Soft News Goes to War

Soft News Goes to War

Author: Matthew A. Baum

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2011-10-16

Total Pages: 368

ISBN-13: 1400841283

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The American public has consistently declared itself less concerned with foreign affairs in the post-Cold War era, even after 9/11, than at any time since World War II. How can it be, then, that public attentiveness to U.S. foreign policy crises has increased? This book represents the first systematic attempt to explain this apparent paradox. Matthew Baum argues that the answer lies in changes to television's presentation of political information. In so doing he develops a compelling "byproduct" theory of information consumption. The information revolution has fundamentally changed the way the mass media, especially television, covers foreign policy. Traditional news has been repackaged into numerous entertainment-oriented news programs and talk shows. By transforming political issues involving scandal or violence (especially attacks against America) into entertainment, the "soft news" media have actually captured more viewers who will now follow news about foreign crises, due to its entertainment value, even if they remain uninterested in foreign policy. Baum rigorously tests his theory through content analyses of traditional and soft news media coverage of various post-WWII U.S. foreign crises and statistical analyses of public opinion surveys. The results hold key implications for the future of American politics and foreign policy. For instance, watching soft news reinforces isolationism among many inattentive Americans. Scholars, political analysts, and even politicians have tended to ignore the soft news media and politically disengaged citizens. But, as this well-written book cogently demonstrates, soft news viewers represent a largely untapped reservoir of unusually persuadable voters.


The Future of Journalism in the Advanced Democracies

The Future of Journalism in the Advanced Democracies

Author: Geoff Ward

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-12-05

Total Pages: 435

ISBN-13: 135188915X

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What are the current problems, pressures and opportunities facing journalists in advanced democratic societies? Has there been a 'dumbing down' of the news agenda? How can serious political, economic and social news be made interesting to young people? This book explores the current challenges faced by those working in the news media, focusing especially on the responsibilities of journalism in the advanced democracies. The authors comprise experienced journalists and academics from the UK and the other countries investigated. In the opening section they investigate the key issues facing twenty-first century journalism; while in section two they offer in-depth studies of the UK news media, discussing national newspapers; regional and local newspapers, both paid for and free; terrestrial, satellite and cable television news; radio news and online journalism. These detailed analyses provide the basis for a comparison with the media of a variety of other key advanced democracies: namely the USA, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Drawing on this evidence, the authors map out possible future developments, paying attention to their likely global impact. The book's provocative conclusions will provide the groundwork for continuing debate amongst journalists, scholars and policy-makers concerned about the place of journalism in invigorating political processes and democratic functions.


Social Issues in Television Fiction

Social Issues in Television Fiction

Author: Lesley Henderson

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Published: 2007-06-06

Total Pages: 208

ISBN-13: 0748630899

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Why are some controversial issues covered in TV soaps and dramas and not others? How are decisions really made 'behind the scenes'? How do programme makers push boundaries without losing viewers? What do audiences take away from their viewing experience? Does TV fiction have a greater impact on public understandings than TV news? This exciting new book draws on unique empirical data to examine the relationship between popular television fiction and wider society.The book gives lively and engaging insights into how and why socially sensitive story lines were taken up by different TV programmes from the late 1980s to the 2000s. Drawing on a series of case studies of medicine, health, illness and social problems including breast cancer, mental distress, sexual abuse and violence it comprehensively traces the path of storylines from initial conception through to audience reception and uses contemporary examples to link practice to theory. For the first time, this book addresses production and receptio


Encyclopedia of Television

Encyclopedia of Television

Author: Horace Newcomb

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-02-03

Total Pages: 2730

ISBN-13: 1135194726

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The Encyclopedia of Television, second edtion is the first major reference work to provide description, history, analysis, and information on more than 1100 subjects related to television in its international context. For a full list of entries, contributors, and more, visit the Encyclo pedia of Television, 2nd edition website.


Finding Your Voice in Radio, Audio, and Podcast Production

Finding Your Voice in Radio, Audio, and Podcast Production

Author: Rob Quicke

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2023-12-19

Total Pages: 226

ISBN-13: 1003832407

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This book provides a unique identity-centered approach to radio, audio, and podcast production which encourages readers to build their confidence and create audio content that matters to them. Written for those just starting out in audio production and focusing on the process of their self-development, readers will learn how to use sound to express themselves in a variety of ways and to create powerful stories in the process – all with the tools already available to them. At the centre of this approach is the author’s R.E.A.L. method, referring to the creation of audio that is relatable, engaging, authentic, and liberating. Students will learn to apply this concept to each step of the production process, from planning and writing through to interviewing, broadcasting, and responding to feedback. By the end of this book readers will have developed a working knowledge of podcast, audio, and radio production alongside their own means of self-expression. Supported by exercises and interviews with audio practitioners throughout, Finding Your Voice in Radio, Audio, and Podcast Production is a key resource for anyone approaching radio, audio, or podcasting for the first time. A supporting companion website with Instructor and Student Resources is available at www.robquicke.com.


Feminism in the News

Feminism in the News

Author: K. Mendes

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2011-10-03

Total Pages: 210

ISBN-13: 023033699X

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An exploration of the representations of the women's movement, its members, and their goals between 1968 and 2008 in the British and American press. Examining over 1100 news articles, the book analyses the nuanced ways feminism has historically been supported, marginalized and debated in the mainstream press.


Advancing Comparative Media and Communication Research

Advancing Comparative Media and Communication Research

Author: Joseph M. Chan

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2017-06-26

Total Pages: 275

ISBN-13: 1351715895

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A comparative approach to media and communication research plays an important, if not indispensable, role in achieving a core mission of researchers: to delimit the generality and specificity of media and communication theories, enabling researchers to more readily identify the influence of social, political and cultural contexts in shaping media and communication phenomena. To de-Westernize and internationalize media and communication studies has thus become the way forward for overcoming the parochialism of mainstream media and communication studies. This volume reflects on what comparative media and communication research has achieved or failed to achieve, the epistemological and theoretical challenges it is facing, and the new directions in which it should be heading.


Reporting in the MENA Region

Reporting in the MENA Region

Author: Mohammad Ayish

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2015-10-22

Total Pages: 189

ISBN-13: 1442237635

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In this consideration of media practice in the Arab region, Mohammad Ayish and Noha Mellor explore the changing status and function of journalists and journalism given the new realities of reporting in the digital age. The authors draw on focus group discussions, interviews, and social media traffic surveys to examine how social and new media have been integrated into Arab and pan-Arab newsroom operations and harnessed to enhance engagement with an empowered audience. Efforts to engage with audiences in social space, Ayish and Mellor argue, are part of a broad and long-waged information war aimed at winning hearts and minds in the MENA region. Social platforms present excellent opportunities to engage with audiences, but the extent to which such opportunities can be realized are hamstrung by limits on free expression and online access—and vary significantly from country to country and from media channel to media channel. Overall, Reporting in the MENA Region paints a comprehensive and contemporary picture of how today’s Arab journalists perceive and use digital media.