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The Role of Journalists - Watchdog
Journalists act as "watchdogs" by monitoring those in power to hold them accountable, ensuring they serve the public's interest.
Called watchdogs because they “bark” or sound the alarm to alert the public about issues that could hard them.
Example: Investigative journalism that uncovers political corruption
The Role of Journalists - Amplifying Forgotten Voices
Journalists provide a platform for underrepresented or marginalized groups whose voices are often ignored by mainstream media.
Example: Coverage of indigenous communities' struggles that are overlooked by large media outlets.
The Role of Journalists - Providing Information and Knowledge
Journalists offer the public reliable information to help them make informed decisions and understand complex issues.
Example: News reports on public health guidelines during a pandemic.
Liberal Model of Democracy
In the liberal democratic model, journalists are expected to provide impartial, fact-based news, enabling citizens to be informed and take action.
Example: A news report on election policies helps voters understand their choices objectively.
Journalism and Democratic Ideals - Self-Governance
The ability of individuals to control what they think and do, making informed choices without undue influence.
Example: A voter decides which candidate to support based on impartial news coverage.
Journalism and Democratic Ideals - Autonomy
The capacity to act and make decisions independently, being responsible for one's actions.
Example: Deciding to participate in a protest after reading about a social justice issue.
Newsroom Ideals - Multiple Perspectives
Provide multiple perspectives/angles to one story
Offer diverse viewpoints on a story to reflect different cultural, religious, and ideological perspectives.
Address areas of common public concern
Ex. Investigating the rising pollution levels in a local river and highlighting the health risks to the community
Diversify newsroom demographically and ideologically (to provide different backgrounds and approaches)
Audience Distrust
When trust is lost, “a heavy mental burden is placed on the audience, who relies on other criteria to assess the credibility of information, which are not necessarily the best source of guidance.”
Example: A social media post goes viral, but readers question its validity due to a lack of trustworthy news sources.
Journalistic Roles - Authenticator
Journalists verify which information is accurate and reliable among many sources.
Example: A journalist fact-checks statements made by political candidates during a debate.
Journalistic Roles - Sense-Maker
Journalists provide context and explain the broader significance of events without injecting their opinion.
Example: An article explaining how local crime rates affect national crime trends.
Journalistic Roles - Watchdog
Journalists investigate and ensure accountability for powerful individuals and institutions.
Example: A report uncovering government misuse of funds.
Journalistic Roles - Aggregator
Journalists curate the best information from other sources and present it to the public.
Example: A news website like Google News compiles articles from various publishers.
Journalistic Roles - Forum Leader
Journalists organize public discussions on important issues.
Example: A news outlet hosts a public forum about healthcare reform.
Journalistic Roles - Role Model
Journalists practice exemplary journalism, maintaining transparency and dedication to truth.
Example: The famous photojournalism of "The Terror of War" in the Vietnam War brought worldwide attention to the horrors of the conflict.
Journalistic Roles - Community Builder
Journalists provide information that helps communities work together for collective action.
Example: A local news report about a neighborhood organizing to clean up a park.
Journalistic Roles - Essential Information Provider
Journalists give people the crucial information they need to understand what's happening and how to stay safe.
Example: Emergency broadcasts during a natural disaster.
What is Democracy?
A decision-making procedure where all individuals involved have equal rights to express opinions. It ensures everyone’s views are considered and may be implemented depending on the democratic model.
Example: Town hall meetings where everyone votes on local issues represent a form of direct democracy.
Classical Direct Democracy
A system where every individual votes on every issue or decision.
Example: Ancient Athens is a classical example where citizens participated in decision-making directly.
Representative Democracy
Citizens vote for elected officials who make decisions on their behalf.
Example: Canada is a representative democracy where citizens elect members of Parliament to represent them in legislative decisions.
Democracy - Lippmann's View
Lippmann believed that citizens rely on the press to shape how they think, but this can lead to biased perceptions.
Example: A newspaper presenting a one-sided view on a policy issue may influence how the public perceives that issue.
Democracy - Dewey's View
Dewey argued that free communication among citizens, rather than relying solely on the press as watchdogs, is vital for democracy.
Example: Online forums where people discuss political matters can exemplify Dewey’s idea of free communication driving democracy.
Lippmann vs. Dewey
Lippmann emphasizes the role of press information in shaping public thought, while Dewey believes in citizen-driven communication for democratic participation.
Example: Lippmann’s model might rely on editorial news to guide opinions, whereas Dewey’s model favors public discourse in town meetings or social platforms.
Democracy and the News
Access to information is essential for a functioning democracy because informed citizens can make better decisions.
Example: The availability of news through modern technology can improve democratic participation by providing diverse information sources.
Defining Journalism
Journalism provides citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing. It plays a crucial role in democracy by informing the public.
Example: Reporting on government policies helps the public make informed decisions about elections or civic engagement.
Journalism's Historical Purpose
Journalism has historically built communities outside government control, held governments accountable, and strengthened democracy.
Example: During the COVID-19 pandemic, journalism provided the public with critical information on policies and health guidelines.
Principal-Agent Relationship
A fiduciary relationship where the principal (e.g., the public) delegates a task to an agent (e.g., a journalist) to act in their best interests.
Example: Citizens (the principal) rely on journalists (the agent) to report accurate information about government actions.
Information Asymmetry
The gap in information between the principal and the agent, where the agent knows more than the principal.
Example: A journalist has insider knowledge about a political scandal that the public (principal) does not know.
Object Agent
An agent who requires considerable oversight because there is an information asymmetry between the principal (the public) and the agent. The principal doesn’t have access to all the information the object agent possesses.
Example: A government official (object agent) has insider knowledge about policy changes, while the public (principal) lacks this information, necessitating journalistic oversight to bridge the gap.
Information Agent
The role of the information agent is to hold the object agent accountable and ensure the principal receives accurate and transparent information.
Example: Investigative journalists act as information agents when they expose corrupt practices in corporations or government.
Building Community through Journalism
Journalism helps build a community by addressing key questions about representation, access, and participation in public life.
Example: A local news station reports on the needs of an underrepresented group in a community, sparking a town hall discussion.
Key Questions:
Who is being represented?
Who has access to information?
Whose voices are being heard?
How can people participate politically in public life?
Journalism – A Digital Turn
With the rise of digital platforms, individuals can now become their own editors, researchers, and news gatherers. Journalism has become just one component of a broader "information diet."
Example: People using Twitter to get breaking news updates and forming their own interpretations by consuming different news sources.
Watchdog Standards - Truth and Accuracy
Journalists are expected to never lie and to ensure all information presented is truthful and accurate.
Example: Fact-checking claims made by a political candidate before publishing a news report to ensure accuracy.
Watchdog Standards - Credibility
A journalist or news organization must be trustworthy so that the audience can rely on the information being provided.
Example: A newspaper with a long history of balanced and factual reporting builds credibility with its readers.
Watchdog Standards - Objectivity
Journalists must be fair, impartial, disinterested, and nonpartisan in their reporting.
Example: A reporter covering a contentious election gives equal coverage to all candidates, regardless of personal views.
Watchdog Standards - Fairness
Journalists must treat all individuals and subjects with respect, ensuring they present facts without bias or prejudice.
Example: Providing equal opportunity for both sides of a debate to present their arguments in a news article.
Watchdog Standards - Balance
Presenting as complete a picture as possible by providing context and multiple perspectives based on the available information.
Example: A news story on a controversial policy includes interviews from both supporters and critics to provide a balanced view.
Watchdog Standards - Deadlines
Journalists must meet deadlines to ensure timely reporting while maintaining accuracy.
Example: Reporting breaking news about a natural disaster with immediate updates while ensuring that the information is verified.
News Framing
Framing is the process by which a news outlet defines a social issue and outlines the fundamental problems and considerations relevant to that issue.
Example: The "Celebration of Nazi member in Canadian parliament" framed by Washington Post as a question of whether the individual was involved in prosecutable crimes and if extradition is warranted, while National Post frames it as a failure of leadership by the Canadian government
Framing Examples - Celebration of Nazi Member
Example 1 - Washington Post: Focuses on whether the individual was involved in any prosecutable activities and if Canada should extradite him.
Example 2 - National Post: Frames the issue as a governmental failure, suggesting the Canadian government has become a joke and that the NDP should withdraw support.
Example 3 - Toronto Star: Frames the incident as a tool for Russia to weaponize the scandal against Ukraine and portray Canadian-Ukrainian relations negatively
Framing Theory
Framing theory explains how a news source shapes a social issue by determining what the main problems and considerations are.
Example: Media outlets framing a political scandal either as an ethical failure or a legal issue, influencing how the public perceives the event
Agenda-Setting Function of Mass Media
Agenda-setting refers to how the media determine which topics we see most frequently and can influence how we think about these topics through the use of images, words, and sounds.
Example: A news network repeatedly covering climate change issues may lead the public to perceive it as one of the most pressing problems of the day
Encouraging Audience Action - Facts
Journalists provide factual information to encourage public participation and decision-making.
Example: A news report stating, "Vaccines are available," allows the public to decide whether to get vaccinated based on the presented information
Encouraging Audience Action - Persuasion
Journalists may persuade audiences by framing information to elicit certain behaviors or opinions.
Example: A report stating, "You should get vaccinated to protect yourself and others," encourages the public to take action based on persuasion
Paywall Benefits
Outlets are paid for their work.
Dedicated readers engage more deeply.
High-quality content can be produced due to financial support.
Paywall Drawbacks
Citizens who can’t afford it are excluded from accessing the content.
Free content may be of lower quality compared to premium content.
Outlets may prioritize content that caters to subscriber interests, rather than covering public interest topics.
Investor Motives
How do investor motives influence journalism?
Investors may treat newspapers as assets, selling or downsizing them if they don't yield high returns.
Journalism shifts from a democratic incentive to an economic one.
Example: Newspapers may be sold to investors from other industries, as journalism is no longer seen as primarily serving the public good but as a profit-making venture.
Decline of Funding
What happens when news outlets lose their funding?
Jobs in newsrooms are cut.
There is less physical media distribution.
Fewer staff lead to more work for remaining employees.
Not all important stories are covered due to resource limitations.
Declining Industry: Benefits or Issues
What might be a benefit or issue if the journalism industry continues to decline financially?
For journalists: Fewer job opportunities, increased workload.
For readers: Less access to reliable information, potentially more biased news. Think Locally and Globally: Local news may vanish, while global perspectives could become less diverse or skewed.
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