How does the media shape our opinions Essential Questions What is bias Is bias inherent in the news media What can news consumers do about bias in the news How does freedom of the press function in todays society ID: 273331
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Slide1
Bias in the Media
How does the media shape our opinions?Slide2
Essential Questions?
What is “bias”? Is bias inherent in the news media?
What can news consumers do about bias in the news?
How does freedom of the press function in today’s society?
Should the news media follow ethical guidelines? What and why?
What is our role as news consumers?Slide3
What is
M
edia Bias?
Most news organizations strive for clarity, fairness and accuracy, yet the public often gives the media low marks for credibility.
In the modern society, mass media represents the dominant mean of social communication, giving to the individuals and to the groups a permanent intense stream of data, facts and ideas
.
When the information is transmitted through mass media, it proposes certain meanings, building a certain image about the world.Slide4
The New York Times
As seen in the NYT September 18
th
, 2012:
Romney
told reporters Monday night that his remarks were “not elegantly stated” and were “spoken off the cuff.” But he says Obama's approach is “attractive to people who are not paying taxes.”Slide5
Revised Paragraph
Mr. Romney addressed the video, somewhat awkwardly, at a fund-raiser Monday night in Costa Mesa, Calif., summoning reporters with a few moments’ notice to walk through the
Segerstrom
Center for the Arts, which was filled with guests sipping drinks at tables elegantly draped in blue cloths
.
The first one simply conveys facts, the second one adds commentary designed to paint a picture of bumbling with “somewhat awkwardly” and of elitism with “guests sipping drinks at tables elegantly draped in blue cloths.”Slide6
Original text from article
Jim Messina, Obama's campaign manager, said in a statement Monday evening that it was “shocking” that Romney would “go behind closed doors” to describe nearly half of the country in such terms.Slide7
Revised Article Online
Mr. Romney,
who has been under fire for releasing only two years of his tax returns
, was quickly attacked by the Obama campaign. Jim Messina, Mr. Obama’s campaign manager, said in a statement Monday evening that it was “shocking” that Mr. Romney would “go behind closed doors” to describe nearly half of the country in such terms
.
Less stating of facts and commenting on Romney personally. Slide8
Elections are targets of the Media:
In an age of timeliness and demand for information, the media plays a crucial role in informing the public about politics, campaigns and
elections.
Positives: Gets information out quickly/ in real time.
Negatives:
M
edia
helps influence what issues voters
“should”
care
about.Slide9
Social Media
Why target Online Voters?
Social Media Users are:
More Politically oriented. Facebook users are 2x more likely to engage in politics.
More Active: 5x more likely to recruit friends to join campaigns/vote.
Networking: People on twitter average 840 connections.
Raise more $ for candidates than non-users. (Campaigns using social media get 40% more contributions/donations than non-users.
(Source; Frank Barry of
NPEngage
fundraising group) Slide10
2008 Presidential DebateSlide11
From SNL Slide12
Nixon v. Kennedy
Kennedy
vs. Nixon - 1st 1960 Debate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QazmVHAO0osSlide13
Does the Media Exaggerate the news
H1N1 disease, commonly known as the swine flu
. CNN
predicted 90,000 deaths, when only 4,000 deaths occurred in America.Slide14
Dozens Report UFO Over New York City
By FRANK ROSARIO
Published October 14,
2010
New
York PostSlide15
Questions to consider
Some people think the news is too “liberal” some think it is too “conservative” How can this be?
Is asking tough questions by a journalist being “bias”?
How can you identify bias in the media?
What can you do about it
?
Does the government have a right to control what the public is being told? (
ie
:
Wikileaks
)