COM 226, Summer 2011

PPT #4

Includes chapter 8, part of chapter 24, of DeFleur textbook

The original notion is from photography and filmmaking—refers to what is apparent to the viewer “inside the frame”…what is outside the frame is unseen and unknown

Framing has also been defined as “the highlighting of certain aspects of a news story to make them more noticeable” (Entman, 1993)

1953 McArthur Day parade (textbook) Lang & Lang’s study of television framing Those who saw the parade live experienced a

very different event than those who watched on TV On TV: Crowds; enthusiasm; Mrs. McArthur

closeups; speeches by dignitaries

“News is not truth” The Theory:

Press systematically monitors events via the surveillance function

Press selects news based on news-value criteria—a gatekeeping function

Press has logistics limitations (time, money, etc.)

Thus, news is characterized by selectivity, omissions, distortions

From this news, audiences construct a pseudo-environment (as a result of framing)

Thus, flawed beliefs lead to flawed public opinion which leads to flawed public policies

Mumia Abu Jamal VIDEO—Framing an Execution: The Media &

Mumia Abu Jamal

The News of the World scandalVIDEO—The Daily Show segment from

7/11/11

Mumia Abu Jamal VIDEO—Framing an Execution: The Media &

Mumia Abu Jamal

The News of the World scandalVIDEO—The Daily Show segment from

7/11/11

What framings does each reveal? How is each an actual case of framing in

itself?