Research Portfolio Media: Messages & Meanings BA Hons Media & Communication Bournemouth University James Deere i7670354

JAMES DEERE

CONTENTS

Section 1: News Cycle Analysis………………………………………………………………..…..1-3

Section 2: News values Analysis………………………………………………………………..……4

Section 3: Framing Analysis…………………………………………………………………………5-8

Section 4: Sources Analysis………………………………………………………………………..9-11

Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………………..12

JAMES DEERE

SECTION 1: NEWS CYCLE ANALYSIS

1

JAMES DEERE

Figure 1: News Cycle Coding Sheet. Coloured boxes represent reoccurring topics throughout the week.

2

JAMES DEERE

CRITICAL ANALYSIS Using Benton and Fraizer’s (1976) 3 levels of information holding to highlight the reoccurring level 2 sub-issues, each papers agenda-setting is seen to differentiate. Palmgreen and Clarke (1977) state that media plays different agenda-setting roles on local issues. In Bournemouth Daily Echo’s case content covers a range of seemingly extraneous, non-reoccurring stories which entertain local audience. However, no political stance is presented. Thus drawing public attention to more insignificant matters. The Daily Telegraph “force attention to certain issues” (Lang and Lang cited by Protess and McCombs 1991), in particular reference to EU Referendum. Reiteration of the sub-issue forms a public interest, however the publics attitude to the issue is shaped by the constant support for Cameron, hinting the Telegraphs political bias towards Conservative government. i newspaper exerts a balance of reoccurring topics and varied stories. The paper takes on notion that “many ‘hear’ but few ‘listen’” (Berelson cited by Protess and McCombs), as a variety of general and sub-issue topics are covered tending to a humans short attention span. Overall a papers serving to public interest is irrelevant, as what journalists perceive as newsworthy relates to current important issues (Protess and McCombs).

3

JAMES DEERE

SECTION 2: NEWS VALUES ANALYSIS

CRITICAL ANALYSIS Galtung and Ruge’s news values model possess irrelevance to what actually formulates news. The model forms inconsistencies in regards to how one states a story to have a certain news value. With unambiguity, how is one individuals judgement of interpretations comparative to others, as some may see beyond the story and compose ambiguous thoughts. The model also lists 12 values, which overcomplicates the process. Why would a journalist use formalised values that will cramp their freedom? (Hetherington 1985). The values don’t even act as a form of analysis. “News is the consequence of the human desire to know the state of surrounding” (Jeffres 1986) therefore, stating that these 12 values dictate newsworthiness is obscene when clear headlines presented do not present some values. Instead of formulating values, the conception of time should be taken primitively. After all, time is the one thing all use to distinguish which occurrences are or aren’t news (Jeffres 1986). Time also constructs relevance to present day - old news has no purpose with current affairs. In conjunction with Roshco’s 3 possessions of timely news; recency, immediacy and currency (1975), better understanding as to valid application a story has in newspapers can be drawn upon.

4

JAMES DEERE

SECTION 3: FRAMING ANALYSIS

5

JAMES DEERE

6

JAMES DEERE

7

JAMES DEERE

CRITICAL ANALYSIS The Daily Telegraphs ‘Brexit’ article discusses movement of the ‘jungle’ to England. However, the migrants’ stance themselves is ruled out in favour of the prime minister. Kahneman and Tversky discovered how decision-making is framed to affect peoples beliefs on the outcome of selection, one option over the other (1984). The option of not allowing migrants here over sympathy for them in this case. By excluding their opinion, they are seen as outsiders and invaders of our land. Effectively journalist frames of an issue function on elites and other sources frame (Pattersons 1993 cited by Schuefele 1999). This can be reiterated through multiple instances. i’s article on prisons does not mention an alternative fix to the problem nor are there negatives on the proposed procedure. David Cameron is presented to hold a solution. Daily Telegraphs Hogan-Howe story mentions his ‘bungled’ actions, rather than not produce viewpoints on Lord Bramall’s consequential behaviour. Furthermore, their article on the Jihadist presents no reasoning behind the terrorists actions, especially considering his previous endures on charitable activities. Angles and aspects omitted are part of “a kaleidoscope of potential realities” (Edelman 1993) where the toy twists in favour of the main source’s projected beliefs and opinions.

8

JAMES DEERE

SECTION 4: SOURCES ANALYSIS

9

Codes for figure 10: BGO - British government official LGO - Local government official WGO - World government official CSO - Civil servant official NGO - Non Governmental organisation PUN - Pundit NB - News broadcaster CIT - Citizen

JAMES DEERE

10

JAMES DEERE

CRITICAL ANALYSIS Every journalist “should never take sides” (Chandler and Munday 2011). With informative stories that play on fact, this is evident. However, how can a journalist avoid bias when they are coloured by the information presented by their sources? (Pape and Featherstone 2005). The Daily Telegraph have a tenancy to project no understanding for balance, only acknowledging the majority source. Sources possess a power over the journalist whereby they cooperate only to believe their ideas will gain favourable public access (McManus in Tumber 1999). Journalists evidently happen to “overwhelmingly rely on ‘official’ sources” (Hickerson et. al. 2011), as seen here with 62% of sources originating from an ‘official’. Instances such as Daily Echo’s top headline are pardoned as the story is mainly factually based. Nonetheless, where opinion is granted main influence in the story, a reluctancy is present to source individuals who may be alternate or even impartial to ‘officials’. Use of ‘officials’ seem to help maintain the illusion of objectivity. This illusion is rather based upon the reliability of a source; after all unless verified with another source, a statement is only a claim (Frost 2010) - questioning all form of sources. Therefore can any article achieve balance and objectivity?

Critical analysis word count: 796

11

JAMES DEERE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Benton, M. and Frazier, P.J., 1976. The Agenda Setting Function of the Mass Media At Three Levels of" Information Holding". Communication Research [online], 3(3), 261-274.

Chandler, D. and Munday, R., 2011. Oxford dictionary of media and communication. New York: Oxford University Press.

Edelman, M., 1993. Contestable categories and public opinion. Political communication [online], 10(3), 231-242.

Frost, C., 2010. Reporting for journalists. London: Routledge.

Hetherington, A., 1985. News, newspapers and television. London: Macmillan.

Hickerson, A.A., Moy, P. and Dunsmore, K., 2011. Revisiting Abu Ghraib: Journalists' sourcing and framing patterns. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly [online], 88(4), 789-806.

Jeffres, L., 1986. Mass Media: Process and Effects. Illinois: Waveland Press.

Kahneman, D. and Tversky, A., 1984. Choices, values, and frames. American psychologist [online], 39(4), 341-350.

Palmgreen, P. and Clarke, P., 1977. Agenda-setting with local and national issues. Communication Research [online], 4(4), 435-452.

Pape, S. and Featherstone, S., 2005. Newspaper journalism: a practical introduction. London: Sage.

Protess, D. and McCombs, M.E. eds., 1991. Agenda setting: Readings on media, public opinion, and policymaking. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Tumber, H., 1999. News: A reader. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Roshco, B., 1975. Newsmaking. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Scheufele, D.A., 1999. Framing as a theory of media effects. Journal of communication [online], 49(1), 103-122.

12

JAMES DEERE