ROLE OF THE MASS MEDIA

Types of media:

  • The mass media include television, radio, newspapers, and magazines.
  • We also receive news on social media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit.

Media and the government:

  • Most of the information we get about government actions comes from media reports
  • Journalists act as a check on the power and actions of the government
  • They criticize and question the decisions made by elected representatives and officials
  • MEDIA SCRUM- refers to an impromptu press conference often held immediately outside an event such as a legislative session or meeting.
  • The media scrum reporters cluster around a public figure competing for his or her attention

(Hard copy notes-Legitimate news organizations)

INFLUENCE OF MEDIA

  • Apart from being a go-between, the media can actually influence the government and citizens’ attitudes towards it
  • Issues that receive large amounts of media coverage often get more attention from the government
  • Because there are always more stories to report on than there is space to cover them, editors must make choices about what they think is important. In this way, the media can actually change the direction of government policy.
  • However, sometimes, what makes a good news story isn’t always deserving of screen time
  • Sometimes important issues are not given attention

MEDIA CONCENTRATION

  • Media ownership has become more and more concentrated in the hands of a few corporations.
  • Example: Canada’s largest media company, Bell Media, controls 28.6 percent of the TV viewing market; owns CTV/CTV news, MUCH, Bravo, the Comedy Network, Space, E!, and HBO Canada
  • Shaw owns Global Television Network, along with BBC Canada, Food Network, History, HGTV, Showcase, Slice
  • Rogers Media owns Rogers TV, OMNI, the Shopping Channel, OLN, Sportsnet and City. Magazines owns Canadian Business Chatelaine, Maclean’s, Flare, Hello! Canada
  • Concentration means news read by large numbers of Canadians is from limited sources, rather than a variety of sources
  • Critics argue if ownership of news outlets is in the hands of a very small group, it will go against the intent of democracy DIVERSITY AND PLURALITY
  • Like a powerful pressure group, media owned by a small group will come into conflict with public interest while promoting its own interest
  • QUESTIONS ABOUT BIAS ARISE
  • Any examples of bias in news outlets?

(Fake news handout)

DISTINGUISHING REAL NEWS FROM FAKE NEWS: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

  • Who made this?
  • How was this made?
  • Why was this made?
  • When was this made?
  • What is this news story missing?
  • Where do I go from here?

CONSIDER:

  • Independent sources are preferable to self interested sources
  • Multiple sources are preferable to a report based on a single source
  • Sources who verify or provide verifiable information are preferable to those who merely assert
  • Authoritative and/or informed sources are preferable to sources who are uninformed or lack authoritative background
  • Named sources are better than anonymous ones