Active and Passive Audience Definition, Theory, Example & Difference

Active and Passive Audience Definition, Theory, and Differences. Examples of Active and Passive Audiences.

Active Audiences

Active audiences actively receive media information and make sense of the messages based on their social and personal contexts. They listen to the media messages instead of hearing them. However active audiences receive media information actively, and the act of receiving media information is natural. So, active audiences pay full attention to receiving information and interpret it to give feedback. The most common listening styles are people, content, action, and Time-oriented listening.

Examples of Active Audiences

For example, people are the active audience who comment on social media content to express opinions.

Another example, based on the story shared in the example of the active and passive audience below, Ela is an active audience who scrutinizes the messages before accepting them and always tries to provide feedback.

Characteristics of Active Audiences

Active audiences actively listen carefully to provide feedback, making them complicated and critical thinkers. Additionally, they have good schemata. Feedback is an essential component of interactive communication.

Passive Audiences

Passive audiences are those who watch and observe the media information without making sense. Hence, they are recognized as inactive receivers. Passive audiences have low motivation to process information, low ability to process information and focus on simple cues (e.g., appearances instead of content)

Examples of Passive Audiences

For example, passive audiences dislike commenting on social media content. Audiences like to watch Television and read newspapers without providing opinions. They prefer a linear communication process where feedback is not essential.

Another example, based on the story shared in the example of the active and passive audience below, Bela is a passive audience that accepts the message without challenging them.

Characteristics of Passive Audiences

The Passive audience is inactively involved in hearing something rather than listening. Passive audiences merely observe the message; therefore, they are cognitive misers who are lazy to think.

Examples of Active and Passive Audiences

For example, Ela and Bela are siblings watching the news on television. The news reporter is providing tips on how to stay healthy. Ela actively listens to the news reporter's tips to follow them. Then, she asks her sister Bela to confirm whether these tips work or not. In contrast, Bela accepts those tips readily. Here, Ela is an active audience who is a critical thinker. Therefore, she carefully focuses on the news presenter's dress, speaking style, and messages' meaning.

On the other hand, Bela watches the news without focusing on the content of the message. Here, Bela is a passive audience who is a cognitive miser. Therefore, she does not focus on interpreting the message; she only focuses on the news reporter's appearance. As a result, she believes the news reporter's tips quickly and becomes manipulated.

Active and Passive Audience
Difference Between Active and Passive Audience
Difference Between Active and Passive Audiences
Active Audiences
Passive Audiences
Firstly, active audiences interpret and respond to the media texts In contrast, Passive audiences merely observe the media text.
They decode and evaluate the message. On the other hand, they accept the message without evaluating it.
Active audiences form opinions and provide feedback in communication. The passive audiences accept their opinions only.
Active audiences pay full attention to listening to the message. In contrast, passive audiences pay little attention to hearing the message.
For example, Ela scrutinizes messages received from the news reporter rather than accepting them directly. For example, Bela accepts messages received from the news reporter without scrutinizing them.
The message cannot affect the active audience directly. The message affects the passive audience directly.
It is difficult to manipulate an active audience. On the other hand, it is easy to manipulate the passive audience.
Active audiences are critical thinkers. On the other hand, passive audiences are cognitive misers.
They have good schemata. In contrast, passive audiences are too lazy to think.
The active audience is involved in listening, including discriminative and comprehensive listening. However, the passive audience is involved in hearing.

Active and Passive Theories

Active Audience Theories

Active audience theory explains that active media audiences do not just accept media information inactively but interpret the message based on their personal and social contexts.

Active Audience Theory posits that audiences are not passive recipients of media messages but rather actively engage with and interpret media content based on their own experiences, values, and beliefs. This theory challenges the notion of passive audience effects proposed by earlier media theories, such as the Hypodermic Needle Theory, and emphasizes the agency and autonomy of audience members in their interactions with media texts. According to Active Audience Theory, individuals actively select, interpret, and make meaning from media content, drawing upon their personal backgrounds, social contexts, and cultural frameworks. This theory acknowledges the diversity of audience responses to media messages and highlights the importance of audience participation and engagement in shaping the reception and interpretation of media content.

List of Active Audience Theories:
  1. Uses and Gratifications Theory
  2. Reception Theory
  3. Cultural Studies
  4. Active Audiences Theory
  5. Two-Step Flow Theory
  6. Agenda-Setting Theory
  7. Participatory Culture Theory
  8. Media Literacy Theory
  9. Social Learning Theory
  10. Social Cognitive Theory

Uses and gratifications theory shows a strategic approach to explaining how and why people or audiences actively find specific media to meet specific needs. It also represents an audience-centered strategy to perceive the process of mass communication.

The two-step flow of communication model argues that audiences accept media information more if the opinion leaders deliver the message. So, the audience gets influenced by mass media if the opinion leader supports disseminating the information.

Passive Audience Theories

Passive audience theories, also known as media effects theories, propose that audiences are passive recipients of media messages and are highly susceptible to the influence of mass media. These theories suggest that media content has a direct and powerful effect on shaping audience attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors without much active engagement or resistance from the audience.

List of Passive Audience Theories:
  1. Hypodermic Needle Theory (Magic Bullet Theory)
  2. Mass Society Theory
  3. Passive Audience Theory
  4. Limited Effects Theory
  5. Reinforcement Theory
  6. Encoding-Decoding Model
  7. Spiral of Silence Theory
  8. Dependency Theory
  9. Selective Exposure Theory
  10. Cumulative Effects Theory

The Hypodermic Needle Theory, also known as the Magic Bullet Theory or the Hypodermic-Syringe Model, is a communication theory that suggests that media messages are like a powerful drug injected directly into the bloodstream of passive audiences, influencing their thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes. According to this theory, audiences are seen as highly susceptible to media influence, and media messages are believed to have an immediate and direct effect on shaping audience perceptions

Citation For this Article (APA 7th Edition)

Kobiruzzaman, M. M. (2024). Active and Passive Audience Definition, Theory, Differences & Examples. Newsmoor- Educational Website for Online Learning. https://newsmoor.com/active-passive-audience-differences-example-active-audience-theory/

How To Write a TV Program Proposal Sample

TV Program Proposal Sample, How To Write a TV Program Proposal. TV Program Proposal: How To Write a Proposal For Television Program. The Full instruction for Writing a TV Proposal For Al-Hijrah Malaysian Television.

TV Program Proposal

The TV program proposal means a written complete description of a TV show that describes the entire program procedure. The proposal must include the program name, estimated budget, description, execution procedure, target audience segmentation, uniqueness, and program justification. A  TV program proposal outlines the Television show thoroughly so that media authority identifies the output and future of the program. The TV program proposal is like a business proposal that describes the show before broadcasting on the channel.

TV Program Proposal Sample, How To Write a TV Program Proposal. TV Program Proposal: How To Write a Proposal For Television Program.

Elements of a TV Program Proposal

The 9 Elements of a TV Program Proposal are:

  1. Name of Program
  2. Description of Program
  3. Target audience
  4. The budget of the program
  5. Justification
  6. Execution of the Program
  7. The team
  8. The uniqueness of the program
  9. The strengths of the program
Instruction of Writing TV Program Proposal
Instruction to write a proposal for the Al-Hijrah TV program
1. You are to form a group of five or six members to work on this assignment. Form a media company and organize your company structure.
2. Your company has been invited to submit a 10 minutes proposal to the management of TV Al-Hijrah.
3. You propose a magazine-typed (akin to a documentary but with a 15 minutes duration) program for TV al-Hijrah.
4. For the proposal, you need to include the followings:

i. Name of program.  (make sure it is attractive and catchy enough to get ratings).

ii. Description of the program. (A brief description of the program. What is the program about? What does the program focus on?)

iii. Target audience. (Who is your target audience? Why are you targeting the audience? Give statistics to support this.

iv. Justification. (Why should TV al-Hijrah produce the program? What is the uniqueness of the program? What are the advantages of the program?

v. Execution of the program. (How do you suggest the program should be produced? Come up with a running order for the program.

vi. The team. (Who are and who in your company. Include their professional CV.

vii. The best three proposed programs will be invited to present at the Al-Hijrah station.

The Sample of TV Program Proposal 

Name of Program: Discover Student Talent (DST)-2023

Description of TV Program Proposal

Discover student talent is an attractive, inclusive TV program targeted toward students studying in the top-ranked public and private universities in Malaysia. This TV program will welcome students to explore their talents and help them to become famous by adequately utilizing their cognitive knowledge. The door to participation in this program is open for all students studying in Malaysian top 10 ranked universities. These top 10 universities will be considered as per the ranking of QS (Quacquarelli Symonds). According to the QS ranking, the top 10 universities in Malaysia are:

TV Program Proposal the top 10 universities in Malaysia

So, the student of these top 10 universities can participate in the Discover student talent program by enrolling via a specific mobile application or website. When they apply for contesting the Discover student talent program, contestants will have to participate in levels 1 and level 2 to secure a position among the top 20 students. The top 20 students from every university will go to the TV station in level 3 for contesting and securing positions in the top 10. In level 4, the top ten contestants will compete for being the most talented student in the university. The top 10 contestants from the top ten universities in Malaysia compete to be the most talented student in Malaysia. It is considered that the winner will get a certificate and 10,000 ringgit as prize money, following 5,000 ringgit for the runner-up and 2000 ringgit for the second runner-up.

Execution of the TV Program Proposal

Every student needs to create an account by providing a specific university name and student id number. When their account is activated, they can participate in question-answering sessions two times a month. But, they must provide a student ID number to verify that they are studying at that university.

After getting an activated account, they face 50 easy general knowledge questionnaire in the internet system at level 1, and they have to answer those questions to get higher marks. They can participate in this session through mobile, laptop, or tab. Thus, students will get their first-level marks in the system and have to be prepared for the second level. The second level also has the same 50 questions but could be more challenging than the first level. In level 2, the contestants will sit for an exam in university in the OMR answer sheet. The university authority will all-out effort into the television company to organize the level 1 and 2 activities. All questions of the first and second levels will be in English and Malay. Students can choose their preferred language in the system.

The TV company will pick up the top 20 contestants from every university for level 3. In level 3, the top 20 contestants will come to the TV station stage to compete to secure a position among the top 10 students in the university. After that, the top 10 students of the university will compete to be the most talented student in the university.

Grand final

Level 5 is considered the final level of the program for discovering the most talented student in Malaysia. Therefore, in this stage, each university's top 10 talented students will compete to be the most talented student in Malaysia.

TV Program Proposal Sample: How To Write a TV Program Proposal. TV Program Proposal: How To Write a Proposal For Television Program. The Full instruction of Writing TV Proposal For Al-Hijrah Malaysian Television.

Questions Patterns Set For the TV Program

  1. General Knowledge
  2. Books and Authors
  3. Famous Personalities
  4. Geography
  5. History
  6. Science and Inventions
  7. Movies
  8. Politics
  9. Religious
  10. Sports
Full Process at a glance
  1. Create an account and log in.
  2. Choose university name, and provide student ID number for account activation.
  3. Level-1 (50 Questions).
  4. Level-2 (50 Questions).
  5. Level-3: Location at Alhijrah, and a total of 20 top-scored students from every university will compete to secure a position within the top 10. (Transportation, Beverage, and 100 Ringgit for the participant).
  6. Level-4: Location at Alhijrah and the top 10 students from every university will compete to become the most talented student of the university. (Transportation, Beverages, and 200 Ringgit for the participant).
  7. Level-5: Location at Alhijrah, and the top 10 students from 10 universities will compete to become the most talented student in Malaysia. .(Transportation, Beverage, and 500 Ringgit for the participant).
  8. Total Price –20,000 Ringgit, Winner will get 10000 Rm, Runner up 5000 Rm, and the second Runner up 2000 Rm).
Additional events for audiences

The TV channel authority will organize two additional events for audiences. First of all, the audiences who will participate in the program physically can get prizes by answering questions on the stage. These audiences are those who sit in front of the main competition stage to watch live programs. In addition, the audiences who watch this program through TV channels can win prizes by answering questions through mobile. Audiences differ from active and passive media audiences.

Target Audiences of the TV Program

Demographic, geographic, and psychographic segmentation is the most powerful audience segmentation technique. For this program, demographic segmentation is the most relevant strategy to the target audience, and audiences can be youth, adults, and senior people. Their ages may be between 15 and 65 years old. The prime target audiences of this Discover talent student program are students. Students are the main components of running this program because they will participate. Also, it will be an interactive program, viewers in front of the TV can also answer questions, and when the audience can answer the questions successfully, they will feel delighted. The contestants and audiences face various topics, such as general knowledge, common sense, literature, history, astronomy, geography, sports, and entertainment. So, audiences can also increase their knowledge through our questions answering session; simultaneously, they can win prizes.

Youth

The motive for choosing youth as the target audience is because they have already received a part of the education and have a specific knowledge background. And our program can be a competition; youth could set up a team to answer questions together to determine how many questions can be answered. In this way, they expand their knowledge and enhance friends' relationships.

Adult

Furthermore, there are two aspects which are unemployed people and workers. Unemployed people have a lot of time can watch TV or videos, and they can learn something from our program. Our problems are so wide that they can learn something from them and benefit them in the future. Besides that, the workers didn’t have more free time to watch our program to relax. When they are tired, they can watch our program. If they can answer the questions correctly, they feel happy.

Senior people

Maybe not many o people watch our show, but we hope to have more older people to watch. Because they can learn and educate their grandchildren.

Justifications

The reason why TV al-Hijrah should produce this program has been discussed here. There are two major reasons for producing this program. Firstly, there's something unique about producing a program based on students and centering universities in Malaysia. So, It's a whole new format. Secondly, because the nature of the show is not just entertainment, some common sense questions make the show educational. On the other hand, the program has a wide range of audiences because of its educational significance.

The uniqueness of the program

Firstly, The nature of this show is unique in Malaysia because Malaysian TV programs are mostly about travel, food reality shows, and music-related selection programs. People's conformity, snooping, and curiosity all affect people's attention to TV programs. Therefore, the new format surely attracts some viewers. On the other hand, previous reality shows were mostly celebrities, but participants in this program were students from the top 10 universities in Malaysia. This kind of guest on the TV program makes the show more attractive. Finally, we intend to give some students who have talent but have not yet been able to shine.

Advantages of the programs

Firstly, compared with the variety of entertainment programs, this program has educational meaning. This program can also attract primary and middle school, and college students interested in exercising their knowledge through competition. Secondly, the program can also raise social awareness among general people to focus on learning and participants obtain confidence. Finally, this program can increase the popularity of the TV channel by increasing ratings.

In conclusion, the tv program proposal is crucial to explain the show's benefits. It convinces the authority to telecast the show.

TV Program Proposal Sample PDF- Download Link