social construction of the news

Question 1

what are the news values according to Galtung and Ruge (1970)

Answer 1

1. extraordinaryness/unexpectedness
2. threshold
3. unambiguity
4. ref to elite persons
5. ref to elite nations
6. personalisation
7. frequency
8. continuity
9. negativity
10. composition

Question 2

Brighton and Foy’s criticism of galtung and ruge

Answer 2

• their research was limited to norweigan newpspaers, at a time when the internet didn’t exist and there was little transnational broadcasting/tv
• they criticise the idea of ‘news values’ because it implies an agreement between journalists and audiences, which is unlikely because there are many types of news outlets and making them differs- different cultural expectations

Question 3

are news values an outdated idea? spin doctors

Answer 3

• they ‘manage news’ messages on behalf of politicians, last 3 govs employed many
• marxists suggest this is manipulation of the news
• they affect news by: bringing out only positive aspects of politicians’ arguments, provide one sided info, hyperreality, abusing power
• effect on democracy: biases and empty promises, untrue picture of the reality of politicians, people are convinced rather than choosing based on balanced objective facts

Question 4

how do new media help spin doctors?

Answer 4

• disguise as ordinary opinion givers
• algorithm can be driven by those with power eg verification, blue check marks
• people are vulnerable due to the fast pace, they are primed by small information which gradually convinces them, fact checking online can also be manipulated, even if someone is educated enough
• multiple everyday outlets

Question 6

are news values an outdated idea? churnalism

Answer 6

• news based on pre-packaged pressreleases from government spin doctors, PR, news agencies w no independent research
• 80% of the stories form the Times, Guardian, Independent, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph are constructed by secondhand material (eg Bob Briar MCR drummer found dead)
• this leads to circular reporting (where publication A gives misinformation, B reports on it and A cites it as a source)
• satire articles can be mistaken as fact, multiple publications report on misinformation
• unchecked facts can be cited making them hard to debunk, the original source is lost and it becomes rumour
• to slow down a lie we must search for the source of information, challenge supsicion

Question 7

why does the churnalism argument help to evaluate news values?

Answer 7

• false metanarrative has a domino effect on creating moral panic
• changes the shape of society- the truth is socially constructed and lots of risk society
• truth checking is even harder even with education because the algorithm recommends info based on what you like.

Question 8

are news values an outdated idea? citizen journalism

Answer 8

• may provide more interest to the public
• METANARRATIVES are rejected and distrust of professionals (murder of George Floyd)
• increase in democracy OR Keen (opinion as fact)- can we tell the difference?
• your view is just as valid as the expert’s view? is it your place to say?
• trump’s truthsocial
• invesitagtive journalism????
• anti vaccine guy america healthcare

Question 9

how far is selection and presentation of news a result of bureacracy? (time/ space availible)

Answer 9

• time on TV broadcast/ column space
• 15 items avg transmitted during 25-30m
• channel 4= 1h so they have more detail
• newspaper has a fixed amt of space
• story inclusion depends on availibility

Question 10

bureaucracy

Answer 10

the processes and routines that exist within a business or organisation, practicality

Question 12

how far is selection and presentation of news a result of bureacracy? (the audience)

Answer 12

• pluralists= content and style are a reaction to typr of audience and their social characteristics
• five news- short, snappy bulletins witha young audience
• tabloids like the sun and mirror target a w/c young audience, with simplistic langage to reflect their level of education
• boradhseets like the Guardian= m/c professionals (like channel 4)
• particular times of the day like lunchtime broadcasts are more likely to target stay at home parents, so supermarket price war coverage might get more coverage than a later broadcast

Question 13

how far is selection and presentation of news a result of bureacracy? (journalistic ethics)

Answer 13

• Keeble and Mair 2012- unethical journalism practices of british press
• PCC ‘take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading and distorted information’ not powerful enough
• Leveson inquiry in 2011 (NOW scandal) found phone hacking was a normal pratice encourages by editord, relied on misrepresentation and embellishment
• Ofcom= protect against harmful/ offensive material
• Coalition 2013 rejected his recommendaions and made a watchdog but no news organisations have signed up

Question 14

how far is selection and presentation of news a result of bureacracy? (deadlines)

Answer 14

• 24h satelitte news= adv over papers because they report as things happen
• 9/11 was live for example
• 10pm for morning paper deadline, so they focus on previous day news
• boradsheet coverage is deeper, detailed and analytical rather than audience solely drawing their own conclusions