Lerissa's Media Research Blog

For this blog, I will be focusing my attention on the literature that has been written on: Media Audiences The effects of isolation and depression on audience activity But first I have to explain the details of the phenomenon to assist with background information. The Phenomenon: COVID 19 in South Africa When the first case of the pandemic was encountered in South Africa, no one could have imagined how fast the state of the country would change. Within two weeks the South African Government announced a national lockdown with the almost immediate effects of isolation greatly changing the patterns of consumers. With no way of participating in social events or social gatherings, people as social beings relied on the only way to interact with others: Social Media and Online entertainment platforms. With this onset, I tried to look at the previous global pandemic that influenced the world in such a way as the current pandemic. This was the 1918 Pandemic of the H1N1 Virus, according to the C...

  We have all been affected by the worldwide pandemic and the impact of Isolation has been challenging at the least. The second part of my interest in this research project follows my intrigue into the world of media psychology and specifically how the audiences psychological motivations change through time.  I would personally love to know how and if we can find a constant pattern through audience choices in an everchanging dynamic. And would the changes last after the lockdown is completely lifted or will the audience divert back to manners before the Pandemic and Lockdown were implemented.  My study will contribute to media studies, to seek out patterns and provide knowledge on a world phenomenon of isolation.   Thus, the study will contribute to future market research to help predict patterns following mass change

The purpose of this study will be to investigate the influence that the different levels of the South African National Lockdown had on the Online Entertainment Audience.    The topic is of interest as it explores the patterns of change within the audience and the psychological impact of the South African National Lockdown.   The world has changed immensely over 6 months and the consumption patterns have also been greatly impacted by the world going into an isolation phase. The field of Online Entertainment falls within a Media category, as it is a channel for Mass Communication.    I intend to specifically focus on Online Entertainment such as online streaming and online social entertainment networks.   The key of this research project that makes it relevant within the media field is the study of the audience in these particular fascinating times and their opinions on the change in their online behaviour.   It assists with a better under...