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Navigating Objectivity and Subjectivity in Media Today

Explore the challenges of objectivity in reporting, the blurred lines of bias in media, and the evolving landscape of identity and privacy in the digital age. Dive into the impacts of transparency, surveillance technologies, and the complexities of information control. Unravel the possibilities and pitfalls of media representation and individual expression.

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Navigating Objectivity and Subjectivity in Media Today

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Presentation Transcript

  1. CCT 300 Spring 2006 Class 7/8: Objectivity, Subjectivity and Identity

  2. Administrivia • Due to illness, 7/8 collapsed into one - look at Cunningham, Jon Stewart video and Agre

  3. Objectivity • “just the facts” reporting • Usually unwritten doctrine - but in cases enshrined into law (e.g., fair access) • Also economic incentive - broadening potential consumer base, increases perceived truth value

  4. Problems with Objectivity • “neutral yet investigative; disengaged but have and impact; fair-minded with an edge” - it’s a hard balance • Can lead to milquetoast reports - investigative impactful, edgy reporting not only sells better but might make a clearer point

  5. Problems (2) • Excuses laziness - both sides of the story enough - synthesis and fact-checking is not done • Can fail in cases where one side - esp. powerful sides - is deceptive or silent • “…it’s a simple thing to stop the media cold. Say nothing, hide documents.” • Stewart ex.

  6. Bias • Now objectivity masks bias - Fox News’ mantra “fair and balanced” • Bias of reporters - conflict sells, common stories safe, events vs. processes • Bias of editors -what goes where, how much space, what is dropped?

  7. Compromise • Transparent subjectivity - biases and framing known and part of dialogue • Encourage not just factual regurgitation but analysis and expertise

  8. Identity and Privacy • Mass media - mass audience - isolating perhaps but private • New media - emphasis on data structure, processing and content manipulation allows for individual expression - but also individual tracking

  9. Possibilities of Identity • Identity experimentation - creation of postmodern identity structures (e.g., Turkle’s analysis of online chat) - may lead to empathy • Creates veil of anonymity that empowers some • Not perfect of course - examples?

  10. Surveillance and Privacy • Individuated transactions can be and are monitored • Enforcement haphazard - both panopticon effect and simple logistics • New media technologies - can automate and make surveillance more efficient

  11. Face recognition analysis • Technologies to scan and detect faces in a crowd • Preliminary systems already exist - potential uses in analysis of closed-circuit surveillance, forensic science, military/intelligence • Increased interest post 9/11

  12. Problems • Abuse - who controls information? For what purposes is it collected? • Cross-referencing - links to biometrics? Banking data? Advertising? • Voyeurism from afar - violation of shared norms of public spaces • False sense of security - not “needle in haystack” technology, false positives, probability of loopholes

  13. Network papers • Generally good (high B- average) • Application to current issues vs. simple analysis of movie • Good integration of theoretical concepts • Use of examples from film

  14. Next Class • More on Internet-era technologies and their structural and economic roots and effects • More time for questions and answers on Wiki/projects

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