Chapters 5 and 6 – Media Coverage

Chapters 5 and 6 – Media Coverage

• Four Topics We’ll Be Covering:

1. Bias in news reporting…2. Propaganda Techniques3. “Hyping up” news events4. Ethical responsibilities of the

media

Topic #1:

Is news coverage biased?&

“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.

Which news sources are biased?

Why do you say that? Proof? Specific examples?

‘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 six-love, six-

love 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

YOU Slant a News Story

• Topic: “City of Beavercreek Hoping for Higher Holiday Sales”

• Who: Brian Jarvis & Vicki Giambrone (‘Creek Council)• What: Holiday shopping up 3.5% in Beavercreek• When: Black Friday weekend• Where: Fairfield Commons & The Greene• Why: Unemployed numbers decreasing

• Quote #1: “People are hitting the stores today.” (Jarvis)

• Quote #2: “Business owners are ecstatic” (Giambrone)

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

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 FolksThanks ya’ll! I reckon this is the greatest

class I’ve ever teached.

Many lawfirms are from other 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 !

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 is simply 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.)

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

• Kick the bucket• “Powder my nose”• “Birds and the Bees”• “Hankie-Pankie”• “Mess Around”

• “Cancer Sticks”• “Feminazi”• Junk Food• Snail Mail• Idiot Box• Blow chunks

False Dilemma

Framing an argument in a misleading way, as though there are only two possible

options.

Superintendent Jones opposes school prayer. She must be an

atheist.

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!!

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!

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."

Repetition

Topic #3: Hype / Sensationalism

MediaThe 4th branch of government?

Are the media outlets actually the ones

who sets 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

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

Freedom of the Press has been crucial in facilitating the political discourse and

education necessary for the maintenance of democracy.

(Code of Ethics)

Activity: What is the ethical thing

to do?