Decline of a paradigm? Bias and objectivity in news media studies

Hackett, Robert A.

doi:10.1080/15295038409360036

Cited by 248 publications

(140 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

128

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Contrary to the normative claim that 'journalism speaks truth to power' (Nichols, 2014), an important body of scholarly research shows that overall the mainstream news media tends to reproduce prevalent discourses of power (Dijk, 1988;Hackett, 1984). This is more often than not the case of news reporting of poverty and social exclusion in which the narratives tend to refer to people in a state of poverty as 'others' who are often blamed for their own condition supposedly because they lack the skills, the knowledge and sometimes even the will to drive themselves out of destitution (i Campos, 2014:13).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Malthusian ideology crept into the newsroom: British tabloids and the coverage of the ‘underclass’

Harkins

Lugo‐Ocando

2015

Critical Discourse Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article argues that Malthusianism as a series of discursive regimes, developed in the Victorian-era, serves in times of austerity to reproduce an elite understanding of social exclusion in which those in a state of poverty are to blame for their own situation. It highlights that Malthusianism is present in the public discourse, becoming an underlining feature in news coverage of the so-called 'underclass'. Our findings broadly contradict the normative claim that journalism 'speaks truth to power', and suggest instead that overall as a political practice, journalism tends to reproduce and reinforce hegemonic discourses of power.The piece is based on critical discourse analysis (CDA), which has been applied to a significant sample of news articles published by tabloid newspapers in Britain which focussed on the concept of the 'underclass'. By looking at the evidence, the authors argue that the 'underclass' is a concept used by some journalists to cast people living in poverty as 'undeserving' of public and state support. In so doing, these journalists help create a narrative which supports cuts in welfare provisions and additional punitive measures against some of the most vulnerable members of society.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Malthusian ideology crept into the newsroom: British tabloids and the coverage of the ‘underclass’

Harkins

Lugo‐Ocando

2015

Critical Discourse Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this scenario, audiences are seen as consumers, the content is considered inadequate in aiding them to make informed and meaningful civic choices, and journalists who depend on business revenue are susceptible to advertiser influence and pressure which can lead to tensions (Croteau and Hoynes, 2001). Secondly, control facilitates the reproduction of dominant perspectives while discrediting views outside of what is generally considered to be acceptable (Hackett, 1984).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advocate, Copycatting or Simply Pragmatic: Reconceptualising Contemporary 'Marginal' Journalism(s)

Mutibwa

2015

JOMI

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Journalism(s) at the margins have often been perceived to focus exclusively on public service obligations.The motivation for this lies in the inability and/or unwillingness of mainstream public service and commercial media to provide a range of civic programming that caters to the needs and interests of diverse groups in society. This research, however, shows that evolving socio-political and socio-economic circumstances have had a considerable impact on contemporary marginal journalism(s). Whilst a commitment to publicservice goals remains perceptible, this article makes two key arguments. First, the changing conditions in which journalists at the margins operate increasingly compel them to embrace mechanised journalistic routines associated with mainstream media, thereby compromising their public-service function. Second and following on from the first point, marginal journalism(s) have devised innovative media strategies to cope with the evolving circumstances in a manner reminiscent of the concept of the "third sector". This evidence -based on data gathered through ethnographic research at three selected case study organisations -provides us with an enhanced understanding of current trends in this field. The article highlights these developments and in doing so, makes a contribution to the development of a conceptual framework of contemporary marginal journalism(s).

show abstract

“…31 According to this perspective, news can be perceived as a discourse, to which journalists bring their own evaluative baggage, which excludes alternative views. 32 It can thus be established that the process of selecting what the reader reads involves judgments, personal values, and prejudices.…”

Section: Scapegoating In the Newsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards an Ethical Hermeneutics of Journalism

Onay-Coker

2018

errs

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:This paper applies a Ricoeurian ethics in a two-fold personal/societal critique, choosing as a case study the representation of an "other" in a newspaper article. The personal critique uses a historical narrative (my own) as a window. Through it, we see hysterical stories about national enemies-in this case the Greek Cypriots-imposing themselves upon the developing consciousness of a growing child. I describe my awakening-through Ricoeur's idea of the creativity of language-from the spell of these dominant normative national narratives to the possibility of re-reading them creatively. Ricoeur's blueprint for engagement with such narrative structures holds out the promise of reading them in an ethical manner, and this is achievable through his linguistic hospitality. From there, this study, analyzing the ethical predicaments of mainstream journalism from the perspective of critical media studies, problematizes the issue of otherness in the news. The example taken up, a current Turkish newspaper article covering a Turkish Cypriot Parliamentarian's remarks in session regarding the experiences of 1974 Cyprus, reveals how this otherization is actually constructed under the name of the journalistic profession. This essay then borrows a Ricoeurian ethical perspective with a view to making news language more hospitable, repositioning both news organizations and news items alike within Ricoeur's ethical paradigm of leading a good life with and for others within just institutions. This conceptualization of the news item itself as a just institution is a change that journalists could make in order to bring the news more in line with a Ricoeurian sense of ethics and away from the current dominant practices in mainstream journalism. Keywords: otherness, narrative, Paul Ricoeur, ethics, journalism, representation, CyprusRésumé: L'article en question applique une éthique Ricoeurienne dans le cadre d'une double critique personnelle/sociétale, en choisissant en tant qu'étude de cas, la représentation d'un "autre" dans un article de journal. La critique personnelle utilise une narration historique (la mienne) comme une fenêtre. A travers celle-ci, nous voyons des récits hystériques au sujet des ennemis nationaux-dans ce cas-ci les Chypriotes grecs-s'imposant sur la conscience en développement d'un enfant en pleine croissance. Je décris mon réveil-à travers la notion de Ricoeur sur la créativité du langage-du charme de ces narratifs nationaux

show abstract

Decline of a paradigm? Bias and objectivity in news media studies

Cited by 248 publications

References 28 publications

How Malthusian ideology crept into the newsroom: British tabloids and the coverage of the ‘underclass’

How Malthusian ideology crept into the newsroom: British tabloids and the coverage of the ‘underclass’

Advocate, Copycatting or Simply Pragmatic: Reconceptualising Contemporary 'Marginal' Journalism(s)

Towards an Ethical Hermeneutics of Journalism

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About