Hello Future Media Analyst! Welcome to Representations in the News (9257)
Welcome to one of the most exciting and relevant parts of Media Studies: how news shapes our world view! Don't worry if this topic feels complex—we all consume news every day, so you already have a head start.
In this chapter, we are moving beyond simply identifying what's in a news story. We will learn how media producers (editors, journalists, social media platforms) actively construct versions of reality through selection and framing. Understanding this is key to succeeding in the Media Representations section of your exam!
1. News: Not a Mirror, but a Window (A Selective One!)
The core concept of representation is crucial here: the news media does not simply present reality; it represents reality. This means they select, interpret, and shape events.
The Construction of Reality
If two news channels report on the exact same event, why do the stories feel different? Because news is always a construction, influenced by three main processes:
- Selection: Editors choose which stories make it to the front page and which are ignored.
- Omission: Facts or perspectives that don't fit the chosen angle are left out.
- Mediation: The reality is filtered through the specific medium (TV, print, social media) and the codes and conventions of journalism.
Analogy: Think of the news editor as a chef. They don't just hand you raw ingredients (facts); they cook, season, and plate a dish (the news story). The final product is a version of reality, not raw reality itself.
The Relationship Between Ideology and Representation
The representations we see in the news are often linked to ideology—the set of beliefs and values held by the people producing the media (or the wider society).
- Dominant Representations: These support the prevailing views and power structures in society (e.g., unquestioning support for certain national institutions).
- Subversive Representations: These challenge the dominant ideology, often giving a voice to marginalised groups or presenting a critical viewpoint.
Key Takeaway: Never assume a news story is simply "the truth." It is always a curated, constructed, and mediated version of reality.
2. The Gatekeepers: News Values and Agenda-Setting
If journalists can’t cover everything that happens in the world, how do they decide what to report? They use criteria known as News Values.
What are News Values?
News Values are the professional criteria used by journalists and editors to determine whether an event is newsworthy. The higher the score on these values, the more likely a story is to be reported.
Common News Values (you should be able to identify these):
- Timeliness: Is it happening now? (New events are always preferred.)
- Proximity: Is it geographically or culturally close to the audience? (*e.g., a local flood is more relevant than one far away*).
- Impact/Scale: How many people are affected? (The bigger the impact, the better.)
- Clarity/Simplicity: Can the story be easily understood? (Complex issues are often simplified.)
- Personalisation: Can the story be centred around an individual or celebrity? (*People relate better to individual human stories*.)
- Unusualness/Unexpectedness: Is it rare or shocking? ("If it bleeds, it leads.")
- Continuity: Is it a story already running that can be easily updated? (*e.g., following a political trial or ongoing disaster relief*).
Memory Aid: Remember the key purpose of news values: They explain the selection and omission in the construction process.
Agenda-Setting
The concept of Agenda-Setting explains the power of the news media.
- It suggests that the media doesn't tell us what to think, but rather what to think about.
- By repeatedly selecting and highlighting certain issues (e.g., inflation, climate change, migration), the media ensures those issues become important topics in public discourse.
Did you know? If every major news outlet ignores a serious problem, then that problem effectively does not exist on the public agenda.
3. Bias, Authenticity, and Truth Claims
News outlets often promise to deliver "the facts," but the reality is that complete neutrality is incredibly difficult. We need tools to analyse the presence of bias.
Objectivity and Subjectivity in Reporting
The journalistic ideal is Objectivity, meaning the report is based purely on verifiable facts and attempts to be impartial.
- Subjectivity: Involves the reporter’s personal opinions, feelings, or interpretations influencing the report.
- Often, news reports include subjective language or use selective quotes and images that favour a certain perspective, even if the facts themselves are accurate.
Partiality and Impartiality
Impartiality means being completely neutral and unbiased. Partiality means taking a side or favouring one view over others.
- State-funded broadcasters (like the BBC in the UK) often have a legal mandate to be impartial.
- However, commercial news sources or partisan newspapers (which openly support a specific political party) may display high levels of partiality, deliberately representing events in a way that aligns with their editorial stance.
Authenticity and Trust
Authenticity refers to the perception of a news product as being genuine, credible, and truthful. This is why news organisations use formal codes:
- Formal layout, mastheads, clear sourcing, and professional presenters all contribute to an audience’s trust and belief in the product's authenticity.
- When different media (e.g., a serious newspaper vs. a satirical news site) represent the same event, the difference in codes (language, image selection) directly affects the perceived authenticity.
Fake News and Misinformation
In the digital age, these terms are vital to understand:
- Fake News: This is deliberately fabricated content designed to deceive. It is often created for political or economic gain (e.g., attracting clicks or spreading propaganda).
- Misinformation: False information that is spread unintentionally. Someone might share a rumour they believe to be true.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse bias (partiality) with fake news. A biased report still uses real facts, just selectively. Fake news uses false facts entirely.
4. The Digital Revolution and News Representations
The rise of the internet and social media has drastically changed how news is produced, consumed, and represented.
Citizen Journalism
When an ordinary person uses social media, mobile phones, or blogs to report news events, they are acting as a Citizen Journalist.
- Impact: It provides immediacy and eyewitness accounts that professional media might miss. (*e.g., footage of a major incident uploaded seconds after it happens*).
- Representations: These representations are often raw, unfiltered, and highly subjective, contrasting sharply with the polished, mediated versions offered by large news corporations.
Social Media's Impact on News Representations
Social media has influenced news representations in two key ways:
A. Customisation and the Filter Bubble
Social media algorithms learn what users like and want to see. This allows the user to customise their news feeds.
- While this feels user-friendly, it creates a "filter bubble" or "echo chamber," where users are only shown representations that confirm their existing beliefs.
- This can lead to a fragmentation of shared reality, making it harder for audiences to understand opposing viewpoints.
B. The Rise of Clickbait
Online news is often funded by advertising based on traffic (clicks). This drives the use of Clickbait.
- Clickbait: Headlines or thumbnails designed to be sensational, provocative, or incomplete to ensure the user clicks the link.
- The economic pressure to gain clicks often leads to a prioritisation of low-quality, high-drama content over authentic, detailed journalism.
- This representation style focuses on maximum emotional reaction rather than factual depth.
Quick Review: Key Terms Checklist
You must be able to define and exemplify these terms:
- News Values: Criteria used for story selection.
- Agenda-Setting: The power to determine what the public discusses.
- Partiality/Impartiality: Bias or neutrality in reporting.
- Authenticity: The perceived truthfulness and credibility of the source.
- Fake News/Misinformation: Deliberate deception vs. accidental falsehood.
- Citizen Journalism: Reporting by non-professionals.
- Clickbait: Sensational headlines driven by economic motive.
Keep practising your analysis by comparing how different news outlets (e.g., a print newspaper vs. a rolling TV news feed) cover the same major story. You’ve got this!