Page One: Inside the New York Times

Hear ye, hear ye, read all about it!

Well, in the case of this week’s lecture, we moved outside our usual lecture theatre to instead watch all about it!

As a first year journalism/law student I constantly vacillate between harbouring hopes of being a journalist to wanting to pursue law (usually determined by the amount of assessment each subject is throwing at me!). So this week’s journalism lecture, in which we watched the American documentary ‘Page One: Inside the New York Times’ was fantastic, as it gave me a real life, fly-on-the wall insight into the sometimes wild and wacky world of journalism.

‘Page One’, which was released this year, gains unprecedented access into the New York Times newsroom for a year. It specifically focuses on the journalists in the paper’s Media Desk, a department assigned to following the continual transformation of the media industry.

This documentary gave what we have been studying in journalism for the past twelve weeks a real life context, enabling me to see the principles we’ve learnt about (and blogged about!) play out in one of today’s most prominent papers. ‘Page One’ contextualised, in particular, the struggle of old media in dealing with the juggernaut that is modern technology and new media. It exemplified the Times’ fight to survive in the age of the Internet, as it tries to counteract the impact of new media presenting free and readily accessible news.

The documentary includes the coverage of issues such as WikiLeaks, the Jason Blair scandal and the end of US combat operations in Iraq, and is peppered with eccentric characters such as the ‘past cocaine addict’ David Carr, a sharp as a whip media columnist with a voracious appetite for news.

All of this made for extremely enjoyable viewing, but I have no doubt that this course definitely helped me to fully appreciate this documentary, as I had a far better grasp on the conflict between new and old media than I would ever have had otherwise.

I would definitely recommend ‘Page One’ to anyone else with an interest in journalism and communication!

Annotated Bibliography

This annotated bibliography explores the current news event of Andrew Bolt's trial through the perspectives of Michael Perkins, Andrew Dodd, Janet Albrechtsen and David Marr. The selected mediums exemplify differing approaches to the current debate regarding journalistic principles, the law and the right to free speech which the Bolt trial has instigated.

Perkins, M. (2002). International Law and the Search for Universal Principles in Journalism Ethics. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 17(3), 193-208. doi: 10.1207/S15327728JMME1703_02

The author of this piece, the late Michael Perkins, effectively utilised his background as an academic in the fields of law and communication to employ both law and ethics as normative lenses through which to analyse the journalism industry. Perkins argues that the free expression and freedom of the press provisions in international human rights law is indicative of cross-cultural journalistic ethics. The author explores this through reference to a variety of international treaties, such as the United Nations' International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 and the American Convention on Human Rights 1969, as well as drawing upon both his own legal background and citing the works of other academics to ensure the accuracy of his argument. Perkins identifies three universal principles of journalism as truth, independence and responsible freedom. He particularly emphasises the principle of responsible freedom, asserting that journalists' legal protection must not be abused through the dissemination of partisan perspectives or other personal agenda, but instead should be justified by the social utility they serve. Perkins critically acknowledges the limitations of employing international rights as a theoretical lens through which to examine journalism, identifying cultural pluralism an inherent limitation of universal ethical principles. This analysis adds an evaluative nature to Perkins work, enhancing both the credibility of his argument and of himself as an author.

Dodd, A. (2011, September 28).The Bolt decision will have implications for us all. ABC - The Drum. Retrieved from: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3026182.html

The author of this piece, Andrew Dodd, has been a journalist and broadcaster for over twenty years, working in the fields of radio, television, print and online journalism. Dodd uses this comprehensive media background to analyse the impact Andrew Bolt's trial will have upon journalism. Dodd expresses very strong disproval for the court mandated corrective notices, claiming it is 'a slap in the face for free expression' and argues it suggests the existence of taboo areas of journalism where only meek reporting is legally acceptable. This view substantiates the importance Perkins' article places on the journalistic principle of independence. Like Dodd, Perkins argued that independence should enable a journalist to vigorously and aggressively report on issues, regardless of whether offence is caused. Furthermore, Dodd's perspective correlates to Perkins' article through Dodd's emphasis on the relationship between freedom of expression and social utility. The importance of agenda, in considering whether statements are made in public interest, is raised in both articles. Dodd expresses disagreement with the judge's remark that the Bolt's statements were not made in good faith or public interest. Dodd claims that silencing debate on uncomfortable topics is inconsistent with democratic governance, which is consistent with Perkins' remark that it is the duty of journalists to provide information necessary to support democratic debate. Dodd clearly identifies the article as representative of his own opinion, however his ample experience in the industry lends him the authority to make informed judgements on issues such as this, consequently establishing the credibility of the article.

Albrechtsen, J. (2011, October 26). The real injury is to free speech. The Australian. Retrieved from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/the-real-injury-is-to-free-speech/story-e6frg7bo-1226176630195

Janet Albrechtsen, the author, employs her law and journalism background to fiercely support the right to free speech that has been called into question in light of the judgement on Andrew Bolt. Albrechtsen begins by addressing the Bolt trial within the context of modern media and the journalism industry, stating that the issues raised regarding free speech should not be lost amongst today's fast moving news cycle. The article does not focus upon whether Bolt was correct or justified in his initial statements, instead Albrechtsen takes a broader perspective and looks at the ramifications the judiciary's decision will have upon journalism and society at large. Albrechtsen espouses the view that censoring Bolt is a serious blemish upon Australia's democracy, arguing that each view has a valid place in society, in that merely disagreeing with one's perspective is not justification for censorship and attempts to manipulate the law. Albrechtsen's argument that each opinion is valid regardless of personal objections is supported by Andrew Dodd's article, in which Dodd's states that although did not personally support Bolt's statements, the court's decisions against Bolt was a blatant deprivation of the right to free speech. The credibility of this article is enhanced by Albrechtsen's extensive references to other articles and journalists that conflict with her own perspective. Whilst this article is an opinionative piece and Albrechtsen predominantly mentions such arguments in order to refute them, the inclusion of differing opinions shows that Albrechtsen has acknowledged and critically evaluated other arguments, consequently making her own arguments both informed and balanced, all of which increases the authority of her article.

Marr, D. (2011, September 29). Freedom of speech rides on. The Age. Retrieved from: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/freedom-of-speech-rides-on-20110928-1kxaa.html

David Marr, an Australian journalist, author and progressive political and social commentator, lends an experienced and broad perspective to the Bolt trial. In contrast to the opinions held by both Albrechtsen and Dodd, Marr begins by asserting that the judgement against Bolt is an attack on poor journalism, not on journalism itself. In his article, Marr takes a narrow and factual approach to the issue, examining the content of Bolt's statements and their accuracy, as well as the accuracy of the statements and their significance in determining the judiciary's ruling. In this sense, this article differed greatly to the Albrechtsen's and Dodd's broad conceptualisation, who regarded the trial as being representative of the more abstract interplay between free speech and the law. The significance that Marr places upon the accuracy of Bolt's claims demonstrates the importance Marr places on the journalistic principle of 'truth' that was identified in Michael Perkins' article. However, whilst Perkins argued that truth, independence and responsible freedom operated simultaneously, Marr's perspective suggests he regards truth, in the form or accurate and balanced arguments, to be a prerequisite to independence and responsible freedom. The factual nature of Marr's article enhances its credibility, as it draws upon a variety of specific facts and statements in some depth, both from the judiciary and from Bolt himself.

Week 10 Lecture - News Values

This lecture carried on from last week’s lecture on agenda setting. The lecture on agenda setting identified the influence that the media has on what the public perceives to be ‘newsworthy’, so this week explored what it is that dictates what the media themselves deem ‘newsworthy’.

What is meant by ‘news values’?
News values are the degree a prominence a media outlet gives to a story, and the attention that is paid by an audience.

Impact and Audience

What values does news hold for an audience?

Is it minimal, as expressed by English writer Arthur Evelyn Waugh when he stated ‘news is what a chap who doesn’t care much about anything wants to read. And it’s only news until he’s read it. After that it’s dead.’

Or, does news have a valid place in society, as is shown by the (less cynical) approach of American journalist Kurt Loder, who thinks that ‘news is anything that’s interesting, that relates to what’s happening in the world, what’s happening in areas of the culture that would be of interest to your audience.’

The view that news journalism has a ‘broadly agreed set of values, often referred to as newsworthiness’ raises the question where such values are the same across different mediums, and even more broadly, across different countries and cultures.

To determine this, it is necessary to look at examples of different news values.

Simple News Values

This takes us back to week 2, where Rod Chester showed us the inverted triangle of journalism.

Look familiar?

However within this, there are many different approaches. Take two common cited approaches:

‘it if bleeds it leads!’

‘if its local it leads!’

So how does each institution shape their own news values, what role do individuals journalists play, and to what extend are they the products of social and cultural contexts?

Harold Evans, past editor of the Sunday Times, believes that ‘a sense of news values is the first quality of editors – they are the human sieves of the torrent of news’.

John Sergeant, a veteran TV reporter believes that journalists must ‘rely on instinct rather than logic when it comes to defining a sense of news values’.

 It turns out determining the common factors and news agendas in international news is not just a past-time of JOUR1111 students at UQ, but was also deemed worthy of investigation by J. Galtung and M. Ruge.

This found that there are twelve main news values.

Gaulton & Ruge’s 12 News Values

1. Negativity
2. Closeness to home
3. Recency
4. Currency
5. Continuity
6. Uniqueness
7. Simplicity
8. Personality
9. Predictability
10. Elite natinos/people
11. Exclusivity
12. Size

This lead Galtung & Ruge to form 3 hypotheses.

1.       The additivity hypothesis – the more factors an event satisfies, the higher the probability that it becomes news.

2.       The complementary hypothesis – the factors will tend to exclude each other.

3.       The exclusion hypothesis – events that satisfy none or very few factors will not become news.

The Modern Approach

Modern review of Galtung & Ruge has adapted the 12 news values into 10 that are pertinent today.

1.       The Power Elite

2.       Celebrity

3.       Entertainment

4.       Surprise

5.       Bad News

6.       Good News
7.       Magnitude
8.       Relevance
9.       Follow-Up
10.   Newspaper Agenda

In my opinion, I think the adaptations made accurately reflect the increasing fickle and superficial nature of society. Now days people seem to have an unreasonably high interest in those with power and money, a short attention span which dictates news must pander to a desire for news that either amuses them or satisfies a slightly morbid curiosity for disaster and blood (hence the news value slogan ‘if it bleeds it leads!’)

Threats to Newsworthiness

-          Journalism and the commercialisation of media and social life

-          Journalism and public relations

-          Journalism’s ideals and journalism’s reality

Just as I expressed my reservations above, the current trajectory of the journalism industry has given rise to comments and criticism such as 'churnalism', 'junk news', and 'the assault on your need to know'.

In juxstaposing idealised notions of journalism, such as the obligation to tell the truth, thorough verification and giving a voice to the voiceless, with the seemingly 'harsh realities', attention is drawn to the questionable state of modern journalism.

The Reality

• ‘too much of what has been offered as news in recent years has been untrustworthy, irresponsible, misleading or incomplete’
• 'media falsehood and distortion; PR tactics and propaganda; the use of illegal news-gathering techniques'
• ‘media mergers are rapidly creating on huge news cartel controlling most of what you see, hear and read. These mergers further corrupt the news process’

But what about our say? In amongst all of the debate it is imperative not to disregard the opinions of those who are on the receiving end of such developments. What does the audience think?

Jay Rosen, an American media critic, writer and professor of journalism, has not forgotten. In fact, Rosen is not afraid to bring it to the table,  proving this through his 2006 article 'The People Formerly Known as the Audience'.

‘The people formerly known as the audience wish to inform media people of our existence, and of a shift in power that goes with the platform shift you’ve all heard about.

Think of passengers on your ship who got a boat of their own… The writing readers. The viewers who picked up a camera. The formerly atomized listeners who with modest effort can connect with each other and gain the means to speak – to the world, as it were.

You don’t own their eyeballs. You don’t own the press, which is now divided into pro and amateur zones. You don’t control production on the new platform, which isn’t one way. There’s a new balance of power between you and us. The people formerly known as the audience are simply the public made realer, less fictional, more able, less predictable. You should welcome that, media people. But whether you do or not we want you to know we’re here.’

Here, here, Jay Rosen!  

The Future of News Values

What are tomorrow’s news values?

What ‘drives’ the decisions made in media organisations about what is newsworthy?

What do you think is newsworthy?

These are certainly questions that I will take off the PowerPoint slides, out of the lecture theatre and keep in the forefront of my mind.

Lecture 9

Agenda Setting: how the media constructs reality


The Construction of Reality

An indivdual's conception of reality is socially constructed through a process of communication. Reality does exist, but the way we come to know it, talk about it and understand it is mediated through social life.

This means that media outlets are able to influence society's conception of reality. So how do they use this influence, and how does it tie into the concept of an 'agenda'?


The Four Agendas

1. Public Agenda
• the set of topics that members of the public perceive as important
2. Policy Agenda
• issues that decision makers think are salient
3. Corporate Agenda
• issues that big businesses and corporations consider important
4. Media Agenda
• issues discussed in the media

Media Agenda - a definition of agenda setting

Agenda setting is the process of the mass media presenting certain issues frequently and prominently with the result that large segments of the public come to perceive those issues as more important than others. Simply put, the more coverage an issue receives, the more important it is to people.

In contemplating this defintion, it made me think how much influence the media actually has upon what I, both as an individual and a member of the public, consider newsworthy. Is it actually that the media is responsiveness to what society regards as important, as we would like to believe, or is the influence of the media so ingrained that it blinds us to issues that are more deserving of our attention? As much as I would like to think I am critically evaluative of the issues presented in the media, its ubiquitous nature makes it hard to remove oneself far enough to objectively consider each issues true worth.

Agenda Setting: A Model

Two basic assumptions of media agenda setting are -

1. the mass media do not merely report reality, they filter and shape it
2. media concetration on a few issues leads the public to perceive those issues as more important than others

Where did they idea of 'agenda setting' originate?

1920s - Harold Lasswell

'the mass media injects direct influence into the audience'

1922 - Walter Lippman

'the mass media creates images of events in our minds'

1968 - Maxwell Combs and Donald Shaw

'the mass media sets the agenda by emphasising specific topics'

There are two main types of agenda setting -

1. first level agenda setting theory
• the media suggests what the public should focus on through what they cover
2. second level agenda setting theory
• the media suggests how the public should think about an issue

'the press may not be successful much of the time in telling people what to think, but it is stunningly successful in telling its readers what to think about'

Bernard Cohen, 1963

So is agenda setting good or  bad?

'agenda setting is not always the diabolical plan by journalists to control the minds of the public but an inadvertent by-product of the necessity to focus the news'
McCombs 2004

VS

 'the real mass media are basically trying to divert people... let everybody be crazed about professional sports or sex scandals... Anything as long as it isn't serious of course, the serious stuff is for the big guys. 'We' take care of that'

Noam Chomsky

The Agenda Setting 'Family'

I found this section of the lecture particularly fascinating, as I'd never previously thought about, in any real depth, the number of everyday decisions the media makes, the number of conscious and subconcious decisions the public makes, as well as all of the routine steps in between an event's occurence and the public's formation of opinion on that event, and then subsequently, their formation of opinion on the media itself. Looking at the agenda setting 'family' made me realise just how interconnected each facet of the 'family' is, in that each one is extremely important, both individually and as part of the family, in making the current media industry what it is.

1. Media Gatekeeping
• the exposure of an issue
• what the media chooses to reveal to the public
2. Media Advocacy
• the purposive promotion of a message through the media
3. Agenda Cutting
• the majority of reality is not represented by the media
• some issues do not get represented, and are therefore cared about less
4. Agenda Surfing
• the media follows trends
• 'surfing' the waves of topics originally mentioned by opinion-leading media
• exsiting public opinions influences others towards that opinion
5. The Diffusion of News
• process through which an event is communicated to the public
• how, where and when news is released
• who is responsible for these decisions?
6. Portrayal of an Issue
• the way an issue is portrayed influences the public's perception
• a variety of media outlets and portrayals enables the public to formulate various opinions
7. Media Dependence 
• the more dependent a person is on the media for information, the more susceptible that person is to media agenda setting

What are the strengths of the agenda setting theory?

• explanatory power
• can explain why people share beliefs on what issues are the most importnat
• predictive power
• can predict that if people are exposed to the same media, they will feel the same issues are important

These were the two strenghts of agenda setting that I regarded as the most pertinent, as I think they identify the link between the media and the homogenisation of society, in particular Western society where the meida is most pervasive.

What are the weaknesses?

• news cannot solely create and conceal problems
•  it merely alters awareness, priorities and slaience people attach to specific issues
• ineffective upon those with preconceived opinions
• 'new media' does not necessarily conform to the old conception of agenda setting

So, to reflect, it is apparent that agenda setting is inevitable and ubiquitous in the media. The public must therefore be continually aware of whether that agenda is an innocent by-product of a media outlet's routine evaluation of which news items are interesting and necessary, or whether that agenda is purely representing the media's self interest, or something even more covert.

Factual Storytelling Assignment

For this factual storytelling assignment we were required to engage in a mode of storytelling to present a factual story about a person or group of people we know or would like to know. I have chosen to tell the story of my Aunty, who has lived with mental illness for most of her life, because I think her story contains an important message, in that it demonstrates society's lack of understanding and awareness regarding mental illness. I have chosen to use a first-person mode of storytelling, as I believe this best conveys her perspective, emotions and beliefs.

Factual Storytelling Assignment

Mental illness will affect one in five Australians at some stage in their life... I am that one in five, but living with mental illness is about far more than just being part of a statistic.

Some people with mental illness say that the moment they were diagnosed was a defining moment in their life. They can remember with acute precision their anticipation as they sat in a chair in their doctor's office, waiting to hear the words that would finally give them some answers. Instead, I was diagnosed sitting in a chair at the hairdressers by an article in a two year old magazine.

Mental illness wasn't discussed in the seventies. It wasn't accepted nor was it even understood. I knew that I was different to most people, but I didn't know why, or even how to articulate what the distinction was. I felt isolated, confused and very, very frightened. I would later find out from that article that I was suffering clinical depression, which later became schizoaffective disorder, but as a seventeen year old year girl, no diagnosis meant no understanding, and consequently no effective means of coping.

One thing I did have in common with other teenage girls was the meticulously considered, and endearingly idealistic, plan of the way my life was going to turn out. I vividly remember walking to school one day when I was fifteen and contemplating the endless, momentous and ubiquitous thing that was 'The Future'. I would finish school and go on to study at university, upon completion of which I would travel overseas, and then at 25 I would be married with two kids by 27.

I was so angry when I realised that I had been denied the chance to achieve that perfect life. Because that's what it was, an achievement that you either won or lost... But in my case, I hadn't lost fair and square, I felt as though some unidentifiable contender had cheated me out of it. I was being forced to live another life that I hadn't asked for, and that I didn't deserve.

It took a long time to get to that point of resigned acceptance. For years, I would doggedly wait for my cloud of depression to clear, hoping for even just a ray of sun. Sometimes it would get better, but then it would come back, and with it bring me a devastation that seemed to increase each time. My diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder at 23 put a definitive end to that game of cat and mouse. Schizoaffective disorder was a lifetime sentence.

As a means of coping with my illness I was drinking heavily, using drugs frequently and would self-mutilate regularly. I committed one suicide attempt and later lost three friends who also suffered undiagnosed depression to suicide. My experiences have shown me that correct, prompt diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial to living with mental illness, as its consequences should not be trivialised and can affect you for the rest of your life.

Later in life I would periodically spend time at a private clinic where I could receive treatment and cope with my issues without the burdens of the outside world. At the clinic I met many people who, like me, had lived much of their life without answers, but also many younger patients who, as consequence of an increased social awareness of mental illness, had been able to put a name to the issues with which they were dealing. Sometimes I would feel deeply resentful of the help and support that was readily available to them. The fact that I was never afforded the same succour only deepened the chip on my shoulder.

Having a mental illness has changed my entire life. It is all at once my past, present and future, both private and public. In everyday interactions, as routine as shaking hands or handing across money, people can see the scars on my forearms, and can recognise them as the physical manifestations of my internal struggle. I cannot help but wonder whether, had mental illness been more recognised and understood, I could have achieved the life I wished for as I walked to school that one day. I believe it is society's responsibility to prevent future generations of people suffering mental illness from asking that same question. Whilst social awareness of mental illness has come far, there is still much farther to go.

Lecture 8

Last week's lecture focused on commercial media, so this week's lecture follows that by introducing the topic of public media.

Public media can be described as

• media whose mission is to serve or engage a public
• increasingly less associated with taxpayer supported media
• it may be for profit so long as the ultimate purpose is to serve public
• two mains forms of public media in Australia are SBS and ABC

What is public media's role in democratic society?

Public media is media that is in support of public and democratic processes. Public media should therefore have public value.

Public Value, as described by the BBC, is

• embedding a 'public service ethos'
• value for licence fee money
• weighing public value against market impact
• public consultation

In 1985, the Broadcasting Research Unit defined public service broadcasting as involving

• geographical universality
• universality of appeal
• special provisions for minorities
• a special relationship to the sense of national identity and community
• distance from all vested interest
• universality of payment
• competition in good programming rather than competition for numbers
• guidelines which liberate rather than restrict broadcasters

The ABC

• founded as a 'nation building  project' in 1929
• tacit answer to idealised national image
• seen to reach far and deep into Australian minds

The SBS
 

television channel launched in 1980 as the 'multicultural' channel

• major production resulted from Paul Kating's 'Creative Nation' initiative
• was previously fully publicly funded
• now includes advertising - 'Hybrid' funding 80/20

What are the various functions of public media?

• national building
• national heritage
• national identity
• national conversations

The News 'Style' of Public Media

Positive perspective -

• serious
• broadsheet style
• importance over interest
• considered, not quick and unchecked

Negative perspective -

• boring
• elitist
• of limited interest
• poorly presented
• out of touch

Challenges for Public Media - their 'To Do' list

• to produce quality
• to make themselves relevant
• to engage with the democratic process
• to inform the public
• to be independent

The Future of Public Media

"an expanded vision for public media that places engaged publics at its core"

"educating, informing and mobilizing its users"

"an essential feature of truly democratic public"

"media both for and by the public"

Lecture 7

This week's lecture was focused on the form and function of commercial media.

Commercial media exists in opposition to public media such as SBS and ABC, as the eyes and ears to advertisers and enabling them access to audiences.

What is commercial media?

• profit driven media production
• no government or license funding
• survives or fails upon business success
• purpose is to generate audiences

Major players in commercial media include

• WIN
• News Limited
• Southern Cross
• Fairfax Media
• Nine Entertainment Co
• Ten Corp

What is the form and function of commmercial media?

         Form: either subscription, sponsored, or subsidised

         Function: commercial, propaganda, social


Can commercial media deliver on both commerical (profit) and social (public trust) functions?

The social responsibility of the media in a democracy can be described as

• a truthful, comprehensive, intelligent and full account of the days events
• a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism
• representative of society's constituent groups
• the presentation and clarification of the goals and values of the society

To keep the media under control there are

• formal state requirements
• legal prescriptions
• state oversight

However, new controls on commerical media include

• government agency - regulating content
• state press subsidies
• license journalism

The 'style' of commercial media is often accepted as being corrupt and lack of quality, in that profit surpasses social responsibility. This can be seen to result in

• dumbing-down
• tabloidisation
• the 'desire to please'
• 'Mickey Mouse' news

What are the challenges and questions facing commercial media?

• how does commercial media continue to make profits if advertising revenue is declining?
• how does it continue to serve the advertsiers, the audience and the public good?
• what kind of audience can commercial media expect to receive?
• what cumulative effect does this have on the practice of journalism and public communication?

Potential Future Business Solutions

• greater competition
• move existing customers to digital
• paywalls on internet sites
• corporate media dominance vs. an expanded public sphere