selection and presentation of the news Flashcards
the news is a social construction
it does not tell us about anything that is happening - we have only ever had a partial picture
selection of the news
selection is why an event is chosen to be in the news in the first place
presentation of the news
how a news story is reported - the language, visual imagery etc
news values
extraordinaires, threshold, unambiguity, reference to elite persons, frequency, continuity, negativity
reference to elite persons
the famous and powerful are often seen as more newsworthy than those regarded as ‘ordinary’
negativity (news value)
bad news is regarded by journalists as more exciting and dramatic - seen as attracting a bigger audience
how do news values affect the selection of the news?
they’re guidelines used by journalists and editors to decide which events are news-worthy
- a large audience is needed to build up status and profit
valuation of news values
- brighton and foy;
research was limited to norweigan newspapers + it’s not clear whether their list of news values is still relevant today
organisation routines/ practical factors
financial costs, time or space available, deadlines, immediacy and actuality, the audience
financial costs
news gathering is an expensive business and sending personnel overseas and booking satellite connections incurs great costs
time or space available
news has to be tailored to fit either the time available for a news bulletin or the collumn space in a newspaper
how do organisation routines/practical factors affect the selection of the news
- in the news industry the way in which the news is collected may bias what news is gathered or how it is presented or reported. e.g time and space available - BBCs evening news contains 15 items transmitted over a 25-30 min period, while Channel 4 is an hour long meaning items and be treated in more depth and detail
churnalism - davies
the process of journalists using pre-packaged material from press-agencies rather than doing their own investigations
how does churnalism influence the selection of news
narrowing of the news agenda - with fewer original sources providing news to a wider range of newspapers
evidence for churnalism from davies
80% of the 2207 stories were taken from the press association. reporters themselves generated 12% of stories. only 12% of ‘factual stories’ had been checked by journalists
citizen journalism
concept is based on citizens who play a dynamic role in the process of news collecting, reporting and editing and distributing it to the public
positive impact of citizen journalism on the news
- offers a good space for marginalised groups
- empowers local communities
- gives spotlight to problems the media ignore
negative impact od citizen journalism on the news
- conflicts of interests and differences in opinion
- may be untrustworthy
- they may be working unethically
agenda setting
medias influence in laying down the subjects for discussion e.g how immigrants are portrayed
norm setting
the way the media emphasises and reinforces conformity to social norms and seek to isolate those who don’t conform by making them victims of media reports
reinforcing capitalism
argues the news ensures pro-capitalist views are dominant. news is not unbiased e.g newspapers can’t say anything critical of advertiserd
mcchesney
marxist view of the selection of the news
democracy is undermined by the fact that extremely powerful media owners are able to influence the social manufacture of the news by shaping the editorial approach/policy of their news media, and this affects the choice of stories pursued by their editors and the way they’re presented
herman and chomsky
marxist view of the selection of the news
news gathering is largely shaped by advertisers
- most news agencies are part of profit seeking media corporations partly funded by advertisers who want to appear in a supportive, selling environment
- news values are not objective. they are a form of propaganda
hall
marxist view of the selection of the news
‘hierarchy of credibility’ - news is supportive of capitalist interests because those in powerful positions have better access to media institutions than the less powerful, what primary defners say gets reported more than the event itself
the GUMG - social background of journalists
marxist view of the selection of the news
journalists unconsciously side with the powerful and rich because they have more in common with them. they often don’t accept/welcome radical change proposed by the representatives of the poor and powerless- journalists engage in agenda setting by choosing to include certain types of news stories
the GUMG - importance of looking at the reception of the news
marxist view of the selection of the news
refers to the idea that each individual interprets and understands the news in their own way.
- important because; someone may interpret a media message in a way that was not intended
- a procapitalist message may be in the news but audience may not agree. some may be critical of message e.g if they have direct experience
the GUMG - the 4 factors that must be considered when looking at the news (the circuit of communication)
marxist view of the selection of the news
- organisations that supply journalists with information
- what journalists prioritise reporting; official sources and commercial forces
- the audience and the way they understand news reports
- govt responses to news reporting
evaluation of the marxist view of the selection of the news
- schlesinger; the media do not always act in the interests of the powerful - contemporary politicians are very careful with what they say to the news media because they are aware that news can shape public perception of their policies and practices, influencing voting behaviour and result in pressure on them to resign
- the marxist notion of news as capitalist propaganda is undermined by the fact that news outlets are engaged in stuff competition to grab larger audiences, to attract a greater percentage of advertising revenue
- feminists would argue that marxists would neglect the way that women are represented in the news
chandler
suggests the way the news is presented is used to make people think it is important and objective
the GUMG
based on semiotic content analysis- detailed analysis and decoding of the language and visual images used by the media
– suggests language and visual images in the news are more sympathetic to the interests of the powerful and devalue the points of less powerful groups
moral panic
a wave of public concern about some exaggerated or imaginary threat to the morality/way of life of a society, often created by media reporting e.g groups perceived as contributing to crime and deviance; muslims, black males
role of the media in creating a moral panic
- exaggeration; of the number of people involved and the extent of violence through dramatic reporting and sensational headlines
- prediction; and assuming future conflict and violence
- symbolisation; allows media to make links to unconnected groups/events
why do moral panics happen? cohen
boundary crisis - uncertainty about the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in a time of change. the folk devil is created by the media to make it clear what is unacceptable
why do moral panics happen? cohen and young
- media’s concern about certain social groups is because of consensual nature in the uk.
- journalists assume everyone has the same shared values or morality
why do moral panics happen? postmodernism- risk society
- increase in risks that people can’t manage - they feel more worried about themselves and their families
- moral symptoms are a symptom of risk consciousness
