at the shots I liked, why I liked it, the editing style, music,
continuity, acting etc. I spend a lot of my television time watching Food Network. I
am currently in the process of trying to get an internship with them this summer. I
study Food Networks content so I become more familiar with their brand and their
style.

Part Five:
After observing my media use, I learned that I spent a lot more time using the
media when Im at school than I do when Im at home. If I were to do this again the
data would be very different. My Internet use would decrease significantly because I
wouldnt be FaceTiming with my boyfriend, and I wouldnt be texting him as
frequently since I would be seeing him every day. While at home I would also be
working at a nursing and rehabilitation center. Im not allowed to be on my phone at
all. My movie percentage might increase because I host a movie night every week.
Another thing I learned was that I dont really use the media to educate myself.
Instead I use it primarily for entertainment and distraction. When Im educating
myself its usually because Im learning about a topic for an essay I have to write, or I
see an interesting article that I want to read more about. The only time I read an actual
book is when its required for class. I dont think it would hurt to spend more time
reading a book than watching television.
I think in general I spend way too much time using the media. While observing
myself I really learned that I go from one thing to another. I go from watching TV, to
listening to music, to looking at my phone, to watching a movie. Often times I would
be doing multiple things at once. I spend the entire day checking my phone, and
texting people. If Im on the Internet Ill have music playing in the background.