Blumler and Katz- Uses and Gratification theory

People can relate to media texts based on their own experience

An audience may view My Sister's keeper as sad because they may have their own personal experience of the devastating effects of cancer, or they may feel sympathetic towards the characters in the film.

People make choices of what they want to watch

When a person watches the news they are being a PASSIVE AUDIENCE because they are just taking in information. When a person chooses to watch TV of different genres they are being an ACTIVE AUDIENCE as they are making choices based on what gratifies them.

People have different social and psychological needs

There are 4 different ways to categorise this theory-

SURVEILLANCE - 

People need to know what is going on around them for security, so they watch the news. They may watch the local news to find out what is happening in their area such as weather and stories of interest.

PERSONAL IDENTITY- 

People position themselves in society in regard to the media they consume. For example, the song 'All About That Bass' is about being comfortable in their own skin so people may relate to this.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS-

People use TV as a form of companionship. For example when characters in a soap die, those who have watched regularly often grieve for that character as if they have lost a friend. People also use TV as a way to start conversation with family and friends, for example who their favourite singer on The X Factor is.

DIVERSION-

People watch TV so they can forget about their own problems and lives for a while and think about something else. Furthermore, people may relate to characters on TV shows who are going through similar situations for example Ian coming to terms with the death of his daughter on EastEnders.