Study GuideSociology—Contemporary Mass Media1. Creating News and Culture1.1 How News Gets ChosenSociologists who study culture have spent a lot of time looking at how news is created. Journaliststhemselves also think carefully about this process. The biggest challenge they face is simple:farmore things happen every day than the media could ever report. Because of this, journalists mustconstantly decide which events to cover and which ones to leave out.These choices are not easy. Newspapers must meet strict printing deadlines, and television newsmust go on air at exact times. There is very little room for delay. As a result, reporters and editorsoften make important decisions quickly, under pressure, and with limited information.1.2 Competition and “Newsworthiness”Journalists also work in a competitive business. Newspapers want to sell more copies and attractadvertisers, so they often choose stories that appeal to a wide audience. Television news and onlinenews sites face similar pressures. They compete for viewers and advertising money, which meansthey must present stories in ways that match the interests and tastes of their audiences.Because of this, journalists decide what is“newsworthy.”If an event is not considered newsworthy,it does not get reported—and if it is not reported, it does not become news at all. In this way,journalists do more than simply report reality;they help shape it. Even when reporters present “justthe facts,” the specific facts they choose to highlight create a version of reality that audiences theninterpret in their own ways.Preview Mode
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