Ability to ACCESS , ANALYZE ,
EVALUATE , & COMMUNICATE information in variety of forms
In a society dominated by media, it’s important for us to understand and analyze messages we receive

News broadcasting is dominated by huge
• Combinations of 2 or more corporations working in different industries but falling under same corporate structure
• Parent company & subsidiaries.

Who are the
in TV?
 Comcast
(General Electric)
 Viacom
 CBS
 Walt Disney
 News Corp
 Time Warner

Go to this website:
Media Conglomerates — Who Owns What?
http://www.freepress.net/ownership/chart/main?gclid=CIj9v
KDD3KwCFUaMtgodf3ofpw
Check out this presentation http://prezi.com/8lc9_zo6ccde/media-conglomerates-thebig-six/

Look at the 2 nd chart. What other types of companies (non-television) does each parent company own?
Bigger Ownership Chart: http://www.scribd.com/doc/41720035/Media-Ownership-
Chart-2006-but-still-relevant-today
 Comcast / General Electric
 Viacom
 CBS
 Walt Disney
 News Corp
 Time Warner

So what?

So what’s the issue?
-6 companies control 90% of what we read, watch, listen to.
-In 1983 it was 50 companies
-Roughly 230 media executives control what over 315 million Americans see.
-Other problems? Lack of diversity, uncritical of sponsors/companies, bias, native advertising

Today…
So what’s the issue?
-Check out the chart on my webpage.
-What other staggering statistics do you see?
http://www.businessinsider.com/these-6corporations-control-90-of-the-media-inamerica-2012-6

Today…
So what’s the issue?

Today…
So what’s the issue?

• bias of journalists in selecting stories that are reported and how they are covered…
• goes against standards of journalism, which stress fair & accurate reporting.

TYPES:
• Advertising —stories selected/altered to please advertisers.
• Corporate —stories selected/altered to please corporate owners of media.
• Political —attacking parties, candidates, beliefs.
– http://datascience.berkeley.edu/data-media-map-bitly/
– http://www.people-press.org/2009/10/29/fox-newsviewed-as-most-ideological-network/
• Mainstream —report what everyone else is reporting
/ avoid stories that will offend.
• Discrimination —attack particular race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, or ethnic group.

MEDIA BIAS
Just a few basic examples… http://www.inquisitr.com/1186761/jon-stewartslams-cnns-mh370-coverage-video/ http://www.studentnewsdaily.com/example-ofmedia-bias/abcs-nightline-skipped-obamacare/

TYPES:
SENSATIONALISM — use of exciting / shocking stories or language, regardless of accuracy, to provoke public interest / excitement
• appeals to emotions
• controversial
• intentionally omitting facts / info
• being loud to get attention
• trivial information misrepresented / exaggerated as important or significant

TYPES:
MEDIA BIAS
• SENSATIONALISM —
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KgrYWn7AL
M
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv3os-xnS74
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VOE_OiIP1A&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGIYuhdvni4&feature=fvst
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=tPyPISqfcs&NR=1
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOxo4XVyfB0&feature=related
Stewart - Ebola

OTHER NEGATIVE MEDIA TRENDS
- Racism / Sexism / stereotypes
- Objectification of women / girls
- Political affiliations / bias
Fear mongering
- Ignoring non-local issues
- Simplification of complex issues
(ie. politics, etc) ***

CLIP
Good thing or bad thing?
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/vide os/2x8tka/good-badfellas--good-thing-or-bad-thing-
(show Campaign Ads 2014)

http://hyperallergic.com/161454/conflict-kitchens-palestinian-programming-under-siege/

In 1990s, media mergers and tech innovations gave birth to convergence journalism , enabling media companies to gather and share info over a variety of platforms (print, TV, websites, social media, smartphones, etc).
 Used to be more common for journalists to study one medium and stick with it.
 21st century journalist writes & delivers news content in a variety of formats.

HARD NEWS vs. SOFT NEWS
Serious issues that affect people’s lives
Trivial issues that are not very important
• Wars
• Economy
• Politics
• Natural disasters
• Entertainment
• Sports
• Celebrities
• Human interest

• 1908-1965
• CAREER :
– Started as radio announcer during WWII
– Moved to CBS news on TV
– Started own shows SEE IT NOW
& PERSON to PERSON
• KNOWN FOR :
– Up close / personal reporting of WWII
– Stand against hysteria of Senator Joseph
McCarthy / McCarthyism

• IMPORTANCE
– Understood responsibility as a reporter
– Championed intelligence / democracy
– Set standard for ethics in journalism
– 1 st to perfect TV news journalism