Media Interview

Name: Theresa
Birth-year: 1958
Relation: Mother
Date: 01/28/2012
Interviewed via: Telephone
Part 1-Questions
· Can you describe your childhood and the popular media that was used?
o My parents always listened to the radio, and when we (the children) could we would watch TV.
· What are some shows you remember from your childhood?
o Bozo the Clown and Howdy Doody
· What was the telephone like when you were growing up?
o When my parents let us use it, it was nice we could call our friends
· What was the “party line” like?
o Party line was terrible, people were always interrupting your calls
· What was your experience at the movie theatres like?
o Going to the movies was fun we really enjoyed it for five dollars the whole family could have snacks and stay in the theatre all day watching movies.
· How did your parents know who to support in political elections?
o The radio was there main source of information
· What forms of communication were available at school for you?
o We had loud speakers and overhead projectors
· What were advertising commercials like when you were growing up?
o A lot of cigarette and beer commercials, Pall Mall, Virginia Slims and Pabst Blue Ribbon making their products look like they were the best items around and everyone should try them.
· What things have changed dramatically since you were a child?
o The biggest thing I would say is that when the TV used to turn off at I believe midnight and they use to play the star spangled banner and show images of a mother and a apple pie, if I remember correctly. Telephone services (cell phone), Cable TV ( how many channels are available), Internet (having the world at your finger tips
· What new forms of media have you adopted?
o I love all the new technology, I use on a daily basis my cell phone, internet, laptop, ipad.
· Has media made your life easier or more difficult?
o Definitely made my life easier, communication is so much better
· How has media changed the way you communicate with your family?
o It’s helped a lot since I live in Tennessee and my children live in Wisconsin and siblings live in South Carolina. Skype and face time is an amazing way to see all my family.
· How has media changed the way you do your political voting?
o The debates being available on the television and the campaign commercials they give off a lot of information.
· How has media changed the way you do your shopping and banking?
o I do all my banking online its very convenient that I don’t have to leave the house. I like shopping online too because I do my research on products and then order them and have them all delivered to my door.
· What forms of media do you use for entertainment?
o I like to play online games such as slots, timed games and etc. there are so many available.

Part 2
When interviewing my mom I found it kind of interesting because I never really considered my mom to be old. It just goes to show how much media has changed the way the world works over the past fifty plus years. My mother stated that when she was a kid they did a lot of playing outside in the neighborhood nothing like these kids today that come in from school and go straight to their room and stay on the computer all day.
My childhood was very different from my mothers, I remember being in elementary school and we had a room full of Apple computers that we would go and use. My mother on the other hand didn’t have that around. As I stated in class though times change so fast with all the new technology that evolves because when I was in school we didn’t have all these social networking sites like facebook and twitter. I couldn’t imagine having the television turn off at midnight or whatever because what if I’m not tired. I do remember though when I was younger there used to be cigarette commercials that glamorized smoking and tried to gain children’s attention, Camels brand made their commercials look like cartoons.
Media has a lot to do with the way I run my everyday life. Whether I want to admit it or not, I couldn’t live without media. I use media for everything from research, school work, buying a vacuum (consumer reports). The media provides a lot of useful information that comes in handy with whatever you are doing.