TV news always tries and present itself in a unbiased way, where this idea of news being a "window on the world" is presented. As well as claiming to be unbiased, TV news also tries and present neutrality and impartiality. This idea of TV news is presented through many of the qualities which we expect to see when watching the news. This could be anything from the representation of the starting sequences, news presenters and their neutral faces, to the hierarchy of truth. Starting sequences are extremely symbolic of the way they want to be perceived with the use of typical elements such as iconography, fast-moving camera movement, time references, etc.. These elements in a starting sequence all somewhat interprets a way of showing itself as unbiased. News readers use a lack of facial expressions, also known as neutral faces, when informing the audience. This is to remind the audience that the news readers show no opinion on the information that is being presented. Impartiality laws are also involved in this claim, such as the law "News, in whatever form, must be reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality". This is due to the fact that this law suggests that TV news has to follow accurate reports to maintain their unbiased representation. If TV news does not present accurate information, they are therefore portraying biased information, which can cause conflict upon the audiences opinion and thoughts. Another law is; "Significant mistakes in news should normally be acknowledged and corrected on air quickly. Corrections should be appropriately scheduled.". This law again supports this claim due to the correction of any incorrect information that may mislead an audience. If TV news presents the audience with information which has somewhat been tampered with or been incorrectly presented, this portrays both TV news and reality. Lastly, the hierarchy of truth is another way in which TV news is made to be seen as a "window on the world". This simply suggests that the first typical structure to informing the audience with information consists of a shot of the studio and the newsreader. This is usually followed by footage near or at the location which the event took place, presented by a field reporter with a further explanation on the information which the newsreader informed the audience. The last step to the hierarchy of fear is 'actuality' footage, providing evidence that the event actually occurred. This last step is essential, not only so that the audience are self-aware of the situation, but also so that reality is presented.
Although these elements used in TV news such as starting sequences, news readers, impartiality laws and the hierarchy of truth, all suggesting that TV news is a "window on the world", this is not always the case. This is shown through the gatekeeping process where much of news which is scheduled to be broadcasted, does not always make it to TV news, in other words is put into the 'dustbin of history' and is not seen again. The gatekeeping process begins with an event, which is then followed by sources of information which could be organisations, professions, police services etc.. The next step of this process is news values, which simply evaluates the importance of the story and how the audience may react. The theory of news values were suggested by Galtung and Ruge in 1965 where many terms were discussed to present news values. These terms are; frequency, threshold, unambiguity, meaningfulness, consonance, unexpectedness, continuity, composition, elite nations, elite persons, personalisation, and negativity. For example, the idea of composition is extremely important during this process as TV news will always have a balanced structure of where each event comes, e.g. some news services will balance out negative stories with a positive. Next is news gathering routines, which could be late breaking stories or technical problems, which are all a part of the routine which takes place behind the scenes of the news. Legal constraints is also involved, which is the understanding of the laws when presenting the news, such as "Views and facts must not be misrepresented". This is followed by the cost of a story, which again links in with new values, where the cost would depend on the significance of the story and the audiences reaction. Next is the competition between news teams where the event is then broadcasted, and a story is created. Although this is the case, on many occasions of this process, each step has the risk of being put into the 'dustbin of history', usually when TV news gathers bigger and more important stories such as breaking news. In result to the way TV news is structured, this presents the idea of all media being seen as a representation. This is due to the production of TV news and the crew involved. This is where choices are made in response to the stories which will be broadcasted. However, these choices are made due to whom is making the decisions and their beliefs. This reflects upon TV news being seen as presenting unmediated reality, when in fact many decisions and own opinions are involved for a story to be broadcasted in comparison to the stories which do not make it on air.
Much of the discussion of TV news being seen as a "window on the world" comes down to the question of whether it matters if this claim is true or false. However, there is much evidence to support this claim, as much as there is to also go against it. The difference in this is that the audience is usually unaware of the decisions which are made in the production of TV news, but are usually aware of the legal requirements and general structure while the news is being presented, such as the use of the hierarchy of truth. There is no doubt that what TV news is presenting is true, however there is much difficulty to believe the claim of TV news being a "window on the world", suggesting that the news is unbiased when in fact this is not the case. Much of the news which has made it through the 'gatekeeping' process and is broadcasted, is usually negative where the idea of bad news is good news according to the audience. Due to the lack of control we as viewers have over what we are being presented with, there is very little which can be done about this claim. Therefore this claim is rarely second guessed by an audience, as we as viewers usually focus of the information we are being presented with and not what occurs behind the scenes of the production.
Although these elements used in TV news such as starting sequences, news readers, impartiality laws and the hierarchy of truth, all suggesting that TV news is a "window on the world", this is not always the case. This is shown through the gatekeeping process where much of news which is scheduled to be broadcasted, does not always make it to TV news, in other words is put into the 'dustbin of history' and is not seen again. The gatekeeping process begins with an event, which is then followed by sources of information which could be organisations, professions, police services etc.. The next step of this process is news values, which simply evaluates the importance of the story and how the audience may react. The theory of news values were suggested by Galtung and Ruge in 1965 where many terms were discussed to present news values. These terms are; frequency, threshold, unambiguity, meaningfulness, consonance, unexpectedness, continuity, composition, elite nations, elite persons, personalisation, and negativity. For example, the idea of composition is extremely important during this process as TV news will always have a balanced structure of where each event comes, e.g. some news services will balance out negative stories with a positive. Next is news gathering routines, which could be late breaking stories or technical problems, which are all a part of the routine which takes place behind the scenes of the news. Legal constraints is also involved, which is the understanding of the laws when presenting the news, such as "Views and facts must not be misrepresented". This is followed by the cost of a story, which again links in with new values, where the cost would depend on the significance of the story and the audiences reaction. Next is the competition between news teams where the event is then broadcasted, and a story is created. Although this is the case, on many occasions of this process, each step has the risk of being put into the 'dustbin of history', usually when TV news gathers bigger and more important stories such as breaking news. In result to the way TV news is structured, this presents the idea of all media being seen as a representation. This is due to the production of TV news and the crew involved. This is where choices are made in response to the stories which will be broadcasted. However, these choices are made due to whom is making the decisions and their beliefs. This reflects upon TV news being seen as presenting unmediated reality, when in fact many decisions and own opinions are involved for a story to be broadcasted in comparison to the stories which do not make it on air.
Much of the discussion of TV news being seen as a "window on the world" comes down to the question of whether it matters if this claim is true or false. However, there is much evidence to support this claim, as much as there is to also go against it. The difference in this is that the audience is usually unaware of the decisions which are made in the production of TV news, but are usually aware of the legal requirements and general structure while the news is being presented, such as the use of the hierarchy of truth. There is no doubt that what TV news is presenting is true, however there is much difficulty to believe the claim of TV news being a "window on the world", suggesting that the news is unbiased when in fact this is not the case. Much of the news which has made it through the 'gatekeeping' process and is broadcasted, is usually negative where the idea of bad news is good news according to the audience. Due to the lack of control we as viewers have over what we are being presented with, there is very little which can be done about this claim. Therefore this claim is rarely second guessed by an audience, as we as viewers usually focus of the information we are being presented with and not what occurs behind the scenes of the production.
'Hierarchy of fear'???
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent well argued piece at high merit. For distinction you need more examples drawn from news stories. Could easily get there though....