Influences on Media

Factors Affecting News Selection and Presentation

1. Organisational Pressures and Time Constraints: Media organisations operate under tight deadlines which affects their capacity for detailed reporting.

2. Global Competition and Marketing: The need to captivate audiences in an era of global competition affects story selection and presentation techniques.

3. Dominant Ideology: There is a prevailing ideology around what constitutes ‘normal’ and ‘common sense’, influencing media narratives.

4. Journalist Assumptions and Ideology: Journalists bring their own ideologies and biases into the newsroom which shapes the news content.

5. Attracting Readers and Advertisers: Media outlets aim to attract audiences and advertisers, which can influence the type of content produced.

6. Rise of New Media and Citizen Journalism: Digital platforms allow individuals to report news, challenging traditional media's gatekeeping role.

7. Power of Primary Definers: Those in positions of authority (politicians, corporations) can frame issues in ways that affect public perception.

8. Hierarchy of Credibility Among Journalists: Established media sources and journalists are often seen as more credible, affecting the dynamics of news reporting.

9. Profit Motive: Media organizations often prioritize profit, influencing which stories are reported and how.

10. Inaccurate and False Reporting: The rush to publish can lead to errors in reporting, which shapes public understanding.

11. Norm-Setting: Media play a role in defining societal norms by what they choose to highlight or ignore.

    • News Values: Journalists categorize newsworthiness based on criteria that select certain stories over others, such as:

12. Negativity: Bad news like conflict and disasters are often prioritized.

13. Closeness to Home: Stories closer to the audience gain priority.

14. Recency and Currency: Timely stories or those with ongoing relevance tend to be favored.

15. Exclusivity & Size: Unique or impactful stories are prioritized.

16. Economic Influences on Media

17. Production and Distribution Costs: Larger media organisations have more resources than smaller ones, impacting the depth and breadth of news coverage.

18. Churnalism: The practice of recycling existing press releases as news leads to a decline in original reporting.

19. Advertising Income: Private media companies often adjust content to avoid alienating advertisers (Chomsky, 1989).

20. Political Factors in Media

• State Control and Censorship: Governments (e.g. China) impose strict regulations that limit what is reported. In democratic societies, covert censorship exists through laws such as the Official Secrets Act.

• Legal Constraints: Laws surrounding libel also affect what constitutes newsworthy content.

Ideological Influences on Newsworthiness

• Social Construction of News: News does not exist independently; it is defined by those who hold power in the media environment.

• News Values Learning: Journalists are socialised into specific news values, guiding their story selection.

• Gatekeeping Role of Senior Editors: Determines which stories are accepted or rejected based on established norms and organisational values.

Critical Theories in Media Analysis

• Pluralist Perspective: Sees diversity in news values as reflecting audience demand and consumer choice.

• Marxist Critique: Argues that news values reflect the interests of the ruling class, shaping public perception and reinforcing capitalism.

Agenda Setting in Media

• Definition of Agenda Setting: The process by which certain issues are given precedence in the public sphere, influencing public discourse and perception. Hall (1980) discusses how journalism interprets news, guiding audience interpretation.

• Framing and Discourse: News framing shapes how audiences understand events, often portraying specific viewpoints as normative or desirable.

Moral Panics and Folk Devils

• Folk Devils (Cohen, 1972): Groups that are vilified in the media, creating societal fears around them. This often relates to marginalised groups being portrayed as threats.

• Moral Panics: Refers to heightened societal fear surrounding groups or behaviours perceived as a threat to societal values.

Mass Manipulation and Hegemony

• Mass Manipulation: Traditional Marxist perspective viewing media as a tool for ideological control, moulding public perceptions in favour of the ruling class.

• Hegemony: Neo-Marxist view that acknowledges the media's role in sustaining social order through a narrow range of acceptable discourse, while providing an illusion of diversity.

Censorship in Modern Media

• Historical Context of Censorship: Traditional media used as propaganda, while modern media operates in a framework of regulations that limit content but maintain a facade of autonomy.

• Impact of New Media: Internet and social media platforms create challenges for censorship as they can traverse national boundaries.

Case Study: Arab Spring 2011

• Role of Social Media: Social media platforms like Twitter were integral to organising protests against regimes, showcasing the power of alternative media in circumventing state censorship.

Opinion Polls and Electoral Influence

• Use of Opinion Polls in Media: Polls influence public perception and behaviour during elections, sometimes discouraging voter turnout based on perceived outcomes.

• Restrictions on Polls: Some governments impose bans on polls close to elections to prevent influencing voter decisions.