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media - selection and presentation of the news Flashcards

1
Q

Why is the news a ‘social construction’

A
  • Not an objective reflection of reality but rather a product shaped by human decisions, biases, and societal influences
  • A manufactured product that reflects the perspectives and priorities of those involved in its creation, rather than an unbiased “window on the world.”
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2
Q

Media professionals, such as editors and journalists, play a significant role in determining what?

A

In determining what events are reported, how they are presented, and the priority given to them

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3
Q

What does the process of ‘social construction’ involve?

A

selecting stories based on factors like news values, audience preferences, and organizational routines

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4
Q

example of media selection for social construction

A

extraordinary or negative events are often prioritized because they attract more attention.
Additionally, logistical constraints, such as financial costs and deadlines, influence the coverage of certain stories

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5
Q

How can ownership and advertising impact the news agenda

A

media organizations may avoid topics that conflict with their financial interests

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6
Q

How is the news linked to profit (main)

A

Media organizations often rely on revenue from advertising, subscriptions, and other financial streams to sustain their operations. This economic dependency can influence the way news is produced and presented

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7
Q

How is the news linked to profit (specific ways)

A
  • Advertising Revenue
  • Subscription Models
  • Diversification
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8
Q

How is the news linked to profit - advertising revenue

A

News outlets aim to attract large audiences to maximize ad revenue –> sensationalized or clickbait headlines designed to grab attention

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9
Q

How is the news linked to profit - Subscription Models

A

Many organizations now depend on paid subscriptions, which may encourage them to cater to specific audience preferences or biases

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10
Q

How is the news linked to profit - Diversification

A

To mitigate risks, some news organizations diversify their revenue streams, such as offering digital services or partnering with other industries

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11
Q

What is ‘citizen journalism’?

A

The practice where ordinary individuals, rather than professional journalists, collect, report, and share news and information

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12
Q

Why has there been a growth of ‘citizen journalism’?

A

The rise of digital technology and social media, enabling anyone with a smartphone or internet access to document events and distribute content globally

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13
Q

Impact of citizen journalism on traditional media and its role in democratising information

A

It challenges the ownership of mainstream media by providing alternative perspectives, especially in situations where traditional outlets may be restricted or biased.
However, it also raises concerns about the accuracy, reliability, and ethical standards of the content produced.

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14
Q

Agenda setting from a marxist view (broad)

A
  • seen as a tool used by the ruling class to maintain their dominance and control over society
  • media doesn’t just report on events but actively shapes public discourse by deciding which issues are highlighted and how they are framed
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15
Q

Agenda setting from a marxist view (specific)

A
  • Reinforcing Ideology
  • Gatekeeping
  • Economic Interests
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16
Q

Agenda setting from a marxist view - Reinforcing Ideology

A

Media = ideological apparatus that promotes the values and interests of the ruling class.
- By focusing on certain topics and ignoring others, the media reinforces the dominant ideology and marginalizes alternative viewpoints

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17
Q

Agenda setting from a marxist view - Gatekeeping

A

Media owners and editors = gatekeepers, selecting stories that align with elite interests while excluding those that challenge the status quo.
E.g protests might be framed as violent disruptions rather than legitimate expressions of dissent

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18
Q

Agenda setting from a marxist view - Economic Interests

A

Media orgs, often owned by wealthy individuals or corporations, prioritize content that supports capitalist values, such as consumerism and economic growth, while downplaying issues like inequality or systemic exploitation

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19
Q

Norm setting from a Marxist view (broad)

A

mechanism through which the ruling class maintains its dominance and perpetuates the existing social order

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20
Q

Norm setting from a Marxist view - specific

A
  • Ideological Control
  • False Consciousness
  • Cultural Hegemony
  • Resistance and Change
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21
Q

Norm setting from a Marxist view - Ideological Control

A

Norms = shaped by the dominant ideology, which reflects the interests of the ruling class = disseminated through institutions like education, religion, and the media, ensuring that the working class internalizes values that support the capitalist system

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22
Q

Norm setting from a Marxist view - false counciousness

A

Norms often create a false consciousness among the proletariat, making them accept their exploitation as natural or inevitable.
E.g, norms around hard work and meritocracy can obscure systemic inequalities.

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23
Q

Norm setting from a Marxist view - Cultural Hegemony

A

Used by ruling class to establish norms that align with their interests
- involves promoting values like consumerism and individualism, which reinforce capitalist structures and discourage collective action

24
Q

Norm setting from a Marxist view - Resistance and Change

A

While norms can be tools of control, they are also sites of struggle.
Marxists believe that challenging dominant norms = essential for social change and the eventual overthrow of capitalist systems.

25
what is meant by a ‘moral panic’
- An exaggerated and widespread public reaction to a perceived threat to societal norms and values. - Involves the media amplifying concerns about a particular group or behavior, labeling them as "folk devils" and creating a sense of urgency or fear.
26
who introduced the concept of moral panic
Stanley Cohen
27
Example of a Moral Panic
The Mods and Rockers in 1960s Britain
28
Mods and Rockers in 1960s Britain
- These youth subcultures were portrayed by the media as violent and disruptive, despite the actual incidents being relatively minor. -The media's sensationalized reporting led to public fear and increased policing of these groups.
29
Why Moral Panics Could Be Considered Less Common?
The diversity of media sources. - With the rise of social media and independent journalism, people have access to multiple perspectives, which can challenge the dominant narrative and reduce the likelihood of a single, exaggerated story gaining traction.
30
Why Moral Panics Could Be Considered More Common
Could be seen as more common due to the speed and reach of digital media. Social media platforms can amplify fears rapidly, with misinformation or sensationalized content spreading widely before it can be fact-checked.
31
Selection and Presentation of the News in moral panic
plays a crucial role - Editors and journalists act as "gatekeepers," deciding which stories to highlight based on factors like news values (e.g., drama, conflict) and organizational constraints - This selective process can shape public perception and contribute to the creation of moral panics.
32
Agenda-setting refers to the media’s ability to
- subjects for public discussion - gives the main news media a great deal of power in telling people what to think about. - tell us how we should think about some subjects, such as the way we perceive politicians or welfare benefit claimants
33
Media news represents a
biased and partial view of the world, which is mainly concerned with protecting the interests of the most powerful groups in society.
34
What is meant by ‘media imperialism’
- The dominance of media from larger, more powerful nations over smaller countries - Often leading to the erosion of local cultures and identities - Highlights how global media corporations, primarily from Western nations, influence and control the cultural and informational landscape of other regions
35
Differences Between High and Popular Culture
High Culture: Assoc. w intellectual depth, artistic sophistication, and exclusivity. E.g classical music, opera, fine art, and literature like Shakespearean plays. Popular Culture: Reflects mainstream trends, mass-consumed entertainment, and accessibility. E.g pop music, viral social media content, and blockbuster movies
36
Marxist View on Popular Culture
- tool used by the ruling class to maintain dominance - perpetuates ideologies that normalize capitalist systems and suppress dissent. - often viewed as a product of the "culture industry," designed to distract the working class from recognizing their exploitation
37
Postmodernist View on Media Imperialism - challenge
challenge traditional narratives and emphasize the fragmented, decentralized nature of media.
38
Postmodernist View on Media Imperialism - blur
They argue that media imperialism blurs the lines between reality and simulation, creating hyperreality
39
Postmodernist View on Media Imperialism - site
Media is seen as a site of power and ideology, shaping perceptions and influencing societal norms
40
The GMG has conducted research which shows that the news is ...
not constructed in an unbiased way
41
News values
●Composition (e.g. providing variety) ● Elite Nations/People ● Frequency (How regularly it occurs) ● Meaningfulness (Can the audience identify) ● Negativity (Bad news sell) ● Personalisation (Human interest) ● Proximity ● Threshold (Size of event) ● Clarity (How easy is it to understand) ● Unexpectedness (Rarity, comic value, bizarre...)
42
The source of the majority of profit in the media comes from ...?, which explains the dependence on ...?
● advertising ● explains the dependence on ratings, hits and circulation of media products
43
Bagdikian stresses the importance of ?
advertising means news reports will be presented in a way that avoids offending advertisers, with some stories being cut off completely.
44
Curran et al argues there is a ?
- conservatism in the media, which tries to avoid too much criticism in the way society is organised. -This means that minority opinion is under- represented in the media
45
Globalisation means there are a mass of
news providers from across the globe to choose from
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How does New technology affect media
Smartphones, Twitter and digital TV means that news is instantly available from practically anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day - has created better opportunities for citizen journalism
47
New technology has created better opportunities for citizen journalism
Forms of new media (videos shot on a smartphone that can be uploaded to Twitter, Youtube etc.) means ordinary people are more involved in directly collecting, reporting and spreading news storie
48
Bivens
citizen journalism through mobile phone picture and videos at the scene of news events is transforming traditional journalism
49
AGENDA SETTING
- The media's influence in laying down the subjects for discussion - People can only discuss and form opinions about things they know about, and in most cases it is the media which provide this information.
50
McComb
the media not only have influence over what we think about, but also how we think about certain subjects
51
Norm-setting
the way the media emphasise and reinforce conformity to social norms, and seek to isolate those who do not conform by making them victims of unfavourable media reports
52
Norm setting is achieved by:
1. Encouraging conformist behaviour 2. Discouraging non-conformist behaviour 3. Media representations
53
Moral panics occur when a group in society is seen as threatening the
norms and values of society, and reports are exaggerated and dramatized
54
McRobbie and Thornton (1995)
in the age of citizen journalism and 24/7 news coverage, moral panics are becoming less common
55
Herman and Chomsky
- Marxist approach - structural factors (e.g. ownership and advertising revenue) means that the mainstream media is used for the interests of the powerful

sociology (32 decks)

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