influence of the media: changing role & influence of the media

what has been the traditional role of the media?

  • report accurately on political events

  • provide a commentary on political events n policies

  • act as a check n scrutinise the govt of the day

  • investigate controversies n bring them to public attention

  • educate the public on major issues n explain the potential impact of the various options available

  • provide a forum for public debate n discussion and act as a bridge between electorate n elected

are tradish media sources now irrelevant?

  • the Sun n Daily Mail are the 2 bestselling newspapers in the UK - but the Sun has refused to print its circulation figures since April 2020

  • the Independent became online only in 2016

  • the Guardian, the Times, the Telegraph n the Financial Times (FT) draw their readership from mostly higher socio-economic classes

  • the Mail n Express draw readership from all groups

  • the Sun, Daily Mirror n Daily Star readers tend to come from the working classes

  • 58% of 65+s use printed newspapers as sources of news - the figure is 20% for 16-24s

  • 41% of ABC1 class categories access printed newspapers, 34% for C2DE

  • the print media is still shaping news agenda » broadcast media n social media are much more likely to carry stories that first appeared in the press, rather than vice versa

newspapers: age matter?

  • major newspapers have moved online

    • the guardian asks for financial contributions, the telegraph n the times are behind a paywall

    • others rely on advertising

    • they have also developed a close relationship with social media

    • trust is also declining following leveson inquiry

    • however, the cairncross review found print media still plays a central role in the generation of news

broadcast media:

  • traditionally, a small number of tv channels meant that british families got their news together at the same time

    • this has now changed

  • bbc, itv and sky are the most significant tv news sources

  • the bbc is still the top source of news with bbc1 being the most popular broadcaster

  • however, the internet is now the most used platform for news consumption among 16-24 y/o s

social media:

  • social media has risen quickly as a source of news in the uk

  • how it is used more important than how much

  • most sm users gain info from main broadcast media/newsp websites - the bbc is the most followed news org on facebook

  • fb is the clear leader in terms of most popular place to access the news

  • also seen as helpful in gaining ppl to vote - 1.5m+ under 35s registered to vote in the month before 2017 election

    • hugely due to social media

problems with social media:

  • rising concern w/ fake news

  • brexit referendum: false claim of turkey joining the eu

  • 2017 election: the sun suggested there were misleading claims from labour supporters that the tories were going to privatise the nhs

  • the digital, culture, media n sport committee in the commons launched an investigation and reported bacl in 2019

  • they concluded: ‘democracy is at risk from the malicious and relentless targeting of citizens w/ disinfo n personalised dark adverts from unidentifiable sources delivered through the social media platforms we use every day.’

  • cambridge analytica scandal added fuel

are tradish media sources now becoming increasingly irrelevant?

yes

no

print media is in decline in the uk w. readership continuing to fall

print media is still dominated by a small no of papers w/ wider readership whilst print media has moved online to maintain readership

print media has limited reach with younger voters n voters from c2de class groupings

print media has much wider reach with older voters n voters from abc1 class groups who have higher levels of voter turnout

explosion in no of tv channels and ways of accessing broadcast media means it’s easier for people to avoid political news and people can get their news from a wider variety of sources

broadcast media remains the most important source of political info for the uk public n continues to be dominated by a small no of stations

broadcast media is being challenged by online media including social media, esp with younger voters n ethnic minority voters

much of the broadcast media has moved online n the bbc is the most used site for uk news

since 2013, the influence of social media has risen rapidly

influence of social media is exaggerated » changes how the public access their news, not where the news is from

how has the role of the media changed since 1980s?

  • tabloid press has become more partisan, esp given social media

  • tabloid press has become more focused on scandal n mocking politicians

  • by prioritising negative media stories, press have contributed to national mood of cynicism towards politics n politicians

  • focusing more on leaders n personalities in politics = politicians into celebs over proficient figures

  • » politics = mass entertainment

  • development of 24/7 news since 90s has caused media outlets to create stories n issues to fill the slot

  • rise of online media » increasingly partisan n uniformed debate proliferating

  • rapid growth of social med = political education n awareness spread, often more superficial n less engaged than tradish forms

well