Selection and presentation

• What is the definition of news?

  Newly received or noteworthy information
• Why do sociologists consider news important for society?

  It promotes informed debate and enlightens
• What does Fenton (2010) refer to news as?

  The "life-blood" of society
• What does Cathcart (2011) suggest about the news?

  It tells us what is new and important
• What do many sociologists criticize about the news?

  The way it is selected and presented
• According to McQuail (1992), is news objective or impartial?

  No, it is not objective or impartial
• What does McQuail argue about the nature of news?

  It is a socially manufactured product
• Who are referred to as 'gatekeepers' in the news industry?

  Media professionals who select news
• What does McQuail mean when he says news is 'loaded'?

  It contains special forms of information
• What are the factors impacting news selection and presentation?

  • Economic factors (cost, profit)
  • Structural factors (owners, bureaucratic constraints, competition)
  • Political factors (censorship, news management)
  • Selection and presentation factors (news values, agenda setting, gatekeeping)
• How does the cost of media professionals impact news selection?

  It limits coverage to affordable stories
• What is the primary aim of news organizations according to the drive for profit?

  To generate profit through advertising
• What does Bagdikian (2004) argue about news organizations and profit?

  They avoid offending advertisers
• What is 'tabloidization' according to Davies (2009)?

  Focus on entertainment and sensationalism
• How do owners influence news content?

  By setting agendas and allocating resources
• What are bureaucratic constraints in news selection?

  Limitations due to time and space
• How does competition affect news presentation?

  It targets specific audiences with content
• What is direct censorship in media?

  Banning certain topics of discussion
• What is indirect censorship according to Chomsky and Herman (1988)?

  Selection of news stories by media professionals
• What does Franklin argue about news management?

  Governments control and select news content
• What are news values according to Spencer-Thomas (2008)?


  Guidelines determining the worth of news stories
• What is agenda-setting in media?

  Directing public discussion through selected news
• What is gatekeeping in the context of news?

  Limiting the scope of news coverage
• How does Marxism view the news according to Stuart Hall?

  It supports capitalist interests and power
• What is the 'hierarchy of credibility' according to Hall?

  Importance given to powerful individuals' views
• What do Edwards and Cromwell (2009) argue about media owners?

  They smear anything challenging the ideology
• What do pluralists argue about the news?

  It represents the world truthfully
• How does Jones (1986) view radio news?

  It is fair, neutral, and balanced
• What role does investigative journalism play according to Wintour (2012)?

  It exposes corruption among powerful individuals
• What does Schlesinger (1990) criticize about news theories?

  They suggest news only benefits the powerful
• How has new media transformed news gathering?

  It allows citizens to report news themselves
• What is citizen journalism according to Drudge (2003)?

  Every citizen can create their own news content
• What are the methods of norm-setting in media?

  • Encouraging conformist behavior
  • Discouraging non-conformist behavior
  • Media representations
• What is the gatekeeping process in news reporting?

  Filtering what is considered newsworthy
• What do Galtung and Ruge argue about newsworthy items?

  They highlight elements that enhance newsworthiness
• What does Becker say about journalists' credibility hierarchy?

  They prioritize views of powerful individuals
• What is churnalism?

  Uncritically producing articles from second-hand sources
• What are news values?

  Criteria that make a story newsworthy
• Why do news values reflect a desire for profit?

  They encourage ratings, hits, and circulation
• What influences the selection and presentation of news?

  Agenda-setting and norm-setting