Newspapers Key terms

representation

ways the media portrays people, groups, values and issues

• producers of media texts determine what the audience receives

• representation is constructed —> re-presentation of reality

mediation

process in which values and ideologies are transmitted by the media

• selecting and structuring representation

• e.g. a newspaper is a mediator as it chooses what stories to show

ideology

worldview, a system of values, attitudes and beliefs which are held as true and important

dominant ideology

ideas shared by the majority of people in society

Halls Reception Theory

producers encode meanings in media products, audiences decode meanings differently either in the dominant, negotiated or oppositional reading

Newsworthiness

process of selection is biased as it is dependent on board influences e.g. violent

News Agenda

list of items to be discussed in order of importance

• newspapers set agendas for readers as if they show one story predominantly readers will regard it as important

• reflects ideologies

gatekeeping

key role of editors and sub-editors of newspapers deciding which stories to cover and how

• reflects readers and newspapers ideologies