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
THE POWER OF RATINGS: - 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?
- 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.
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.
**http://www.pbs.org/wnet/insidelocalnews/ratings.html**
How News Happens
THE POWER OF RATINGS:
- 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?
- 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