integrating theory--dialogue
15 years ago
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Media Agendas
Chapter 28 talks about Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw's Agenda setting theory. McCombs and Shaw use a quote from Bernhard Cohen, he says on page 360 that the press are not always successful in telling people what to think about, but they are stunningly successful in telling its readers what to think about. I thought Griffins account of the newspaper articles on the final-four. He noted that the framing that the newspaper used by the placement of the articles and the length of the articles. I am not a huge newspaper reader, I usually watch the news or check out stories on the internet. When I do read the newspaper, I tend to only read the front page or the stories that have interesting headlines and pictures. Without even knowing I have been sucked in to that media outlets framing.
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The media set our agenda. They do have the power to tell us what to think about because we rely on them to update us on the important news of the country. I am not much of a news paper reader either I prefer looking on the internet and watching tv to get my news. The media are supposed to be unbiased. But they pick and choose so much which stories are told and which aren't, along with where they are placed. For the media to be completely unbiased they would have to publish every story they get with equal length and random placement.
It's funny how what seems to be such a simple thing is actually a very well planned out strategy. Framing a paper is no simple task. I've worked on staff at a few papers and I know that it is definitely hard work trying to figure out that front page. Newspapers, definitely try to get you to think about certain things when you glance at the front cover. They calculate where your eyes wander first and what will be the most catching font and the most catching visual.
The newspaper and overall media influence is exceptionally prevalent in all aspects of our culture. The articles and information that is chosen to be dispersed to the masses. The question becomes what is the criteria for the information. It was noted that the media may not shape our opinion, but it will shape the topic, so that we have an opinion. My question is who chooses the topics, and what makes them think that it will sell their meida empire. Is it the stories and information which involves aspects of fear, such as murders, rapes, and crime. This information is truly interesting.
As Marikamania points out, the media do to a large extent set the agenda, identifying what's important and what isn't. However, there are ways to broaden the topics you learn about by seeking out alternative media and those outside the U.S. For example, you'll get a very different view of the U.S. presidential elections from foreign newspapers. You'll also find out more about what's going on in other parts of the world.
I thought that media aagendas were pretty interesting. I think that we often dont see that we are doing exactly what they anticipated us doing. Reading certain articles in newspapers is a perfect example. I think that it is interesting that there are people that just are hired to plan these things out. To make sure they run smoothly and are accurate. I also think it is interesting that we give them the power to tell us how and what to think about, but we probably dont nessessarily monitor them to the fullest.
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