Social Construction of News

• What is the main idea behind the social construction of news?

  The content of the media is manufactured
• What does agenda-setting refer to in media?

  media agencies telling us what to think and care about as we can only really form opinions on things that we know about and the media is the main source of information
• What does the phrase "set the agenda" mean?

  influencing or determining what is discussed in society
• How do media agencies influence public opinion?

  They tell us what to think and care about
• According to Cohen (1963), what is the media successful at?

  May not be successful at telling us what to think but are at telling us what to think ABOUT
• What does McCombs (2004) suggest about media influence?

  Media tells us HOW to think about subjects cuz of how the report is phrased
• How does the Marxist view interpret agenda-setting in news?

  News promotes the ruling class's dominant ideology
• What did Philo (2012) GMG, state about news selection?

  It is not neutral and is socially manufactured by the dominant ideology
• How did the media respond during the 2008 banking crisis?

  It channeled anger towards bankers, not capitalism
• What is gatekeeping in media?

  The power to refuse coverage of issues
• Who acts as gatekeepers in media corporations?

  Owners, editors, and journalists
• Does the issues aired challenge the dominant ideology?

  no, never properly challenge the dominant ideology- rather just state the issue / direct the blame onto something else
• What is norm-setting in media?

  The way the media emphasises and reinforces conformity to social roles/norms and shaming those who don’t
• 2 ways norm setting is achieved?

  Encouraging conformist behaviour

  Discouraging non-conformist behaviour
• What type of stories does media give more coverage to?

  Acts that go against social norms
• What are the news values according to Galtung & Ruge (1965)?

  • Composition: Fits the style of the outlet
  • Continuity: Events with lasting impact
  • Elite nations/people: Focus on important figures
  • Frequency: Fits news cycles
  • Meaningfulness: Events of audience interest
  • Negativity: Bad news is more newsworthy
  • Personalisation: Linked to individuals
  • Proximity: Culturally relevant events
  • Threshold: Significant enough to be news
  • Unambiguity: Clear and understandable events
  • Unexpectedness: Dramatic or exciting events
• How do owners influence & manipulate news content?

  • By giving direct instructions to editors
  • allocating resources to particular stories e.g. camera crews
  • Journalists and editors depend of their career so avoid stories which will offend the owners
  • Owners pile on pressure to make profit by any means necessary
• What impact does the pressure to make a profit have on news selection?

  Bagdikan: advertisers will present in a way that avoids offending owners (Gatekeeping) = conservatism, maintains hegemony / dominant ideology
• What is tabloidisation in media?

  Transformation of news into tabloids that fescue on gossip= attracts more people and more money
• What is infotainment?

  Material intended to inform and entertain
• How has globalization and new technology changed news?

  • Faster and more frequent news
  • Instant availability online
  • Spreads information quickly
  • More competitive landscape
  • Citizen journalism emergence
  • Mass audience