Lecture7Review

=Class 7: Objectivity and Truth in Media= This is just a copy of of the Professor Jones powerpoint text to use as a reference/guideline, add any notes or links you may have that elaborates on his points for each heading. toc

Media and trust
• In global society, we depend on media sources to relay information about events and locations well outside our immediate experience • Implicit trust that the information we get is valuable

Survey
• From what sources do you get information about important national/international events? • In a given week, approximate how much time to you spend consulting each source? • How much do you trust these sources? (1-5 scale, 1 =trust hardly at all; 5= completely trust)

Objectivity in Mass Media
• Early history of news - localized press, often blatantly biased and controlled by power • Objectivity as journalistic imperative - “just the facts” reporting

Why objectivity?
• Response corporate or government censorship • Democratization of access - “fair access” efforts • Economic incentive - just the facts reporting offends less people, broadening market base • Increases perceived truth

A difficult balancing act
• Neutral vs. investigative • Fair vs. pointed • Too much “just the facts” - can lead to laundry lists of facts, no investigation of truth value, no synthesis of information

Problems with Objectivity
• An excuse for lazy reporting - one side, other side, no fact-checking or attempt at synthesis • If one side is considerably more powerful (e.g., government, corporation) - esp. if they hide or obfuscate facts • Big problems have multiple opinions - reduction to false dichotomy does not help

Media Bias
• Fox News slogans: “fair and balanced” is objectively anything but - but repeated as mantra all the same • “We report, you decide” - reportage is often very one-sided, with other side ineffectually represented or slanted

Gatekeeping bias
• Mass media - limited space for investigation, editing is required • What is and is not included? • How much space is given? • What is the order of items? • All these influence audience interpretation of importance

Bias and reporting
• Reporters are human beings - they conform to social norms • Realize that certain stories “sell” better, which increase fame, fortune • Conflict and common stories easier • Events vs. process stories - process is harder to relate, less done Ex: Investigative Reporting • Transparent subjectivity - biases and framing known and part of dialogue • Encourage not just factual regurgitation but analysis, argument and expertise • Can be popular - but also can be expensive

Notes:
Ex: Al-Jazeera • Satellite television based in Qatar • Broke through traditional Arab language TV, much of which was centrally controlled • Managed to alienate both Middle Eastern and American power bases - but very popular on the ground • Caused considerable change and innovation in Arab-language TV because of its strident commitment to objectivity

Enter the Internet
• New media - flattens hierarchy of producer/consumer, opens avenues for publication • Already has had strong impact on delivery of news and information -examples?

Example: Blogs
• Blogs - focused, often quite partisan analysis of current events • Dives into particular events of interest in great depth - amateur investigative reporting • Communities built - not just passive reception but active participation

Example: YouTube
• Amateur videos of events can be shared • Cheaper delivery of formal ads • Video mashing and informal political advertisement examples • Leverages word of mouth sharing for distribution

Limitations of New Media
• Ghettoization of opinion - people hang out in like-minded communities and never hear alternative sides • Veracity of information can be dubious and spread rapidly - hoaxes • Amateur production - amateur results

Mass/New Media Relations
• Blogs/YouTube filled with sources from traditional media • Mass news media increasingly scooped by Internet sources and use Internet sources to verify or support stories • Major news services move on Internet, create their own information sources