Final answer:
The theory that explains how messages affect everyone directly and quickly is called the Magic Bullet Theory. This theory posits an immediate and strong effect on a homogenous audience, differing from theories like the cultivation theory, which sees media influence as developing over time through presenting a perceived reality.
Step-by-step explanation:
A theory that explains how messages affect everyone directly and quickly is called the Magic Bullet Theory. This theory suggests that media messages are like bullets that can impact a viewer or reader directly, without any need for interpersonal mediation or interpretation. In contrast to other theories like the cultivation theory, which suggests that media develop a person's view of the world over time by presenting a perceived reality, the Magic Bullet Theory hypothesizes an immediate and powerful effect of media on all audience members in the same way.
Historically, the Magic Bullet Theory, also known as the Hypodermic Needle Theory, was one of the earliest models to explain the effects of mass media on society. It assumed that audiences are passive and homogenous, uniformly influenced by messages. However, subsequent studies, including those that led to the minimal effects theory and the two-step flow theory, challenged the Magic Bullet Theory by showing that media effects are often mediated by interpersonal communication and individuals' pre-existing beliefs and attitudes.
It's also worth mentioning that the news media today operate in a significantly different environment compared to the early 20th century, with factors such as citizen journalism and the digital paywall changing how news is consumed and paid for. Additionally, regulations like the equal-time rule mean that media impacts are further complicated by legal constraints that attempt to ensure fairness in how information is presented, especially around political matters.