The document discusses different views of the relationship between the media, the state, and the political process. It begins by outlining two views: that the media is controlled by powerful companies who impose their views, and that the media acts as a watchdog criticizing politicians. It then provides learning objectives about discussing the role of mass media in democracies and authoritarian regimes. Finally, it outlines various theories including the pluralist view that media reflects a range of interests, the Marxist view that media reinforces the status quo, and neo-Marxist and postmodernist critiques of these views.
The presentation is a simple breakdown of the theory with examples from an Indian as well as international Media context. The intent of the same is to understand the theory with real life instances of where it is used.
The presentation is a simple breakdown of the theory with examples from an Indian as well as international Media context. The intent of the same is to understand the theory with real life instances of where it is used.
Indexing theory of political mass communication - Prepared by Fiza Zia Ul HannanDr. Fiza Zia Ul Hannan
Inspired by the work of Hallin, W. Lance Bennett introduced the “Indexing” theory in his article “Toward a Theory of Press-State Relations in the United States” (1990). The theory also known as indexing hypothesis and indexing model was proposed on the basis of a study that was conducted on the New York Times’ coverage of the United States’ involvement with Nicaraguan contras. Bennett’s preliminary indexing hypothesis states: “mass-media news professionals tend to ”index” the range of voices and viewpoints in both news and editorials according to the range of views expressed in the mainstream government debate about foreign affairs topics” - (Bennett 1990).
Resources are an integral and necessary component of social movement mobilization.
Media exposure represents an important resource for movements having few
assets. Therefore, many movements consciously seek media attention to enhance
their chance of success. This article argues that media attention often impedes
movement success. The positive or negative outcome of media attention largely
depends on how media agents "frame" movement goals and actions. How the
media frames movement protest is an unknown outcome for a movement. Decisions
about framing depend on several factors, some of which lie outside the
control of movement actors. I use NBC EveningNews coverage of Native American
protest from 1968 - 1979 in an attempt to understand these factors. This case
study shows the dysfunctions of media attention.
Bennett’s hypothesis contradicts the popular image of the media as a watchdog; it constantly looks over the shoulders of the ones in power. However, Robinson’s model uses the indexing theory as a foundation but still opens up for instances when the media may assert influence on a policy decision (lapdog).
In this lecture, part of the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville's Great Decisions program, I explore the relationship between the current media landscape, democracy, and foreign policy.
Opinion polls companies are major stakeholders, if not actors, in the 2013 General Election campaigns.
Polls are regularly reported and commented on in the media. They are an inseparable part of news coverage as there is no more accurate way to gauge the sentiments of the voters, at a given time, than through a carefully designed and executed opinion poll.
But polls are also criticized, especially by political party leaders who disregard results that do not favor them and by some civil society actors who say they promote a two-horse race campaign. The situation has forced opinion poll researchers and company managers to appear on political TV and radio shows to defend their methodology, and their integrity.
Kenyans can remember that in the run up to the 2007 General Election, the media’s lack of capacity to contextualize and analyze data led to confusion when the results didn’t match predictions. The media had failed to explain the difference between polling data and election results.
Internews in Kenya recently trained a group of radio journalists to improve the use, analysis and reporting of opinion polls. Over 25 journalists were taught to scrutinize the methodology of different polling firms.
When has a poll been conducted according to accepted professional standards? When does a poll’s findings have legitimate news value? What is an appropriate way to publish or broadcast newsy poll findings?
Internews in Kenya Democracy and Governance Programs Director Brice Rambaud responds in the following Power Point presentation.
Indexing theory of political mass communication - Prepared by Fiza Zia Ul HannanDr. Fiza Zia Ul Hannan
Inspired by the work of Hallin, W. Lance Bennett introduced the “Indexing” theory in his article “Toward a Theory of Press-State Relations in the United States” (1990). The theory also known as indexing hypothesis and indexing model was proposed on the basis of a study that was conducted on the New York Times’ coverage of the United States’ involvement with Nicaraguan contras. Bennett’s preliminary indexing hypothesis states: “mass-media news professionals tend to ”index” the range of voices and viewpoints in both news and editorials according to the range of views expressed in the mainstream government debate about foreign affairs topics” - (Bennett 1990).
Resources are an integral and necessary component of social movement mobilization.
Media exposure represents an important resource for movements having few
assets. Therefore, many movements consciously seek media attention to enhance
their chance of success. This article argues that media attention often impedes
movement success. The positive or negative outcome of media attention largely
depends on how media agents "frame" movement goals and actions. How the
media frames movement protest is an unknown outcome for a movement. Decisions
about framing depend on several factors, some of which lie outside the
control of movement actors. I use NBC EveningNews coverage of Native American
protest from 1968 - 1979 in an attempt to understand these factors. This case
study shows the dysfunctions of media attention.
Bennett’s hypothesis contradicts the popular image of the media as a watchdog; it constantly looks over the shoulders of the ones in power. However, Robinson’s model uses the indexing theory as a foundation but still opens up for instances when the media may assert influence on a policy decision (lapdog).
In this lecture, part of the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville's Great Decisions program, I explore the relationship between the current media landscape, democracy, and foreign policy.
Opinion polls companies are major stakeholders, if not actors, in the 2013 General Election campaigns.
Polls are regularly reported and commented on in the media. They are an inseparable part of news coverage as there is no more accurate way to gauge the sentiments of the voters, at a given time, than through a carefully designed and executed opinion poll.
But polls are also criticized, especially by political party leaders who disregard results that do not favor them and by some civil society actors who say they promote a two-horse race campaign. The situation has forced opinion poll researchers and company managers to appear on political TV and radio shows to defend their methodology, and their integrity.
Kenyans can remember that in the run up to the 2007 General Election, the media’s lack of capacity to contextualize and analyze data led to confusion when the results didn’t match predictions. The media had failed to explain the difference between polling data and election results.
Internews in Kenya recently trained a group of radio journalists to improve the use, analysis and reporting of opinion polls. Over 25 journalists were taught to scrutinize the methodology of different polling firms.
When has a poll been conducted according to accepted professional standards? When does a poll’s findings have legitimate news value? What is an appropriate way to publish or broadcast newsy poll findings?
Internews in Kenya Democracy and Governance Programs Director Brice Rambaud responds in the following Power Point presentation.
A powerpoint slide presentation on Agenda Setting Theory. A topic under Communication Theory subject. How the media can be manipulative in controlling what that we feels important news today? By NurSyazreen Marican
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
Slide show prepared for a series of lectures on the media and American politics for PS 101 American Government at the University of Kentucky, Fall 2007. Dr. Christopher S. Rice, Lecturer.
Traditionally, media coverage of political campaigns has been shaped by working routines that constitute a set of “rules” journalists follow. How did these rules fare in the U.S. 2016 election?
2. 2 views of the media
•The media is in the hands of a
Free airing of social and political few powerful companies who
issues where opinions differ. Act impose their views on us. The
as watchdogs, criticising role of the media is to distort
politicians and the powerful when reality, justifying the deep
they override the interests of inequalities of wealth that exist at
ordinary people the same time keeping the masses
happy with pictures of attractive
women and stories of sex and
sport
3. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Discuss
• the role of the mass media in the political
process
• Democracies and authoritarian regimes
• State censorship
4. To what extent do the press
promote democracy in Britain?
• Democracy: a system of government that
involves some form of election by the
people
p ect
l as
gica ed
d eolo valu
a n i t is a c ie t y
has se i o
lso ecau n our s
A b i
ure
feat
5. Reporting styles
• Axford identifies 3 broadcasting styles for
political coverage
– REACTIVE – party campaigners are reported
in a mainly descriptive fashion. (Photo
opportunities and leader profiles)
– REBELLIOUS – broadcasters set their own
agenda (not always as the parties would wish)
– REFLECTIVE – analytical and thoughtful
when looking at the issues and policies
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XTiI1e-wVc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B91Kwnpt7kk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2h28
John Prescott former Labour
Deputy Prime Minister
Suspend the Kyoto protocol
7. The media and the state
Regulation of the media serves to maintain the interests of the
powerful
• After WW2 there was an assumption of the free press. (free from
direct control of government)
• Government control was ad hoc and more concerned with the
structure and organisation of the media than their content
• Journalists and broadcasters had autonomy and were self regulating
• The main legal controls are
– Official secrets act (1989)
– The Prevention of Terrorism Act (1976) Pg 212 in Jones
– Laws of Libel and contempt and Jones make
– Privacy Laws (1997) brief notes
outlining each
8. • Propaganda
Literature: Desert
Storm/Desert Shield
1990/1991
• To help win that war quickly,
the U.S. Army created several
pieces of outstanding
psychological warfare literature.
• This image of Saddam Hussein
was designed as a wanted
poster, on light weigh paper, for
airdrop distribution. What was
its purpose?
9. created to redirect the guilt, if any,
felt by Iraqi soldiers, and to
encourage them to blame
everything bad on Saddam
Hussein since he is a criminal.
Thus, they might not fight with as
much enthusiasm or
determination.
10. ACTIVITY 1
• Media reporting
– Read pg 275 up to the ‘pluralist view’
– Answer the following questions
– Write a summary in no more than 100 words
11. 1. What effect did WW2 have on 2. What was the perceived risk of 3. Identify 3 ways in which
the way media reporting ? the media reporting on a General televised reporting of politics has
Election? changed ?
4. What is the role of a ‘spin 5. Why is the news of particular 6. How did the general public
doctor’ ? interest to sociologists? learn about political parties before
WW2?
12. ACTIVITY 2
• The pluralist view
– Read pg 275 –277 up to the mass-manipulative
view
– TRUE OR FALSE
– Summarise the pluralist view in no more than
100 words
13. ACTIVITY 3
• Marxist view
– Read pg 277 up to the Hegemonic view
– Answer questions
14. ACTIVITY 4
• Neo Marxist view
– Read pg 278 up to post-modernist
– Answer questions
– Summarise view in no more than 100 words
15. 1. What were the conclusions 2. Give an example of the 3. According to Hall (80) the
of GUMG study? language used that showed news is seen as closed text.
bias in the dispute Explain what this means.
4. In what way can the GUMG 5. How is the Hegemonic view 6. Explain how ‘good news’
findings be criticised? similar to Marxism? stories from Eastern media can
be viewed as propaganda
16. What were the Give an example of According to Hall
conclusions of the language used (80) the news is
GUMG study? that showed bias in seen as closed text.
the dispute Explain what this
Industrial relations favours Employers make ‘offers’ means.
the employers over the and ‘pleas’ whereas Events presented are
employed strikers make ‘demands’ partial and selective
and ‘threats’ revealing journalistic
values
In what way can the How is the Explain how ‘good
GUMG findings be Hegemonic view news’ stories from
criticised? similar to Eastern media can
Unrepresentative, no Marxism? be viewed as
evidence, not objective, Both see the media’s role propaganda
as maintaining and Focus is on increase in
reinforcing the status quo production and new public
in society facilities rather than crime
17. ACTIVITY 5
• Post Modernist view
– Read pg 279
– Baudrilland maintains the Gulf War didn’t happen.
– Draw a cartoon depicting what he means by this
18. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
A diminishing of the Audiences are better The content of The electorate gains
political process as able to assess the political debate comes by being better
media distort as well competence of second to its informed and more
as communicate government ministers presentation – images aware of political
messages dominate issues
It is simply the Politicians become The media Overall there is
inevitable result of more concerned with oversimplify and increased public
new technology and is their voice and trivialise political knowledge and citizen
beneficial to audiences appearance issues participation hence
greater government
accountability
Packaging political Parties are marketed The political message A widespread lack of
debates serves to like high street becomes less powerful public interest in
manipulate the public commodities and we than the projected politics associated
become disempowered image. At worst this with a cynical
consumers responding could be a means of evaluation of
only to the images on subverting democracy politicians in general
the boxes
19. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
THE STATE PLURALIST VIEW
THE MEDIA,
THE STATE
AND THE
POLITICAL PROCESS
MARXIST VIEW NEO MARXIST VIEW
Advantages and
disadvantages