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News CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
The First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
The First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
The First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
The First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
Associated Press -- http://www.ap.org/ • In 1844 Samuel Morse had invented the telegraph. • AP was started in 1848 – N.Y. papers sharing stories • By 1861, the Civil War was major continuing story. • “The Inverted Pyramid” – tell the most important information first, in case the telegraph wires were cut before the story was complete: • Who • What • Where • When CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
What is news? • Chet Huntley: “News is what I decide is news.” • It becomes news only when it is reported. • The individual journalist often makes that decision. • Recent UD grads are often making those decisions. CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
Typical American value system • Ethnocentrism – “foreign” “enemy troops” • Democracy & Capitalism • Small town pastoralism – Mayberry, Kuralt • Social order concern CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
Bias? • Persistent perception … BUT • 1971 – 1983 studies by Johnsone, Weaver, and Wilhoit – p. 259 • Comparing Gallop research with journalists’ demographics • U.S. journalists mirror U. S. society. CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
Why the bias perception? • News, by its very nature is concerned with change. • Change is usually more interesting than status quo. • Change is threatening. • Journalists view their role as that of watchdogs on the government. CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
Variables Affecting News • News Hole • News Flow • News Staffing • Perception of the organization’s audience • Availability of Material • Competition • Advertiser Influence • Corporate Policy • Source Pressure CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters
OTHER TOPICS Gatekeepers Web news resources Investigative Journalism Soft News Criteria: Accuracy, Balance, Fairness Interpretation Original Content / Packaging CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor Walters