1. This document discusses the representation of issues and events by the media, including the use of sexualized images of children, size zero models, third world poverty, the London riots, the royal baby/marriage, and the Olympics and Paralympics. 2. It explains that representations in media are constructions of reality, not reality itself, and how individuals and groups are represented is a deliberate construct by media producers to portray people and events in a certain way. 3. The process of mediation, by which media producers select and edit content through techniques like camera angles, costumes, language, and music, shapes the message and interpretation presented to audiences.

1. Representation of Issues and
Events

2. This term:
We will look at:
The representation of issues and events by the
media.
Issues
Events
• The use of sexualised • London Riots
images in products
• Royal
aimed at children
baby/marriage??
• Size zero
• Olympics and
• Third world poverty
Paralympics

3. Teacher

4. Teacher…?

5. What do you see?

6. Look
again…

7. Representation…
► These
are not the actual thing or person –
they are a representation of the thing.
► Representation means to re-present (i.e.
show again)
► Remember: Individuals and groups of
people are represented in the media as
being a certain way. This is a construct of
reality and NOT reality itself.

8. Representations
► We’re
creating representations all the time –
if you’ve got a Facebook page you’ve
definitely created a representation of
yourself.
► Think about what you choose to put on
there, and what you choose not to put on
there.

9. How we are represented
►I
could represent this class as diligent and
hard working.
► Or I could represent you as off-task and
disengaged.
It’s all about HOW I choose to show you, and
what I leave OUT.
It’s also about WHO is doing the re-presenting

11. We can show the police as caring
and helpful

12. OR
NOT!

13. MEDIATION
► The
media selects (mediates) the way it
shows people to serve its own purposes.
► A media producer (the person who made
the media product – advert, film, TV show)
will deliberately represent a person or group
according to what they want others to
believe.

14. Key term: Mediation
Mediation refers how a representation
is put together and what message it
gives the audience

15. Key term:
EVENT
(Reality)
MEDIATION
Mediation
Selection process:
Representation
of the event
The outcome
Type of media
Editing
Camera Angle
Costume
Language
Music
Message to the
Audience

16. Key term:
MEDIATION
EVENT
Robert
Pattinson
emerging with
his personal
trainer
Mediation
Representation
of the event
Selection process:
Type of media
Editing
Camera Angle
Costume
Language
Music
Robert Pattinson in
new relation with
mystery brunette

17. Versions of reality:
Every report of an event is a representation of the event, NOT
reality.
What you hear and see in the media is controlled by the
person who is informing you –
IT IS ONE PERSON’S REPRESENTATION AND
THEREFORE WILL PRESENT THEIR OPINIONS,
BELIEFS AND BIASES .

18. Key Term: ANCHORAGE
Media representation can have many
interpretations so as to direct the audience
towards a desired outcome or message the
producer can add captions, music, mise en scene,
lighting or film from certain camera angles.

20. What do you think?

21. Look at the picture below and think about
what it means to you.

22. How does the following caption affect the
meaning of the same picture:
Corrupt officer arrested

23. Construction and Focus
►
So media texts ( and representations) are
all constructions – they are built.
►
Focus – mediation also encourages the
audience to focus upon a particular aspect
of the media texts to push us towards a
certain perspective.
►
E.g. in a drama the camera may focus upon
a particular character or in newspapers
and magazines our eyes are drawn to the
headlines and coverlines

24. Homework: Identify an event
► Find
an example of mediation and
anchorage and analyse it.
► In
… magazine/advert/paper, the editor has
included (an article/an advert) which is
mediated and shows bias. This can be seen
from ….. . It is biased because…
► Anchorage is used because…