Media Topic 2 - Selection & Presentation Flashcards
What is the media’s role in the selection and presentation of news?
The media selects and processes news based on a complex range of practical, ideological, cultural, economic, and social factors.
This suggests that news is a social construct rather than a neutral reflection of reality.
What do Herman and Chomsky propose about mainstream news?
They propose a propaganda model, arguing that mainstream news is influenced by powerful social interests that control it.
What are key questions regarding news content selection?
- How is the content of the news selected?
- Who decides which events are worthy of media coverage?
- Who decides who gets on TV?
How do ownership and profit motives affect news content?
Owners can impose their views on editors, leading to conservative political leanings and a focus on profit that dilutes serious journalism.
What is meant by ‘dumbing down’ or tabloidization of news?
It refers to the replacement of serious journalism with entertainment-focused content due to competitive pressures and audience attraction.
What is citizen journalism?
Citizen journalism involves the public using mobile phones to record and share news events, transforming traditional journalism.
How has the presentation of news changed with new media?
There is less reliance on newspapers and TV, and more use of social media for instant news access and dissemination.
What is agenda setting in media?
Agenda setting is the media’s influence in determining which subjects are discussed publicly and how they are perceived.
What is gatekeeping in the context of media?
Gatekeeping is the media’s power to refuse coverage of certain issues while allowing others to be published.
What is norm-setting in media?
Norm-setting refers to how media promote conformity to social norms while marginalizing non-conformists through negative portrayal.
What are news values?
News values are criteria that determine a story’s newsworthiness, such as being unexpected, timely, or involving well-known people.
What is the impact of the media on public perception?
The way news items are presented influences public perception, including factors like story placement, headlines, and visuals.
What are moral panics?
Moral panics are public fears about exaggerated threats, often targeted at certain activities or social groups deemed threatening.
What elements contribute to the creation of a moral panic?
- Identification of ‘folk devils’
- Negative portrayal of the group
- Moral entrepreneurs condemning the group
What is ‘churnalism’?
Churnalism refers to the trend of journalists producing articles based on second-hand information rather than original reporting.
Who are primary definers in media?
Primary definers are influential figures, such as politicians and business leaders, whose views are prioritized by journalists.
What did Davies (2008) find regarding news sourcing?
Davies found that 80% of stories in major newspapers were based on second-hand material, with only 12% generated by reporters.
How do journalists’ assumptions shape media content?
Journalists’ assumptions can lead to biased reporting and reinforce dominant ideologies, affecting audience interpretations.
What is the relationship between news values and profit-making?
News values are influenced by economic pressures to attract readers and viewers through sensationalized or exclusive stories.
Fill in the blank: The media’s influence in laying down the list of subjects for public discussion is known as _______.
[agenda setting]
True or False: The media always accurately reflects reality.
False
What role does competition play in news reporting?
Competition leads to tighter deadlines, which can result in shortcuts in news gathering and decreased accuracy.
What was Philo’s analysis regarding the 2008 global banking crisis?
Philo noted that media directed public anger at bankers while ignoring alternatives to the financial system.
What are the consequences of media sensationalism?
Media sensationalism can lead to misrepresentation of events and the creation of moral panics.
What is the primary reason journalists rely on primary definers?
Market competition pressures them to rely on convenient news sources
This can lead to potential manipulation by governments and businesses.
What percentage of stories in major newspapers are constructed from second-hand material according to Davies (2008)?
80 percent
This includes stories provided by news agencies and the public relations industry.
What demographic does the GMG highlight as predominant in journalism?
White, male, and middle-class
This demographic influences source selection, important issues, and news presentation.
What is the impact of journalists relying on news agencies and official sources?
It often leads to a lack of fact-checking
Journalists simplify their work by depending on these sources.
What are ‘advertorials’?
Branded content paid for by advertisers that masquerades as news articles
Examples include articles that promote products while appearing as journalism.
What effect do advertorials have on news content?
They blur the lines between advertising, information, news, and entertainment
This results in a reduction of quality and accuracy.
According to pluralists, how do journalists sometimes act against the powerful?
By exposing injustice or corruption in government and business
This indicates that they are not always influenced by powerful entities.
What has the rise of new media done to mainstream media power?
It has begun to undermine the power of mainstream media organizations
Citizen journalism allows alternative views to reach millions globally.
