CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 1

News

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 2

The First Amendment

“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 3

The First Amendment

“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 4

The First Amendment

“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 5

The First Amendment

“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 6

Associated Press -- http://www.ap.org/

In 1844 Samuel Morse had invented the telegraph. AP was started in 1848 – N.Y. papers sharing stories By 1861, the Civil War was major continuing story. “The Inverted Pyramid” – tell the most important

information first, in case the telegraph wires were cut before the story was complete: Who What Where When

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 7

What is news?

Chet Huntley: “News is what I decide is news.”

It becomes news only when it is reported. The individual journalist often makes that

decision. Recent UD grads are often making those

decisions.

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 8

Typical American value system Ethnocentrism – “foreign” “enemy troops” Democracy & Capitalism Small town pastoralism – Mayberry, Kuralt Social order concern

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 9

Bias?

Persistent perception … BUT 1971 – 1983 studies by Johnsone, Weaver,

and Wilhoit – p. 259 Comparing Gallop research with journalists’

demographics U.S. journalists mirror U. S. society.

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 10

Why the bias perception?

News, by its very nature is concerned with change.

Change is usually more interesting than status quo.

Change is threatening. Journalists view their role as that of

watchdogs on the government.

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 11

Variables Affecting News

News Hole News Flow News Staffing Perception of the organization’s audience Availability of Material Competition Advertiser Influence Corporate Policy Source Pressure

CMM 201 Foundations of Mass Communication -- Professor

Walters 12

Gatekeepers

Investigative Journalism

Criteria: Accuracy, Balance, Fairness Interpretation Original Content / Packaging

OTHER TOPICS

Web news resources

Soft News