Chapters 5 and 6 – Media Coverage •Four Topics We’ll Be Covering: 1. Bias in news reporting… 2. Propaganda Techniques 3. “Hype” in news coverage 4. Ethical responsibilities of the media
Feb 24, 2016
Chapters 5 and 6 – Media Coverage
• Four Topics We’ll Be Covering:
1. Bias in news reporting…2. Propaganda Techniques3. “Hype” in news coverage4. Ethical responsibilities of the
media
Topic #1:
Recognizing bias in news reporting&
“Slanted Words” used in the media
This is not rocket science, simply be aware of “slants” or “bias” in the news. It may be obvious, it may be very subtle, but it’s almost always there.
Be especially aware of Card Stacking, Ad Hominems and False Dilemmas used with Biased
news stations
Which news sources are biased?
Why do you say that? Proof? Specific examples?
Slanted Words
Media usage of
In regards to the recent GOV shutdown:
‘Breaking News:
Senate Kills House Bill’ (FOXNews, September 30, 2013)
‘Breaking News: Senate Rejects House Bill’
(MSNBC, September 30, 2013)
‘Butcher Tells U.S. – Come and Get Me’ (New York Post, March 19, 2003)
‘War Imminent as Hussein Rejects
Ultimatum’ (New York Times, March 19, 2003)
‘Saddam Scorns U.S. Ultimatum (New York Daily News, March 19, 2003)
‘Baghdad Rejects Bush’s Warning’ (ArabicNews.com, March 19, 2003)
Hillary spoke at the National Convention on Friday. Her chat was followed by an address by Senator Joe
Lieberman.
Andre Agassi beat his opponent soundly in straight sets. It was also 6-0, 6-0 for
America’s sweetheart, Serena Williams
The Navy’s mission team included four aviators from Miramar and one female
aviator from the Naval Air Station.
Two organizations sent representatives to the
hearing: The Griffin Group, a conservative lobbying group,
and the Burchard Group, a non-profit advocacy institute.
11 year-old boy charged with murder, was an avid hunter.
Young woman, 22, was bound and raped repeatedly for 10
days.
(One station reported she was a prostitute and went to his house for “business”, the other station
never mentioned it)
Riot/Demonstration
Aggressive/Assertive
Bold/Shrill Lecture/Speech
Threaten/Warn
Plan/Scheme
Lively/Heated
Integrity/Stubbornness
Explained/Insisted
Agenda/Platform
Bias/Slanted News Coverage
• CNN – Obama appeals to Pepsi drinkers
• FOX – Obama declares war on Coke
• BBC – America carries out drone strikes in Afghanistan while Obama does nothing
YOU Slant a News Story
• Topic: “City of Beavercreek Hoping for Higher Holiday Sales”
• Who: Brian Jarvis • What: Holiday shopping up 3.5% this year in ’Creek• When: Black Friday weekend• Where: Fairfield Commons & The Greene• Why: Unemployed numbers decreased this year 1.5%
• Quote #1: “People are hitting the stores today.” (Jarvis)
• Quote #2: “Business owners are ecstatic”
Topic #2: Propaganda and the various Techniques used
PropagandaThe methods and
approaches used to spread ideas that further a political,
commercial, religious cause.
Propaganda
Propaganda is amoral
What do you guys think of when you hear “Propaganda?”
Why use Propaganda??
To manipulate the viewers' reason and emotions; to
persuade you to believe in something or someone, buy an
item, or vote a certain way.
Propaganda
Many techniques are not only used in
marketing, but in politics as well.
Generally divided into three main categories:
• White Propaganda: acknowledged sources and aimed at a sympathetic audience (your typical propaganda)
• Grey Propaganda: anonymous quotes “Some Say” “Our Sources indicate…”
• Black Propaganda: emanates from a source other than the true one.
Propaganda
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates advertising.
Their role is consumer protection (more on them in CH 13)
In terms of Government, Who regulates all of this?
The IPA1937-1942
An organization composed of social scientists, opinion leaders, historians, educators, and journalists.
“To teach people how to think rather than what to think.”
Criticisms of the IPA
• Some argue that the IPA's approach is too simplistic because many messages fall into more than one category.
• They do not discuss the credibility of the propagandist.
• HOWEVER…Few argue with the IPA's basic goal of promoting critical thought among citizens.
The IPA created the ABC’s of propaganda:
7 basic techniques very much used and discussed today
#1 Name-Calling
Barack Obama is a liberal.Obama’s foreign policy is “feckless.”
“Romney-Hood”“Obamaloney”
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The burning question in the U.S. presidential election is, when will the "your mama" jokes start?
With the fate of the world's most powerful country hanging in the balance, President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney turned to childish name calling on the campaign trail this week.
----Toronto Sun times
#2 Glittering Generalities(Virtue Words)
Making broad statements that really say nothing of
importance.
“If elected, I will get this country back on track!”
A vote for Shawn is a vote for peace and security
#3 Transfer
Attempting to make viewers apply their feelings of love, admiration, distrust, or disgust from one thing
to something else totally unrelated.
(blatant and subliminally)
Republican endorsers say Obama “may be a Muslim”
Transfer as “Name Dropping”
Rick Perales mentioned he was at Mitt Romney’s $1,000
a plate fundraiser.
#4 Testimonial
“Our customers say……”
#5 Plain FolksMany lawfirms are from big cities;
Dyer, Garafalo, Mann and Shultz have always been from right here in Dayton,
Ohio.
#6 Card Stacking(I simply think of this one as “bias”)
Emphasizing one side and repressing another.
#7 Bandwagon
Don’t be the last on your block to own a new
Chevrolet !
“hundreds of people have taken advantage of …….”
“One of the hottest trends right now”
Trending Now!
Many different (and similar) techniques have been added/identified through the years as
politics and advertising have evolved
“Ad Hominem”
An assertion which usually attacks a person,
rather than looking at the merits of their
argument.
You can’t trust Jane Higgins to be your mayor, she’s just a
soccer mom!*Reverse ad hominem may work
as well…Jane Higgins is such a
professionally dressed woman, she will make a great mayor.
Appeal to Authority
Referring to a well-known expert to strengthen an
argument.
“AP Government teacher Shawn Cook is voting for
Vermin Supreme. What more do you need to
know?”
Scientific Appeal Providing the audience with survey results and statistical evidences to publicize their
product.
(overlaps many times with A.T.A.)
1959 motor Sport Magazine
Appeal to Elitism
Appeal to the audience’s desire to be
better than other people.
Appeal to Tradition
Something is better simply because it is older.
This government has worked for over 200 years, why
change it?
“Vote to keep the curfew in effect in Beavercreek, after all, it’s been around for 10
years now!
…any ad with “since(year)”
Appeal to Emotion
Sex Appeal
Euphemisms and Dysphemisms
Euphemism: making something sound better
Dysphemism: making something sound worse
Car dealerships no longer sell “used cars;” they sell “______ vehicles.”
Euphemisms Dysphemisms
• “Powder my nose”• “Birds and the Bees”• “Gentlemen’s Club”• F-word• N-Word
• “Feminazi”• Junk Food• Snail Mail• Idiot Box• Blow chunks• “Cancer Sticks”
False Dilemma
Framing an argument in a misleading way, as though there are only two possible
options.
Making illogical assumptions
Superintendent Jones opposes school prayer. She must be an
atheist.
DirectTV: “Don’t wake up in a roadside ditch”
Straw-ManIgnoring a person's actual position and substituting a
distorted, or misrepresented version of that position.
(very similar to a false dilemma)
"Senator Jones says that we should not fund the attack
submarine program. I can't understand why he wants
to leave us defenseless like that."
FearDisaster will result if people
do not follow a particular course of action.
Storm Center 7 Weather can save your life!
Fear
Help! I’ve fallen….and I can’t get up!!
Repetition
Obtain Disapproval
Associating the opposite of your message with
individuals or groups your audience dislikes.
The NRA loves this policy, let’s be sure we get it voted down!
Topic #3: Hype / Sensationalism
SERIOUSLY ?Posted: 5:08 a.m. Monday, March 4, 2013
“Brace yourself for a return of snow tonight”
MediaThe 4th branch of government?
Are the media outlets actually the ones
who set the agenda?
SO ? They hype up some stories
Multiple reasons lie behind the lack of real investigative
journalism today and the plethora of simplistic, eye-
catching stories.
$$$ and Media Conglomerates (more on conglomerates later)
Did the shift from issues to character result from the shift from newspapers to television
(and computers today)?
Freedom of the Press has been crucial in facilitating the political discourse and
education necessary for the maintenance of democracy.
Does the press meet its obligation to provide objective, issue-based
coverage or does the media tend to focus on the trivial and sensational??
Topic #4: Ethics
Freedom of the Press has been crucial in facilitating the political discourse and
education necessary for the maintenance of democracy.
(Code of Ethics)
Ethics
1. the study of standards of conduct and moral judgment; moral philosophy
2. the system or code of morals of a particular person, religion, group, profession, etc.
Is it ever ethical to….
WIKILEAKS
Activity: What is the ethical thing
to do?
(Juan Williams)