Formative

250 words.

. TITLE – CHOOSE A QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN COVERED IN LECTURES OR FOR WHICH HAVE READ THE READING 2. ALL QUESTIONS DESIGNED TO BE BROAD AND GIVE YOU ROOM TO ADAPT THEM. SO OUTLINE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE QUESTION. 3. DRAW ATTENTION TO THE MAIN POINTS/DEBATES IN LITERATURE 4. SPECIFY AN EXAMPLE OF MEDIA THAT YOU’RE INTERESTED IN 5. SUGGEST WAYS IN WHICH YOUR EXAMPLE MIGHT SUPPORT OR COUNTER THE ARGUMENTS IN THE LITERATURE

The question, “In what ways is the news ‘socially constructed’? Critically discuss at least two approaches to how the news is shaped.” addresses how news is shaped by bias, ideology and selective representation, which in turn neglects impartiality and can be seen as ‘socially constructed’. The debate lies however in the question “can news be unbiased?'‘. The news that we are presented is selectively handpicked and other stories “gate-kept” to fit certain criteria. If news is embedded in spectacle for example it is seen as ideal as this will attract a larger audience and can be dramaticized through conversation or perhaps even on social media where it is likely to attract more clicks. Equally stories that reinforce society’s already formed opinions and generalisations about the state of the world are more likely to be highlighted as they provide a sense of clarity and predictability which the public is likely to use to reinforce their own understanding. Not only is news carefully selected, but it is equally manipulated. Usually news is presented through a specific angle that enforces a societal viewpoint. Language and images are crucial tools that entirely shape how news will be perceived and interpreted. Key news stories that can be seen as having been ‘socially constructed’ are major terror attack stories. The Paris attack coverage in particular having been criticised for both the Western angled coverage it received but also for the lack of news coverage of a terrorist bomb attack by the same group in Lebanon which had occured a day before.