selection and presentation of the news Flashcards
news is a social construct
what counts as news is selected and processed, or constructed by a range of social influences
it only exists when society determine it to be so
news is a social construct AO2
GMG constructed research which shows the news is not constructed in an unbiased way - but manufactured within the context of the DI
news values (10)
composition (variety)
elite nations/people
frequency
meaningfulness
negativity
personalisation
proximity
threshold (size)
clarity
unexpectedness
making a profit
the source of the majority of profit comes from advertising which explains the dependence on ratings, hits and circulation
Bagdikian - stresses the importance of advertising - this means news reports will be presented in a way that avoids offending advertisers, with some stories being cut off completely
Curran et al - 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
making a profit - Bagdikian
stresses the importance of advertising - this means news reports will be presented in a way that avoids offending advertisers, with some stories being cut off completely
making a profit - Curran et al
there is a conservatism in the media, which tries to avoid too much criticism of the way society is organised. This means that minority opinion is under-represented in the media
Globalisation, new technology and citizen journalism - globalisation - how it impacts the presentation and selection of news
means there are a mass of news providers from across the globe to choose from.
New technology such as smartphones, Twitter and digital TV means that news is instantly available from practically anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.
Globalisation, new technology and citizen journalism - citizen journalism
new technology has created better opportunities for citizen journalism.
Forms of new media (video shots on a smartphone that can be uploaded to twitter, YouTube etc) means ordinary people are more involved in directly collecting, reporting and spreading news stories
Bivens - argues that citizen journalism through mobile phone picture and videos at the scene of news events is transforming traditional journalism
citizen journalism - Bivens
argues that citizen journalism through mobile phone picture and videos at the scene of news events is transforming traditional journalism
agenda setting - How it impacts the selection and presentation of news:
People can only discuss and form opinions about things they know about, and in most cases, it is the media which provide this information. = the media’s influence in laying down the subjects for discussion is agenda setting
McCombs - argues that the media not only have influence over what we think about, but also how we think about certain subjects
agenda setting - How it impacts the selection and presentation of news - McCombs
argues that the media not only have influence over what we think about, but also how we think about certain subjects
gatekeeping - How it impacts the selection and presentation of news
= media’s power to refuse to cover some issues and to let others through
owners, editors and journalists influence what
knowledge the public gains access to.
norm setting - How it impacts the selection and presentation of news
Norm-setting is 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.
Norm setting is achieved by:
1. Encouraging conformist behaviour - Advertising often reinforces the gender role
stereotypes of men and women.
2. Discouraging non-conformist behaviour
3. Media representations
media can define what the public should and should not be thinking about
= similar to marxist view that the media only promotes capitalist interests
how is norm setting achieved
Norm setting is achieved by:
1. Encouraging conformist behaviour
2. Discouraging non-conformist behaviour
3. media representations
the presentation of news
The way news items are presented may be important in influencing how people are encouraged to view stories.
Some issues may not be covered at all if journalists or camera crews are not available
actual images used in news films may themselves have a hidden bias (theres AO2 for this)
media can also create false or biased impressions by the sort of language used in news reporting.
e.g Emotive language - which stirs up emotions - may be used to liven up a story
the presentation of news AO2
GMG
in the reporting of industrial disputes, employers are often
filmed in the peace and quiet of their offices, while workers are seen shouting
gives the impression that
employers are more calm and reasonable people and have a better case than the workers.
Inaccurate and false reporting and the creation of moral panics
False reporting, through either completely making up stories or inventing a few details or exaggerating and dramatising events - to make a story more interesting and attract audiences
= can make a moral panic, are generated around social groups which are defined as threatening
to society or dominant social values. exaggerate out of all proportion their real significance
- show the media’s power to define what is normal and what is deviant and can make what was a minor issue much worse (deviance amplification)
Inaccurate and false reporting and the creation of moral panics AO2
mods and rockers
Inaccurate and false reporting and the creation of moral panics AO3
mcrobbie and Thronton
moral panics are now becoming less
common
because new media technology and constant 24/7 rolling news reporting have changed the reporting of, and reaction by audiences to events
Pluralists and postmodernists - people are now much more sceptical of mainstream media interpretations and less likely to believe them
news values and newsworthiness
Events that are reported in the news have been through a gatekeeping or filtering process, with journalists and editors deciding what is newsworthy
Journalists operate within the framework of news values - news doesn’t just happen, but is made by journalists - it is socially constructed.
Galtung and Ruge argue journalists tend to include and play up those elements of a story
which make it more newsworthy
news values and newsworthiness - Galtung and Ruge
journalists tend to include and play up those elements of a story
which make it more newsworthy
importance of news values is also underpinned by the economic pressures of needing to make a profit
assumptions and activities of journalists - GMG, features that affect the content of the news - 1. hierarchy of credibility
- Journalists operate within a hierarchy of credibility. they
attach the greatest importance to the views of powerful and influential individuals and groups, - such people are primary definers who feature in the media as ‘experts’ and influ-
ence what journalists define as the news
e.g the media are
likely to consult the police and Home Office for comments on crime policy,
assumptions and activities of journalists - GMG, features that affect the content of the news - 1. hierarchy of credibility AO2
the media are likely to consult the police and Home Office for comments on crime policy
assumptions and activities of journalists - GMG, features that affect the content of the news - 2. white, middle-class
journalists tend to be mainly white, male and middle-class, and share the interests and values of the dominant ideology. influences whose
opinions they seek for comment and what issues they see as important
