Media Studies 3.26.25

Midterm Exam Details

Availability: Confirmed to take place on a specific date (details not provided).
Duration: 8 minutes total.
Format: Multiple choice and true/false questions.
Access: Available on the discussion lab page on Brightspace.
Timing Advice: Recommended not to start the exam at 10 PM to avoid issues due to the closing time being 11:20 PM if started at 10 PM and 11:59 PM if started at 11 PM.

Film Context: Reference to Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles.
Significance: Considered one of the most influential films in American cinema.
Key Character: Charles Foster Kane, a fictional adaptation based on William Randolph Hearst.
Media Ownership: The film illustrates the influence of one person's ownership over multiple news outlets, shaping public narratives.
- Hearst owned numerous newspapers which affected film criticism of Citizen Kane.

Background: Son of a senator; entered the newspaper industry with wealth and connections.
Purchasing Competition: The film depicts Hearst's acquisition of rival papers, particularly the New York Journal.
Impact on Newspapers: Hearst's ownership allowed him to control narratives and influence public opinion through his media empire.

Yellow Journalism: Emerged as a reaction to partisan and commercial press, focusing on sensational stories that captured broader audiences.
- Critique of yellow journalism: Considered too sensational and related to the penny press intended for everyday readers.
Objective Journalism: Promoted by Adolph Ochs, who took over the New York Times.
- Aim: To provide straightforward facts without sensationalism and a focus on objectivity.
- Introduced the Inverted Pyramid style of writing, placing the most important information at the top to engage readers effectively.

Background: Influential journalist and political thinker who contributed significantly to U.S. ideological frameworks.
Position on Journalism: Argued for journalists taking an active role in interpreting facts rather than just reporting them. Suggested citizens need expert interpretation due to limited time and understanding.
Critique and Defense: Criticized as elitist (notably by Noam Chomsky) but also recognized for his rationale in needing informed journalism.

Ongoing debate on whether the primary role of journalists should be just to report facts or to interpret and analyze them for readers.
Some argue that journalists have the responsibility to provide deeper insights and understanding, while others contend they should remain strictly objective.

Literary Journalism: Emerged post-World War II, integrating creative writing techniques into journalism to evoke emotions and vivid imagery in storytelling.
Advocacy Journalism: Explicit in promoting a particular viewpoint or cause.
Precision Journalism: Data-driven approach focusing on the importance of facts and numbers in informing the public about issues.

The relationship between journalism, objectivity, and media ownership is critical in understanding how news influences public perceptions.
Historical context informs current media practices, showing how previous ownership and business models have shaped journalism discussions today.
The debate about journalistic responsibility continues with diverse perspectives regarding the importance of objectivity versus interpretative reporting.