Journalism-Callie,Erin,Julia,Mai

Erin's link ("How News Happens"): **http://www.pbs.org/wnet/insidelocalnews/ratings.html**


 * __How News Happens__**
 * The traditional methods of news - television, radio, newspaper - are starting to change
 * Majority of news today is just repeats/ repackaging of other news reports - few original reports
 * Some news stories are broken to the public directly (Twitter) rather than through the media
 * Vast majority on news focused on violence or crime
 * 15% of news coverage goes to coverage of other forms of press
 * New Media (internet) holds the least amount of content and the least original stories - most are just summaries of other media coverages

- Stories of crime violence raise newscasters’ ratings - // How far to pursue a story? // Ethical and moral considerations: o Investigation Reporting: invasive and sensitive questioning o IR feeds off of informative networks throughout communities § If ties are broken, general reporting becomes difficult - Bottom line = what do people //want// to watch?
 * __ THE POWER OF RATINGS: __**

- Advertisers rely heavily on the Nielson Media System o Gathers random samples from 5,000 households (about 11,000 people) - What do ratings measure? o The //amount of time// a show is watched and //by whom// § Industry gauge for show performance · Over long periods of time and short intervals - How the Nielson Media System collects ratings: o Homes agree to have technicians install metering equipment on TV sets, VCRs, cable boxes, and satellite dishes. o The Nielsen Media Research meters track when the sets are on and what the sets are tuned to. o The information from the meters is sent to a central "black box," a small computer and modem. The black boxes then call in their information to Nielsen's central computers. o To track information about which programs are airing for each station or cable channel, Nielsen assigns a coded ID number which labels the program and episodes of the 1,700 TV stations and 11,000 cable systems in the United States. o A "People Meter," a paperback-book-sized box that has buttons and lights and is assigned to each person who lives in the household, including guests, is installed as well. When anyone is watching a show, the switch is turned on. o Nielsen also uses TV diaries, booklets in which viewers record their television viewing habits during a specific week. The viewers are asked to write down not only who watched, but what program and what channel they watched.


 * How Power Shapes the News**
 * corporate advertisers have a major impact on what is shown in media of all forms
 * front-page advertisements on newspaper.. readers often confuse with actual news
 * extensive 'editorials' on products or companies, usually funded by the corporation
 * higher-ups in the media, especially, broadcasting also hold major power over what and who is shown as well as how they are depicted
 * cross-promotion
 * self-promotion (advertising your own show, during the actualy show)
 * “You’d be a fool not to do it. It’s a business.” Steve Friedman
 * the government has a major swaying influence on what is shown as well, media does not want to take risks and lose money
 * the relationship between the government and the investigative reporter SHOULD be uncomfortable or even confrontational, that is how corruption and government problems are found and rooted out, hard-core investigation
 * now officials' endorsement is sought after, in exchange for positive coverage of course.