media theories

• Cultivation theory- The more television you watch, the greater the effect on the viewers ideologies and beliefs. In terms of the WOTW broadcast this long term exposure to Howard Koch's pre sold sci fi products may lead to a belief in the realism with the War of the Worlds broadcast
• After the broadcast, Orson Welles went on to become an extremely famous film actor and film director later going on to making the legendary iconic film Citizen Kane
• hypodermic needle theory- this theory suggests media messages can have a direct and powerful impact on the audience, potentially causing immediate fear or panic, in the case of the War of the Worlds the vivid sound effects and news-style reporting created a sense of urgency and realism that led some listeners to believe the broadcast was a genuine news report about an alien invasion, thus demonstrating the potential power of media to sway public opinion
• Two-step flow model- this model posits that media messages don't directly affect everyone, but rather spread through a chain of individuals who then influence others. In the war of the worlds some listeners who initially heard the broadcast may have spread their fear and confusion to others, amplifying the overall reaction.