Lecture 12

The topic today is Investigative journalism. Firstly, we should be clear about what is Investigation Journalism. There are three quotes which clearly described the definition of it.

Ø  “Isn’t all journalism meant to involve questioning  investigation of facts and    opinions presented to us?”   Ross Coulthart –  Australian Investigative Journalist.

Ø  "An investigative journalist is … to discover the truth and to identify lapses from it in whatever media may be available.” (2000)  Hugo de Burgh British Media Theorist.

Ø  “ … what somebody somewhere wants to suppress; all the rest is just advertising.” Lord Northcliffe Owner – The Times The Daily Mail.

For investigative, it covers five IN’s.

Ø  Intelligent

Ø  Informed

Ø  Intuitive

Ø  Inside

Ø  Invest

There are some deeper definitions and purpose of investigative journalism:

1. Critical and thorough journalism

2. Custodians of conscience

3. To provide a voice for those without one and to hold the powerful to account

4. Fourth Estate / Fourth Branch of Govt / Watchdog

Fourth Estate: Journalists represent the interests of those without power to balance the power of government.

Fourth branch of govt: Journalists ensure free flows of information necessary for the functioning of democracy by interrogating the judiciary, executive and legislature.

Watchdog: Journalists make accountable public personalities and institutions whose functions impact social and political life.

THE KEY IDEA:

ACTIVE INTERVENTION

EXPOSURE

‘PUBLIC INTEREST’

FOURTH ESTATE / WATCHDOG

SCEPTICAL NOT CYNICAL!

In the very early time, many journalists had already noticed in this area.

‘Journalists’ uncritical dependence on their sources, orchestrated government leaks … media units and press secretaries … can lead to [the media] becoming a mouthpiece for vested interests.’

                                                                                               - Fitzgerald Report (1989)

‘The ABC cannot simply report; its legislation clearly implies that it should also work within the best traditions of investigative journalism … systematically to pursue issues of public concern through innovative and reliable journalism …’

                                                                                               - ABC (1985)

Remember: Historical Investigations. TRAILBLAZERS!

Ø  “The Sydney Monitor”  (1826)  -- Edward Hall Smith

Ø  “The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon” Campaign (1885) -- W . T . Stead & the Salvos (William Booth)

Ø  “The Moonlight State” Chris Masters, Phil Dickie, Shaun Hoyt

When we investigate, we should always check our facts, assume noting and expect whistleblowers to be/ go crazy. Just like the old journalism saying: ‘if your mother says she loves you, check it out.”

There is the list of investigation interaction types:

l  Interviews

l  Observations

l  Documents

l  Briefings

l  Leaks

l  Trespass

l  Theft

      ONLINE NEWS 

             Less Money = Less Journalists + Less Time = Less Investigative Journalism

The video: Investigative journalists - a dying breed? 

                                 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TL1vEzzBRY

Annotated bibliography

China and Philippine sink into stalemate because of HuangYan Island (in South China Sea).

Yizhou Wang, (2003). Doctor of international political, China, Global Politics China’s foreign Policy, The world knowledge press.

Yizhou is not only a chief editor of The World Economy and Politics, but also the vice president of international relations college, Beijing University. During the past twenty years, he has been to more than forty countries to visiting, researching and participating conferences. From 1996 to 1997, he was in Harvard University international affairs center as visiting scholar. Moreover, he has published more than four hundred articles in reviews, report, reviews and other kinds of paper. Yizhou indicated that Philippine has many purposes in HuangYan lsland problem and its provoked made Chinese can’t endure any more. If the conflict really happened, Philippine will definitely lose in military, diplomatic and legal theory. His ten main books are usually used as analyzing teaching material in universities, “Global Politics China’s foreign Policy” (2003) is one of them which focus on the International relations in the individual and the country sovereignty. The theme of this book tightly related to how to treat the relationship between China and Philippine. It overcomes the previous diplomatic study which just limitedly interacted between two countries, and put the large field of analysis view on the global politics. He expressed that China diplomacy should regard the background of the global politics as chief source, that is the only possible to push china diplomacy and design of international strategic to the level of world power.

The East (dongfang) daily, Chinese&English(both) Web Edition (2012). Philippine Manila Standard Today News: HuangYan Island really belongs to China. May 9^th, 2011. 2:34 p.m. (in Australia--Brisbane time) retrieved from http://www.dfdaily.com/html/21/2012/5/9/789028.shtml

This article obtained the highest click rate after it published in fifteen minutes since ‘striving for HuangYan Island’ has happened, so it fully deserved the appellation of bombshell. On account of the original article has been local blocked, the news can be only found in websites transshipment. This transshipment covers whole original article and has bilingual published, this composing definitely increased the range of readers. The attractive point of this article is Victor N. Arches II who comes from Philippine and published an article “HuangYan Island really belongs to China”. This article not only makes Philippine in an embarrassing situation, but also let China grow ambition. He used to be an investor, commercial banker and former economist. In April 28^th of 2012, he published this article in the fourth largest newspaper of Philippines and strongly accused that Philippine government deceived the general public. This article starts with the history of HuangYan Island from 1279, and briefly used many data and history record to prove that HuangYan belongs to China.

The Christian Science Monitor, English Web Edition (2012). China blames the Philippines for South China Sea dispute. By Ariel Zirulnick, Staff writer / May 8^th, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2012/0508/China-blames-the-Philippines-for-South-China-Sea-dispute

This article published by Ariel Zirulnick who is the Monitor’s Europe editor, overseeing regional coverage for both CSMonitor.com and the weekly magazine. The article not only reports the crisis situation between China and Philippine, but also analyzes the crises in a global background. Ariel reports that China warned the Philippines that confrontation over a disputed island in the South China Sea could worsen, and has perfect preparation for any escalations. Comparing with the corresponding period “HuangYan Island” news, this article is more specific, deep going and attractive. It roundly covers both sides’ official speeches, China and Philippine, this really helps audiences to clear the fact of “scramble for HuangYan Island”. Moreover, Ariel indicates the effect of Philippine’s behind-the-screen helper, America. This article indicates that America assist has promoted provocation of Philippine, but America recently stated neutral in this standoff. Ariel didn’t use her voice but borrow from other people’s speech to comment it. This method is smart and professional, and it also let audience touch more first sources.

GMA news, English Web Edition (2012). China issues warnings on Philippines. May 10^th 2012, 7:00 p.m PHL. JASON GUTIERREZ, Agence France-Presse Retrieved from:http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/257760/news/world/china-issues-warnings-on-philippines

Jason Gutierrez is a journalist of Agence France-Presse which is not only the first news agency in the world, but also the biggest one in France. This article constitute by many opinions which from government, populace and foreign ministry spokesman. From those opinions, audiences will clear about the current situations of China and Philippine. This type of expressing is able to helps author to closes the distance between audiences and events, and let audiences feel the events are real and easy touched. Moreover, those opinions come from different levels of society in both China and Philippine, so comparing with other simplex sources article, this article is more interesting, comprehensive and attractive. Beside this, Jason compared the China geographical relevance (distance) of HuangYan Island with Philippine’s. Numbers usually make audiences want to pass and ignore but not for this one. Audiences will sketch the rough map by reading the data, this helps them to analyze, understand and evaluate about this standoff.

Graphic on disputed boundaries in the South China Sea. The Philippines said its flagship navy vessel was involved in a standoff on Wednesday with two Chinese surveillance ships that blocked the arrest of the Chinese fishermen. AFPgrahics

Reference:

(1)   Yizhou Wang, (2003). Doctor of international political, China, Global Politics China’s foreign Policy, The world knowledge press.

(2)   The East (dongfang) daily, Chinese&English(both) Web Edition (2012). Philippine Manila Standard Today News: HuangYan Island really belongs to China. May 9^th, 2011. 2:34 p.m. (in Australia--Brisbane time) retrieved from http://www.dfdaily.com/html/21/2012/5/9/789028.shtml

(3)   The Christian Science Monitor, English Web Edition (2012). China blames the Philippines for South China Sea dispute. By Ariel Zirulnick, Staff writer / May 8^th, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2012/0508/China-blames-the-Philippines-for-South-China-Sea-dispute

(4)      GMA news, English Web Edition (2012). China issues warnings on Philippines. May 10^th 2012, 7:00 p.m PHL. JASON GUTIERREZ, Agence France-Presse Retrieved from:http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/257760/news/world/china-issues-warnings-on-philippines

(5)      http://www.mmail.com.my/story/philippine-warship-standoff-chinese-ships-update

Lecture 11

The topic of this lecture is Agenda Setting. So the definition of Agenda Setting is “Agenda setting is the process of the mass media presenting certain issues frequently and prominently with the result that large segments of the public come to perceive those issues as more important than others.  Simply put, the more coverage an issue receives, the more important it is to people.”(Coleman, McCombs, Shaw, Weaver, 2008) Agenda Setting is a theory which is able to affect people’s judgment of big events. There are four agendas which are interrelated.

1) PUBLIC AGENDA - the set of topis that members of the public perceive as important.

2) POLICY AGENDA - issues that decision makers think are salient. (i.e. legislators)

3) CORPORATE AGENDA - issues that big business & corporations consider important.

4) MEDIA AGENDA - issues discussed in the media.

The under image shows prominently about agenda building. From this image we can easily understand what the reality works in different areas, the real reality, media reality and public perception of reality. We can also feel that media does filter and shape the way of audience thinking.

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Agenda comes from the Presidential campaign in Chapel, 1968. From Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw’s 100 surveys, it showed that the mass media have large influence on audiences by their choice of what stories to consider newsworthy and how much prominence and space to give them. Hill North Carolina.Lippmann argued that people rely on the images in their minds in formulating judgments rather than by critically thinking.  He advised, "Yet in truly effective thinking the prime necessity is to liquidate judgments, regain an innocent eye, disentangle feelings, be curious and open-hearted." This is really good statement for journalists and artists. After read this statement, people will be leaded back to have “an innocent eye”.

There are two main types of Agenda Setting Theory. The first level is media suggestions of what the public should focus on through coverage. The second level is media suggests of how people should think about an issue.

Here are some quotes:

Ø  “The press may not be successful much of the time in telling people what to think, but it is stunningly successful in telling its readers what to think about”                 (Bernard Cohen,1963)

Ø  “Agenda setting is not always the diabolical plan by journalists to control the minds of the public but ‘an inadvertent by-product of the necessity to focus’ the news”       (McCombs 2004)

Ø  “The real mass media are basically trying to divert people. Let them do something else, but don’t bother us (us being the people who run the show). …Let everybody be crazed about professional sports or sex scandals or the personalities and their problems or something like that. Anything, as long as it isn’t serious. Of course, the serious stuff is for the big guys. "We" take care of that.”   Noam Chomsky

The Agenda Setting ‘Family’ :

1. Media Gatekeeping
2.  Media Advocacy
3.  Agenda Cutting
4.  Agenda Surfing
5.  The diffusion of News
6.  Portrayal of an Issue
7.  Media Dependence

Strengths of Agenda Setting Theory:

•    It has explanatory power because it explains why most people prioritize the same issues as important.

•    It has predictive power because it predicts that if people are exposed to the same media, they will feel the same issues are important.

•    It has organising power because it helps organise existing knowledge of media effects.

•    It can be proven false. If people aren’t exposed to the same media, they won’t feel the same issues are important.

•    Its meta-theoretical assumptions are balanced on the scientific side.

•    It lays groundwork for further research.

 

Weaknesses of Agenda Setting Theory :

•    Media users may not be as ideal as the theory assumes. People may not be well-informed, deeply engaged in public affairs, thoughtful and skeptical. Instead, they pay casual and intermittent attention to public affairs, often ignorant of the details.

•    For people who have made up their minds, the effect is weakened.

•    News cannot create and conceal problems. The effect can merely alter the awareness, priorities and salience people attach to a set of problems.

•    NEW MEDIA is a whole new ballgame in terms of Agenda setting

The example of Agenda Setting: the earthquack of Sichuan province,China.

http://wenku.baidu.com/view/f73f80ed172ded630b1cb6fb.html

Lecture 9

The topic of this lecture is News values. The first important thing is to make it clear, what is News values?

News values are one of the most opaque structures of meaning in modern society … Journalists speak of “the news” as if events select themselves … Yet of the millions of events which occur daily in the world, only a tiny proportion ever become visible as “potential news stories”: and of this proportion, only a small fraction are actually produced as the day’s news …

Stuart Hall 1973 (ex Lamble)

This is a good definition of News values, and makes me in deep thinking of not only the News values but also the journalism and communication. I will have lots of questions in my mind. Which news can become “tiny proportion”? What quality it should have? So I searched more information of News value.

所谓新闻价值，就是指凝聚在新闻事实中的社会需求，就是新闻本身之所以存在的客观理由，在我们比较固定的认识中，它包括时效性、重要性、显著性、接近性以及趣味性等几个基本属性。(The objective reason of News value excising is the requirement of society. It includes timeliness, conspicuousness, accessibility and interestingness. http://baike.baidu.com/view/36988.htm) it is really clear that News value is not very simple, it decided by many factors.

The sentence of Arthur is interesting but really useful. It was said many years ago, but still really true.

“News is what a chap who doesn't care much about anything wants to read. And it's only news until he's read it. After that it's dead.”   

                                                                                                 Arthur Evelyn Waugh
                                                                                                     (English Author)

There are four main parts of News value we should learn.

1. IMPACT

2. AUDIENCE IDENTIFICATION

3. PRAGMATICS

4. SOURCE INFLUENCE

There is one amazing statement by Arthur of impact.

‘News is anything that makes a reader say, “Gee Whiz!”’     Arthur MacEwen, US Editor

The important thing need to notice: News Values vary across different news services and countries / cultures.

The structure of News value:

The most important thing on the top and the less important information at end, this is easier for composing. If there is not enough space for the whole article, you can just cut the tail off.

For leads:

(1)  If it bleeds, it leads. This means the event of shooting or killing.

(2)  If it local, it leads. The local thing will be more interesting to read, because it is more accessible for local people.

This is really good saying of News values, especially the “human sieves of the torrent of news”. It point that there are so much stuffs coming in and we need to pick the value one.

“A sense of news values” is the first quality of editors – they are the“human sieves of the torrent of news”, even more important even than an ability to write or a command of language. 

                                                                                    “The College of Osmosis” 

                                                      Evans (2000)

"News journalism has a broadly agreed set of values, often referred to as 'newsworthiness'...“

                                 A.   Boyd (1994) (Broadcast Journalism)

For the newsworthiness, there are three hypotheses.

(1)  The additivity

(2)  The complementarity

(3)  The exclusion

There are many another thought of newsworthiness, for instance, importance, size, proximity. Though there are many thought, the main important ideal is not changed.

The threats to newsworthiness are Journalism / Commercialization of media and social life, Journalism / Public Relations and Journalism’s ideals / Journalism’s reality.

'Too much of what has been offered as news in recent years has been untrustworthy, irresponsible, misleading or incomplete.’

                                                          Downie and Kaiser

The future of News values is uncertain and it depends on audience and society.