Media Theory & Philosophy — Understand the Medium You’re Shaping

What is the “right” format for local news in Hastings, Minnesota?
This research explainer applies media theory to micro‑audio and the Soundbites workflow in Hastings (Dakota County, MN). Learn how McLuhan (the medium is the message), Postman (avoid mind‑candy), Ong (orality vs. literacy), Austin (speech‑acts), and sound studies (Schafer/Chion) guide practical choices—length, pacing, prosody, transitions, and earcons—plus why STIVA (Story with Text, Images, Video, Audio) and a Trust Engine (provenance + Reliability Score) matter. Clear takeaways show how Hear → Verify → Act → Dialogue turns short voice updates into usable minutes and measurable outcomes for residents, schools, businesses, and city partners across the Twin Cities SE Metro.