CHAPTER REVIEW

COMMON THREADS

508

One of the Common Threads discussed in Chapter 1 is the role that media play in a democracy. Today, one of the major concerns is the proliferation of news sources. How well is our society being served by this trend—especially on cable and the Internet—compared with the time when just a few major news media sources dominated journalism?

Historians, media critics, citizens, and even many politicians argue that a strong democracy is only possible with a strong, healthy, skeptical press. In the old days, a few legacy or traditional media—key national newspapers, three major networks, and three newsmagazines—provided most of the journalistic common ground for discussing major issues confronting U.S. society.

In today’s online and 24/7 cable world, though, the legacy media have ceded some of their power and many of their fact-checking duties to new media forms, especially in the blogosphere. As discussed in this chapter and in Chapter 8, this power shortage is partly because substantial losses in advertising (which has gone to the Internet) have led to severe cutbacks in newsroom staffs, and partly because bloggers, 24/7 cable news media, and news satire shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report (prior to Stephen Colbert’s leaving to host CBS’s Late Night program in 2015) are fact-checking the media as well as reporting stories that used to be the domain of professional news organizations.

The case before us then goes something like this: In the old days, the major news media provided us with reports and narratives to share, discuss, and argue about. But in today’s explosion of news and information, that common ground has eroded or is shifting. Instead, today we often rely only on those media sources that match our comfort level, cultural values, or political affiliations; increasingly these are blog sites, radio talk shows, or cable channels. Sometimes these opinion sites and channels are not supported with the careful fact-gathering and verification that has long been a pillar of the best kinds of journalism.

So in today’s media environment, how severely have technological and cultural transformations undermined the common-ground function of mainstream media? And are these changes ultimately good or bad for democracy?

KEY TERMS

The definitions for the terms listed below can be found in the glossary at the end of the book. The page numbers listed with the terms indicate where the term is highlighted in the chapter.

news, 480

newsworthiness, 480

ethnocentrism, 482

responsible capitalism, 482

small-town pastoralism, 483

individualism, 483

conflict of interest, 488

herd journalism, 492

sound bite, 497

public journalism, 500

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Modern Journalism in the Information Age

509

Question 14.1

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What are the drawbacks of the informational model of journalism?

Question 14.2

gHBC4Zkj+CisyleWD+9ozt9wXJk=
What is news?

Question 14.3

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Explain the values shift in journalism today from a more detached or neutral model to a more partisan or assertion model.

Ethics and the News Media

  1. Question 14.4

    B4AOCJyVLcq6X9UgcWZBLP+cpnxJNZKZUSTY7Hf08KR+qgnYDWI5jPsRYx1Wzx30+qqfUuFLXNEFQdvXjIZ1kWhBgA+TW7G2tex/+AK65DzaOFDvoRCE2OtVPEE=
    How do issues such as deception and privacy present ethical problems for journalists?

  2. Question 14.5

    RnQh58o+0UkM6lQSd/WCDh6qH0DHKrX+McDkptMFsCHgMNdLrwFFxIomQlGcexZ6QWeU4Lcip+U=
    Why is getting a story first important to reporters?

  3. Question 14.6

    pRiKW/6Sw6sSU8Nq+lL6L+posSirXG/GNjAOmQyRlcEm46VyOutls6t08HCIuZyThT7Lo2zvZByLdUvbQOvA3S0B2DMFuvLhl7F44jU6PUK5k8vTDn/oZfwl/IRj0pVvVAU42Bx9thJfG7b2l0e+azEYb1V23IQ48dnPAH51zaA=
    What are the connections between so-called neutral journalism and economics?

Reporting Rituals and the Legacy of Print Journalism

  1. Question 14.7

    fp7/VAzaUoqx33PtWnAsBdchM9uFBs7qzbKs99sftBEDMX8z/JVL592M09Cryi+/uo/ntvCiwzY=
    Why have reporters become so dependent on experts?

  2. Question 14.8

    IL1/Yy/dMJcM/ndjvxwGI4uVRoe59OKEbc6ByCVWG15tbnAc1OSJvfLkBNlSr4Hl89IPK0jqkB1X9pnTbxDI2Dbuy7B6znS7RxeUMGXq73uQ0cxtjv4A708FNkGZ8ZLNrwbFf5AzTjru8A7/VtSPmX2wh4mDa86LcCZEwA==
    Why do many conventional journalists (and citizens) believe firmly in the idea that there are two sides to every story?

Journalism in the Age of TV and the Internet

  1. Question 14.9

    JfDq+RDh+YLiWbNCCCV2PYnG02uqIhnglcgllqtlWmGTS9p8cQ2IQV2wzdMd+KjFndkboFhfdBjEJAJ3OImyET9c6y8u7ag9ZhlLYWqX2Ig=
    How is credibility established in TV news as compared with print journalism?

  2. Question 14.10

    Nu3teU0/192PSPnwEjW+ys9l4Aci4CEg+FdT2LaUCV2z8M/+u8PMH8+RzR0rxNfzj8ZuPiOvr4XA+9hn8OgVmg==
    With regard to TV news, what are sound bites and happy talk?

  3. Question 14.11

    bY0K1TUi/lYOOImAzdygxTQze8yymwUDnP631OaBOvoP9YKNOC3LLLKSMK7flaZqSHe+DegNmh+EDyW4
    What roles are pundits now playing in 24/7 cable news?

  4. Question 14.12

    aYLqdfqfugAS9WyjUkRHb4baNqFfKNsJNgwliZMapMWg23VB7zkjfFdjd6cT3XSyKcvyabRSNbXNcVActxiqGWnL5mOCS2fyztAJDYuLG/s=
    In what ways has the Internet influenced traditional forms of journalism?

Alternative Models: Public Journalism and “Fake” News

  1. Question 14.13

    Arg7t4fb2q/8KFSBTvZ92dNuWwE38OKaLOCgadzFxMMAu7SJjzP0VE2PwHJfC5gqLVE/lB7qH7yFQOocdLi2PTTrAQbTp+IELSEKVWpcnGUisAHJ4IcJzQ==
    What is public journalism? In what ways is it believed to make journalism better?

  2. Question 14.14

    oRFYvO7E10sb6db3PBCeEAK/Felr6JZiB5Dg7lXpO63TKcpHGFhSU6TpMb1NVkqfg+oyPETCY5gW+VZYsgd/Fw0boFhcNOulSEMiTQR6ufZSu9nYFSPZZaQgGwgp2vR8UYGxF0uHxy7O/EDffS3jH9gWWKnlKzmKTFeNPIxdaSSI6taMo3f1wi0mUMmr6SkmTWGgvA==
    What are the major criticisms of the public journalism movement, and why do the mainstream national media have concerns about public journalism?

  3. Question 14.15

    X2q1BV8RMwd8c89XnTCLCN56gfxo2Isb94SpxClbLUk35wZv21mCS8p29ciXul+TYEjhLQ5WaDePO40A76I6cGFA5azcHxDFRtuREzAe5mi7C7UvASAN6kGwdTAnoQ3cFVIFlCvBQWVD248kPCEiw+jp5p4xCdFRXqt29aVm13Bu1KH61GellppN3Z0F5wJW2Rz41Jqqja0gaBG2kRW+mDjXIo/oT/A8I14BpuZTpOQ=
    What role do satirical news programs like SNL’s “Weekend Update,” The Daily Show, and Last Week Tonight play in the world of journalism?

Democracy and Reimagining Journalism’s Role

  1. Question 14.16

    wm/tt8R60Tib8MCTbGouYpSR09yeT4WqVHOiH4sAEy2tMexzoKGN7lmjvE/gsb1n7OSZb3vdX6t505o4iISXjIJsTAJN7o1hblDKYTbNmsI=
    What is deliberative democracy, and what does it have to do with journalism?

QUESTIONING THE MEDIA

  1. Question 14.17

    82SZkleSYPKGO2fulO/ej5cOFnDevJZAq8+899P41MLs4QHp8lYcx5jIsiojp2upWDSw3dY/gV0ZPgReYvnScPAgfI/8IBJx0RuUIbaMLnR6pBb2K9lizI2B5kqKW7K+YqFz8agML41iXZiihCjFvLCN7fw=
    What are your main criticisms of the state of news today? In your opinion, what are the news media doing well?

  2. Question 14.18

    ZBc5ibncIUq9pAmhjGSH+qfgdbDheuyaTwwP/keEVfkSUisnMuK8L0XyCCVz8D0/K0SEG6HN6L6oE2smP5iYT0BY0AzG5VgxfU+gMoi0Dm/72QWuzls+Zd+qAz3IEdqdReGDVkpNyzURx7eEKWIfZ0TZTzbeJh4ltRsLS1W9lTEirvfh
    If you were a reporter or an editor, would you quit voting in order to demonstrate your ability to be neutral? Why or why not?

  3. Question 14.19

    hji84GVO5F4aVb5AgZFsEMLitk8ndGR9cGf6LyqWVNSkzRlPpgA9s9djCEZRmO/8nQk+jX03JgZ/1J6dxV7Y1tcy+IYcYjwsDnuP4tmT03jiVrzK369yOb2D+QV6UTBPrtA7Di4aMBjJwm+TzoKBqwpFL9V5jWRXEbzz7gBXYvE///u7j5zYDx9Iq1qkRenVHL5x09OSRnkIBvkKhhV7ZMAL8dXFbSD+oViaqzJhP2E=
    Is the trend toward opinion-based partisan news programs on cable and the Internet a good thing or a bad thing for democracy?

  4. Question 14.20

    2Ovo3xUYqv6sB4TckHsH/R2mEZ+Zj+ntQ1e4+H6zB351YkEdXDORyfpTVP+cdA6+2waGDGQuEAw5bPvLz/BUGBYz6Q3MmA4QmwTFbtIoOGeK8Yy1g1lhd/PFNNJqVNAkO0rGgpFo65dMiHWl+2W26eUVXlWdeDQ1+t421ow8ceJW9iFxwFdqRR+e/NM=
    Is there political bias in front-page news stories? If so, cite some current examples.

  5. Question 14.21

    YILjdqMvMJOI/WO4oECEfoGYGwsdvVxsoQOSAWffc02GWJURAUFsnnl0E0yeDYNC+oZsjUSTbjoE6XwQUq3NPuqdZhy5DaNjV2RTXrW2Zp+kUkhLwa6SZKnSSe+Trmq59Y8VDv3T0Ro+nkhfh6N6JA==
    How would you go about formulating an ethical policy with regard to using deceptive means to get a story?

  6. Question 14.22

    VfbyzCORgn5Iq0C1rCrXB7xrRkYqMORR8yN/PQFAa65E/lGF7oKoQm+j5pcDwJVjdXI5jQoh7reJxfMj68u5Gtl0mpy/WyMaLoxgtyze1kGcPBQY+poT0w55pil2QQQz
    For a reporter, what are the dangers of both detachment from and involvement in public life?

  7. Question 14.23

    UOXj/D4jwAgFj3CH6lX3RoiyHxVKptHXGdFrZOnvdV2Y7vKuPWobBnqtgvuuC/BBhiJ8l6Afu2wOQZUgZp8ANQL8oLdhFfHt87+MiYW4B8U8X8lvx3ZmjcfTbBpilywCcB0aLeaCxVRJms+v/jxUPA==
    Do satirical news programs make us more cynical about politics and less inclined to vote? Why or why not?

  8. Question 14.24

    mPrjx020QUnMeJQ18fan5NdZKi97BbNlqwMz6Zadi47Uj4VFE+L0Gjx7CW0DjsZx85j5YQAooWu8a0pnLySfvwJOgXQjWGTzXuTOeA==
    What steps would you take to make journalism work better in a democracy?

LAUNCHPAD FOR MEDIA & CULTURE