7. The uses and gratifications theory focuses on the consumer rather than focusing on the message by asking “what people do with media ” rather than “what media does to people”.
8. In other words, the audience uses media to meet their needs and to fulfill specific gratifications*. *Gratifications are sources of pleasure or satisfaction.
9. Blumler and Katz first began studying this theory in the 1940’s. and it’s still used by scholars today!
10. Since then, the theory has been criticized by many. It’s too hard to determine the gratification of needs. All research is based on surveys! It will not succeed in “contributing substantially” to the field of communication.