Question 5: Journalistic Goals and Values. Game v Issue Framing

Question 1

Journalistic Goals

Answer 1

• To tell important and interesting stories
• Important - “Rule of anticipated importance”
• Interesting
  - “Novelty” – new, not old stories
  - Conflict and drama = “storytelling”
• Bosso – “issue-attention cycle” - systematic cycle of heightening public interest and then increasing boredom with major issues
  - Policy problems are in the long run; the media attention cycle is very sporadic.

Question 2

Consequences of Journalistic Values (Lance)

Answer 2

• Personalization – center news on an individual, or between two individuals
• Dramatization – more conflict/crisis than actually takes place
• Fragmentation – Personalization and dramatization leaves people with disconnected understanding of political issues
• authority-disorder bias - when a dramatic story is not readily available, they may quickly challenge authority itself (government scandals)

Question 3

Framing

Answer 3

Emphasizing certain aspects of a story while downplaying others

Question 4

Game Framing

Answer 4

• 2 sided conflict, winners and losers without discussing issues. Coverage that emphasizes the electoral, strategic, or political implications of events or policy debates.
• Popular – easy to emphasize drama and conflict, ready made stories promote efficiency, polls allow for new “hooks,” and it makes objectivity easier
• Effect on public opinion:
  - Could encourage citizens to view politics cynically.
  - Politicians aren’t sincere, rather concerned with winning
  - What citizens know about the substance of politics effects what they think about them

Question 5

Issue Framing

Answer 5

• Coverage that emphasizes the substance of an issue, policy proposal, or a bill
• Less common – details of policies change infrequently, policy substance is novel once. Analysis can raise charges of bias, and policy debates require technical expertise.

Question 6

Lawrences’ study concluded:

Answer 6

• The level of issue framing in media coverage of policy debates is highest when it becomes clear that the proposed legislation will be come law.