The Future of News: Solutions for Citizens, Politicians, & Journalists

1. The Future of News: Solutions for Citizens, Politicians, & Journalists Bennett, Ch. 8

2. Remember These Problems… • 4 information biases • Sensational political campaigns • Decline of objective journalism • Market-based values in journalism • Failure of media to serve as 4th estate • Growing reliance on opinion news and entertainment media • Potential of web 2.0 and the internet is not embraced by all

3. 6 Proposals for Citizens • Think critically about our current news • Recognize stereotypes, plot formulas, and spin • Look for information that doesn’t fit the plot • Seek additional sources of information to partisan claims • Learn to become self-critical • Think critically about alternatives

4. 6 Proposals for citizens • Think Critically About Our Current News • Go beyond understanding who, what, where, when, and how • See beyond the images and read between the lines • Decode news with an analytical eye for the causes and consequences of events • Don’t be cynical, be critical • Don’t distrust all authority, trust your own judgment

5. 6 Proposals for citizens • Recognize Stereotypes, Plot Formulas, and Spin • Trust named sources over anonymous sources • Be wary of inflammatory labels (e.g., religious fundamentalists, socialist) and dig deeper • Know the language of spin (e.g., terrorist vs. freedom fighter) • Know a pseudo-event when you see one • Look for Information That Doesn’t Fit the Plot • Go beyond rhetoric • Search for documented facts • Understand political agendas and reasons for spin

6. 6 Proposals for citizens • Seek Additional Sources of Information to Check Partisan Claims • In-depth documentaries • Alternative publications: Examples: Opednews and Human Events • Criticsand opposition groups • Academic observers • International news sites: BBC, The Guardian, Al Jazeera • Political comedy: The Daily Show, Bill Maher, Dennis Miller, The Onion

7. 6 Proposals for citizens • Learn to Become Self-Critical • Know your prejudices and challenge them • Don’t let prejudices get in the way of facts and reality • Beliefs should be flexible rather than absolute • Don’t limit your news to confirmatory news • Think Critically About Alternatives • Should we encourage partisan political reporting? • More analysis in news stories? • Watch more perspective-building political comedy?

8. In-Class Assignment #21 • Which do you like the best? • Which are most practical for you? • Think critically about our current news • Recognize stereotypes, plot formulas, and spin • Look for information that doesn’t fit the plot • Seek additional sources of information to partisan claims • Learn to become self-critical • Think critically about alternatives

9. 5 Proposals for Journalists • Use Personalization And Dramatization Creatively • Include More Of The Journalist’s Background Knowledge Into Stories • Resist The Standard Plot Formulas • Define Politics In Terms That Appeal To Ordinary People • So What? Explain Why The Story Matters

10. 5 Proposals for Journalists • Use Personalization and Dramatization Creatively • Thematic reporting of issues • Social, institutional, and historical personalization and dramatization • Avoid the bizarre, grotesque, and sinister personalization and dramatization • Include More of the Journalist’s Background Knowledge into Stories • Avoid complete reliance on sources to tell the story • Move toward observer-centered narrative • Use their expertise to tell the story

11. 5 Proposals for Journalists • Resist The Standard Plot Formulas • Lessen the typical plot and language (e.g., horseraces for elections) • Increase the thematic, social, institutional, and historical plots • Define Politics In Terms That Appeal To Ordinary People • News today is more and more for the already-informed • Explain definitions, events, meanings, etc., to encourage comprehension

12. 5 Proposals for Journalists • So What? Explain Why The Story Matters • People are busy and need help with whittling down information • No time to “read between the lines” • Explicitly report why a story is reported and featured

13. 5 Proposals For Politicians & Government • Limit The Flow Of Money To Politicians • Develop Better Formats For Candidate Debates And Coverage Of Legislation • Control Media Monopolies • Provide More Funding And More Creative Mandate For Public Broadcasting • Strengthen Public Service Requirements For Cable And Broadcast License Holders

14. 5 Proposals For Politicians & Government • Limit The Flow Of Money To Politicians • Corporations are treated like constituents • Campaign finance reform needed • Develop Better Formats For Candidate Debates And Coverage Of Legislation • Debates now are watered-down; candidates stick to talking points • Create debates that are truly open and probing issue exchanges • Legislation coverage is too horserace-oriented • Need legislation coverage with explanation of policy issues

15. 5 Proposals For Politicians & Government • Control Media Monopolies • Press freedom vs. corporate freedom • More channels, but same information • Need laws to discourage media monopolies • Provide More Funding And More Creative Mandate For Public Broadcasting • More government funding to avoid corporate sponsorship • Allow creativity of programming • Political party channels, public interest channel, social group channels

16. 5 Proposals For Politicians & Government • Strengthen Public Service Requirements For Cable And Broadcast License Holders • Free public airwaves • Government grants licenses to use them • Require public affairs programs, community forums, community access • Keep net neutrality

17. In-Class Assignment #22 • Do you agree with Bennett’s proposals for government intervention? • Which are most practical? • Limit The Flow Of Money To Politicians • Develop Better Formats For Candidate Debates And Coverage Of Legislation • Control Media Monopolies • Provide More Funding And More Creative Mandate For Public Broadcasting • Strengthen Public Service Requirements For Cable And Broadcast License Holders

18. To Sum it up • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA5KaAr7eno&feature=related • Robert McChesney is Founder and President of Free Press, a non-profit media reform organization, professor at the University of Illinois and the author and editor of several books on media and democracy.