Bahar

Bahar

• 1.
  Making the Choice“Ourpolitics, religion, news, athletics, education and commerce have been transformed into congenial adjuncts of show business, largely without protest or even much popular notice. The result is that we are a people on the verge of amusing ourselves to death.”-Neil Postman
• 2.
  Hard News vs.Soft NewsHard NewsFocuses on facts
• 3.
  Who? What? Where?When? Why?Soft NewsSensational, personality oriented, less time-bound
• 4.
  Focuses on drama,human-interest themes, trivial stories
• 5.
  Emphasis on conflict,emotion, evocative visual imagery, interpersonal interaction
• 6.
  Disproportionate interest incelebrity, sports, lifestyle topics
• 7.
  Celebration of newscastersas marketable personalitiesCommunication RevolutionsPrinting Press (1830)Rise of the Penny Press and Yellow JournalismLaunch of the First US TV Satellite (1968)Transmissionof stories is faster and more widespreadCommunication RevolutionsPortable Video Camera TechnologiesStories can be filmed remotely
• 8.
  Ability to coverbreaking stories Live
• 9.
  Leads to competitionamong networksThe InternetAbundance of information and news sources
• 10.
  Audience as contentproducer
• 11.
  Popularity of citizenjournalismMaking the Choice: TheoriesUses and GratificationsPeople have the desire to be entertained
• 12.
  People want toescape from stressful, depressing realitiesAgenda SettingUse of celebrities to attract younger audiences that have lost interest in traditional journalism
• 13.
  Rise of Politainment– celebrity involvement in politics that capitalizes on popularity to affect voting decisions
• 14.
  Blurs the understandingof political realityEffects on the News MediaThe media landscape is fragmentedThe emergence of new types of media and technologies have created an overwhelming number of news sources for consumersThe news media is polarizedThe market-driven nature of the industry makes it easy for media organizations to capitalize on niche demographicsAs a result, it is easier for people to find the information they WANT instead of the information they NEED.
• 15.
  Who is theAudience?Characteristics of people who prefer soft news:Inattentive
• 16.
  Not engaged withpolitics and therefore don’t seek information through hard news sources
• 17.
  Homogenous in beliefswith a lack of minority representation, which can lead to isolationismEffects of ChoiceSoft News serves as an alternative that:Reinforces existing beliefs
• 18.
  Simplifies information justenough to inform political attitudes and voting behavior
• 19.
  Encourages audiences tojudge stories based on morals instead of factual analysis
• 20.
  Uses propaganda techniquesto create a sense of urgency about issues
• 21.
  Creates an atmosphereof good vs. evil as a framework for thinking about issuesEffects of ChoiceSoft News makes the public more cynicalPeople believe that news has gotten worse, more sensational and more depressing
• 22.
  The rise ofinfotainment news shows focus more on entertainment than political strategy
• 23.
  People question thecredibility of journalismBut it may have some benefitsIt connects politics with popular culture and gives the public a place within politics
• 24.
  It serves asa checks and balance system for an increasingly polarized news media
• 25.
  It diversifies thenews audience by at least raising awareness of issues among the inattentive publicEffects of Choice