Public inquisitors on current affairs broadcasting programs are meant to represent the public interest and engage politicians, but they may instead prioritize their own brand and celebrity status. While intended to facilitate transparency, confrontational styles could provide entertainment over meaningful discussion. Further, public inquisitors may misrepresent complex issues and not genuinely reflect public views and values. There are questions around whether they ultimately serve the public or themselves.
Lecture notes charting the origins and aims of documentary (mainly UK focus), with emphasis on ideological claims and critique of the various formats
Video playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRCHqijqFjGtbN0T8TSizGvuDA0NmEPk9
Follow up to my "Documenting Facts?" lecture looking at the ways in which documentaries have sought to expose the limitations of news when dealing with the 'war on terror' (focussing on Israel/Gaza).
There's an accompanying video playlist here:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRCHqijqFjGtbN0T8TSizGvuDA0NmEPk9
Lecture notes charting the origins and aims of documentary (mainly UK focus), with emphasis on ideological claims and critique of the various formats
Video playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRCHqijqFjGtbN0T8TSizGvuDA0NmEPk9
Follow up to my "Documenting Facts?" lecture looking at the ways in which documentaries have sought to expose the limitations of news when dealing with the 'war on terror' (focussing on Israel/Gaza).
There's an accompanying video playlist here:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRCHqijqFjGtbN0T8TSizGvuDA0NmEPk9
Networked Journalism and the Arab SpringRob Jewitt
Slides used in undergraduate media studies module at University of Sunderland
For the YouTube videos on the following slides skip to the following sections:
#34 - 9:00 -11:30
#38 - 9:50-11:30
Video of the conference can be found here: http://media.ruc.dk/2012-10-05_3/iframe2.html
Title: The Committee on Public Information: Persuading a nation to war
Paper Abstract: This paper discusses findings from an archival case study of the Committee on Public Information about how the cultural systems of propaganda, journalism and popular culture can be used in persuading, informing and entertaining of audiences to galvanize support for a cause. The Committee on Public Information (CPI) was an American government propaganda organisation credited with successfully mobilizing public opinion to gain support to enter World War I. The CPI had over twenty divisions. This study analyses three: the Division of News, composed of newspapermen to gain media support; the Four Minute Men, a national group of rhetorical orators who spoke at motion-picture houses; and the Division of Pictorial Publicity, a group of famous illustrators who created the only colour images available of the war.
A variety of opposed stakeholders, including immigrants of Irish and German descent, women who were considered dangerous pacifists, and businessmen whose industries were needed to generate war goods, were addressed through a transmedia campaign. Strategies of the campaign included media relations, endorsements by public figures and celebrities, and inducing citizen-to-citizen peer pressure at a local level, and social interaction on a local, state and national level. The CPI’s propaganda campaign utilized all media forms available at that time including the tactics of speeches, posters, buttons, music, school competitions, and fashion. The highly successful campaign rallied the nation to arms and war work, and convinced Americans to change their daily lives in order to ration war goods and financially support the war.
The study contributes to understanding how the expectations of persuasion, truth and amusement relate to each other when mediated in cultural systems. An analysis using close reading of archival documents and Yuri Lotman’s concept of the semiosphere found that media credibility and transmedia bridged a gap between disparate cultural systems to create a successful campaign.
The Citizen's Voice: Albert Hirschman's Exit, Voice and Loyalty and its Contr...Terry Flew
Presentation to "Keywords in Communication", 59th Annual Conference of the International Communications Association, Chicago, IL, USA, 21-25 May, 2009.
Abstract
The history of every art form has critical periods when that form strives towards effects that can easily achieved if the technical norm is changed, that is to say, in a new art form (Enzenberger, 1970). This paper examines the dynamics of news presented in a satirical comedic frame and considers if this new form of fictive entertainment is shaped by our postmodern world. Network news is not the only network program to conceal its symbolic fabrications in naturalistic film. Most movies, television series, and even advertisements present themselves as an unmediated reality. Network news programs are constructed not only from shared ―referential frames‖ and their common symbiotic relationship to established power, but also from the paradigmatic and syntagmatic operations that manufacture the news as narrative discourse (Stam, 2000). The focus of this paper considers Jon Stewart‘s, The Daily Show impact on blurring the boundaries between news and entertainment shaped by societal forces.
A workshop hosted by the South African Journal of Science aimed at postgraduate students and early career researchers with little or no experience in writing and publishing journal articles.
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
This slide is special for master students (MIBS & MIFB) in UUM. Also useful for readers who are interested in the topic of contemporary Islamic banking.
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
Model Attribute Check Company Auto PropertyCeline George
In Odoo, the multi-company feature allows you to manage multiple companies within a single Odoo database instance. Each company can have its own configurations while still sharing common resources such as products, customers, and suppliers.
4. ‘CRISIS’
Charles Kennedy interview (2002)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2136338.stm
Tabloidisation
Dumbing down
Sound bite culture
4
5. THE ‘CRISIS OF PUBLIC
COMMUNICATION’
Blumler and Gurevitch (1995: 203)
The media provide an „impoverished‟ means of
serving up issues that matter to the public
Current ways of engaging the public with
important issues actually resulted in them
knowing less about the issue at stake
5
6. THE ‘CRISIS OF PUBLIC
COMMUNICATION’
Political elites accused of internalising a media-inspired
desire to be both entertaining and appealing the public
(See Postman, 1987; Franklin, 2004)
6
7. THE ‘CRISIS OF PUBLIC
COMMUNICATION’
Political elites accused of internalising a media-inspired
desire to be both entertaining and appealing the public
(See Postman, 1987; Franklin, 2004)
7
8. THE ‘CRISIS OF PUBLIC
COMMUNICATION’
Gordon’s fake smile
8
9. THE ‘CRISIS OF PUBLIC
COMMUNICATION’
Political elites accused of internalising a media-inspired
desire to be both entertaining and appealing the public
(See Postman, 1987; Franklin, 2004)
OR
Modifying political discourse so it meets the needs of the
media might be beneficial as it might bring much needed
clarity when dealing with complex political issues and
engage the public more widely
(Norris 2000; Jones 2005; Temple 2008).
9
10. CELEBRITY AND THE
PUBLIC INQUISITOR
„Celebrity culture‟ as negative?
Concerns since the 1950s
The construction and maintenance of a celebrity image is
central to the marketing of contemporary politicians (P. D.
Marshall, 1997)
David Cameron – PR specialist
Head of Communications at
Carlton TV
10
12. CELEBRITY
JOURNALISTS
They inquire on behalf of the public
Empowered by their civil responsibility to engage their
quarry in an interrogative mode
The public prefers this over „gentle probing‟ (see Ross, 2004)
12
14. PERSONALITY
JOURNALISM
The public inquisitor is thought to represent a particularly
malign form of personality journalism (at least by politicians!)
“the whole thing has been taken to a quite different level by the
hostile, bantering, sneering, cynical performing celebrity
interviewers” (Kenneth Clark, above, cited in Cockerell 2003)
“Newszak” (Franklin, 1997: 13)
14
16. PERSONALITY
JOURNALISM
Hostility = trouble
2005: BBC was forced to defend Paxman and
Humphreys in front of House of Lords Select
Committee
Politicians complained they were „not given
sufficient respect and are often disparaged‟
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/435329
9.stm
16
17. THE ROLE
Complex rhetorical strategy
Frequently they ask questions to which they already know
the answer so as to further incriminate the respondent at a
latter stage
inquisitor Vs. interviewee
viewers
17
18. THE ROLE
Shift their „footing‟ (Clayman, 1992, 2002):
- institutional media representative
- concerned citizen
- oppositional party‟s position
18
19. JEREMY PAXMAN
Long career at the BBC (since 1977)
Born in Leeds
Currently lives in affluent Oxfordshire and
Earns in excess of £1 million per year from the BBC alone.
One of his sisters is a producer for BBC Radio
One of his brothers is the British Ambassador to Spain
Privately educated at Malvern College
Read English at St Catherine‟s, Cambridge (Masters degree)
BBC series Who Do You Think You Are revealed he was
descended from 14th C politician Roger Packsman.
Presents University Challenge
Regular on BBC Radio 4
Published widely
19
20. PAXMAN’S PERSONA
Higgens (2010: 100) claims what is significant is that „the
form of engagement and mediated persona developed in
political programming is the very one that is used in
University Challenge‟
The „public face‟ of „brand-Paxman‟ = highbrow intellectual
Authenticity is crucial to his success and to undermine this
„front‟ is to damage the „brand‟
20
22. PAXMAN’S PERSONA…
… Is to the disadvantage of any politician seeking to
dissemble, conceal, or tell outright lies
… Designed to make politicians or the powerful
uncomfortable
22
23. CRITIQUE
Too much emphasis on a confrontational mode of
engagement, and provides more a competition of wit
and obstinacy than a search for political meaning and
consistency (Barnett and Gaber 2001: 144)
Jon Snow has suggested that there is an undue
emphasis placed upon “cynicism” over “rigour”
(quoted in Thorpe 2005).
23
25. SUMMARY
How appropriate are public inquisitors for facilitating the
public‟s right to know?
Do they function as a proxy and is this an ideal when they may
be compromised by the requirement to build their own „brand‟
Have they descended into shock tactics to solicit results from
their guests – our elected representatives?
Do they represent the interest of the public, or some notional
„public opinion‟ – a tool they frequently employ or brandish as
justification for their trade?
25
26. REFERENCES
Barnett, S. and I. Gaber. 2001. Westminster Tales: The Twenty-First- Century Crisis in Political Journalism. London: Continuum.
Blumler, J.G. and M. Gurevitch. 1995. The Crisis of Public Communication. London: Routledge.
Clayman, S.E. 1992. “Footing in the Achievement of Neutrality: the Case of News-Interview Discourse.” In P. Drew and J. Heritage (eds)
Talk at Work: Interaction in Institutional Settings, pp. 163–98. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Clayman, S.E. 2002. “Tribune of the People: Maintaining the Legitimacy of Aggressive Journalism.” Media, Culture & Society 24: 197–
216.
Cockerell, M. 2003. “Who is to blame for making us sick of politics?” The Guardian, February 4. Available online at
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,888415,00.html.
Franklin, B. 2004. Packaging Politics: Political Communications in Britain’s Media Democracy, 2nd edition, London: Arnold.
Gnisci, A. and M. Bonaiuto. 2003. “Grilling Politicians: Politicians‟ Answers to Questions in Television Interviews and Courtroom
Examinations.” Journal of Language & Social Psychology 22: 385–413.
Habermas, J. 1992. “Further Reflections on the Public Sphere.” In C. Calhoun (ed.) Habermas and the Public Sphere, pp. 421–61.
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Jones, J.P. 2005. Entertaining Politics: New Political Television and Civic Culture. Oxford: Rowan and Littlefield.
Louw, E. 2005. The Media and Political Process. London, Sage.
Marshall, P.D. 2005. “Intimately Intertwined in the Most Public Way: Celebrity and Journalism.” In S. Allan (ed.) Journalism: Critical
Issues, pp. 19–29. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
McNair, B. 2000. Journalism and Democracy: An Evaluation of the Political Public Sphere. Routledge: London.
Montgomery, M. 2007. The Discourse of Broadcast News. Abingdon: Routledge.
Norris, P. 2000. A Virtuous Cycle: Political Communications in Postindustrial Societies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Postman, N. 1987. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. London: Methuen
Ross, K. 2004. “Political Talk Radio and Democratic Participation: Caller Perspectives on Election Call.” Media, Culture & Society 26:
785–801.
Schudson, M. 1995. The Power of News. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Street, J. 2004. “Celebrity Politicians: Popular Culture and Political Representation.” British Journal of Politics & International Relations
6: 435–52.
Temple, M. 2008. The British Press. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Thorpe, V. 2005. “Snow wants Paxman to show respect.” The Observer, April 17, p. 12.
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