"The current survey and previous research have found that there is no single factor that drives general public distrust in government," Pew reports. "Instead, there are several factors -- and all are currently present. First, there is considerable evidence that distrust of government is strongly connected to how people feel about the overall state of the nation. Distrust of government soars when the public is unhappy with the way things are going in the country."That's a very low level for government and media alike. With Chapter 18 ("Mass Media and Governance") in mind, let's see if we can find out why. Do the mass media help create a climate of opinion that lowers trust in government and media alike? I have posted several questions below to help you focus on specific issues in our textbook.
The downward trend began in fall 2008 amid the financial crisis, Pew says.
Government isn't the only institution mistrusted.
About 25% of those surveyed said the federal government had a positive effect on the state of the nation; 25% said this about large corporations. Only 22% said banks had a positive effect, and 31% said the same about the news media.
John Vivian, author of the text, has some observations on what he calls "media obsessions" that will help us focus. "Reporters perceive themselves as middle-of-the-road politically, and by and lartge they work to suppress personal biases," he says. "Even so, reporters gravitate toward certain kinds of stories to the neglect of others, and this flavors coverage" (468). He lists the following:
- Presidential Coverage. News reporters and editors have long recognized that people like stories about people, so any time an issue can be personified, so much the better. In Washington coverage, this has meant focusing on the president as a vehicle for treating issues. ... This displaces coverage of other important government institutions, like Congress, the courts, and state and local government.
- Conflict. Journalists learn two things about conflict early in their careers. First audiences like conflict. Second, conflict often illustrates the great issues by which society is defining and redefining its values. ... Part of journalists' predilection for conflict is that conflict involves change ... Conflict is generally a useful indicator of newsworthiness.
- Scandals. Journalistis know too that their audiences like scandal sotries - a fact that trivializes political coverage. ... No matter how transitory their news value, scandal and gaffe stories build audiences, which explains their increased coverage. This has also led to more negative news being covered. ...
- Horse races. In reporting political campaigns, the news media obsess over reporting the [public opinion] polls. Critics say this treating of campaigns as horse races results in substantive issues being underplayed. Even when issues are the focus, as when a candidate announces a major policy position, reporters connect the issue to its potential impact in the polls.
- Brevity. People who design media packages, such as a newspaper or newscast, have devised presentation forulas that favor shorter stories. ... The sound bites in campaign stories, the actual voice of a candidate in a broadcast news story, dropped from 47 seconds in 1968 to 10 seconds in 1988 and has remained short. Issues that require lengthy explorations, say critics, get passed up. Candidates, eager for airtime, have learned to offer quippy, catchy, clevery capsules that are likely to be picked up rather than articluate thoughtful, persuasive statements. ... (468-70)
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