Comm 261 Exam #2
Might social media change sourcing?
Access to more voices More transparent about sourcing Different perspectives on news (not just elite sources) Using social media to reach sources
Problems with the game/horserace frame
Focuses on elite conflict Learn less about important issues Harder to hold politicians accountable Cynical about politicians and politics in general
How do we establish information credibility? 1. Site or source cues
professional, attractive page design easy navigation, well organized site absence of errors and broken links certifications, recommendations or seals from trusted third parties interactive features paid access to information fast download speed domain name suffix absence of advertising sponsorship by or links to reputable organizations presence of privacy and security policies
Is Infotainment all bad?
•Create cynicism in audience •Sometimes more attention to trivial matters (e.g. scandals) •Discourage trust in both news and political leaders •May expose people to news who otherwise would not have seen it •Help people better understand complicated news stories •Promote learning
Multiple Targets of Credibility
•Credible Source? •Credible Information? •Credible Authors? Targets can be at odds with one another
The "News-Finds-Me" Perception
•Individuals who perceive news will find them are less likely to... •use traditional news sources •less knowledgeable about politics •Implications?
The Importance of the "Youth" Vote
•Millennials = largest share of eligible voters by generation •But they have lower levels of .... •political interest •trust in the news media •engagement in political conversation •Young people are less likely to vote
Young Peoples' Encounters with News
•Teens and young adults are exposed to a range of content of varying quality whether or not they specifically seek it out. •Many young people rely on chance encounters •*Incidental Exposure*
Youth and the News Takeaways
•The youth vote (your vote!) matters •Young people use news less than those older than them •But, they have the highest rate of social media news use •The ambient or incidental nature of youth news consumption •Young people engage in Connective Journalism
The "CNN Effect"
non-stop coverage increases interest in political issues that people were not paying attention to ---> 24-hour news cycle accelerates political decision making ---> increases public demand for a political response ex. Clinton email scandal
Tabloidization (of news)
over time, news is driven by consumer preferences and commercial processes decreases in journalistic standards less interested in hard news and more interested in sensationalism spillover of tabloid news values into the "real" or "quality" news change in what journalists think the public needs to know (Newsworthiness)
DIS SEC strategic curation
paid ads/posts on social media can disperse disinformation, propaganda ex. fb posts 2016 election persuade someone of an opinion whether or not its negative might be most dangerous bc it doesn't have accountability not unbiased bc a motive; not independent, not verified, not accountable
polarization
partisans grow increasingly far apart on issues
How do we establish information credibility? 3. Receiver characteristics
past experience with source internet experience and reliance age, education, income, sex prior knowledge and attitudes motivation/goal for search task personality traits (e.g. need for cognition, thinking styles etc.)
How do we establish information credibility? 2. Message cues
presence of date stamp showing information is current citations (esp. to scientific data or references), links to external authorities message relevance, tailoring professional-quality and clear writing message accuracy, lack of bias, plausibility information breadth and depth description of editorial review process or board
limited diversity of sources continued
ex. sources tend to be white men
Partisan Selective Exposure (Confirmation Bias)
Premise: Encountering Disagreeable information creates discomfort so people seek news that reinforces what they already believe ex. democrats might chose MSNBC republicans might chose Fox News
Using new formats to report the news
new platforms for news and political info news organizations increasingly focus on digital and social media New ways to distribute content
Type 5: Real News Imposters
ex. websites that impersonate real news sites with the result that ppl might lend more credibility to the fake news site ex. real abc news website vs mock abc news website intentional harm
Knowledge in high choice media environment
*Some* argue that increased choice decreases the likelihood of chance encounters with the news Most people opt for entertainment options rather than news (lack of motivation, not skill or ability)
1960s to 1990s: no choice between news and entertainment
--->News and Politics by Default Cable TV arrives: more entertainment options---> Less News Exposure Information age: endless entertainment options---> News Audiences Smaller than Ever
Any problematic information includes 3 elements
1) Agent. Who were the 'agents' that created, produced and distributed the example, and what was their motivation? 2) Message. What type of message was it? What format did it take? What were the characteristics? 3) Interpreter. When the message was received by someone, how did they interpret the message? What action, if any, did they take?
Why do people believe false information?
1. Credibility of Information 2. Biased information processing (motivated reasoning)
Framing the News Take Aways
1. Framing shapes how people interpret and respond to news 2. Frames are a result of decisions made by journalists 3. Several types of frames present in the news
3 Practices of Connective Journalism
1. Sharing news ex. retweeting a post on social media 2. Inserting oneself into the story ex. taking a selfie in front of protest 3. Participating in the making of the story ex. taking/publishing pictures
Young People's Experience of News
1. Shifts in what is considered "news" 2. Shifts in how news is encountered 3. Youth as news producers Young people have different concerns than older adults, so their news engagement looks different
The Experience of Incidental Exposure Among Young People
1. The pervasive use of mobile devices 2. "anywhere anytime" news engagement (Ambient News) 3. Routines drive news consumption 4. Social Motivations
Top Reasons Young People Consume News
1. To be an informed citizen 2. Entertainment 3. To be able to talk to friends 4. To form opinions
To what extent are people exposed to cross-cutting political news on Facebook?
1. What information are people exposed to and do they click on it? 2. How much information was removed by the algorithm?
From online conspiracy to mainstream media
Messages emerge in internet subcultures ---> Spread via social media, YouTube, memes, and influencers---> Hyper partisan media---> Mainstream (but partisan) media---> Mainstream media ex. pizzagate
The Power Of Social Influence (and opinion leaders)
A single social message directly accounted for an additional 60,000 voters 280,000 people whose close friends (not them) saw the social message also voted
How much cross cutting political news do we see and choose?
Algorithms can limit exposure to news
Abundance Of Information Online Creates A Leveling Effect
All information online is equally accessible and more likely to be treated with the same level of credibility
Engagement with Misinformation
Misinformation gets more shares than truth (70% more likely to be shared) Travels faster, further, deeper, and wider Especially for political misinformation
5 ways social media might be changing journalism
Changing journalistic values and norms Change in gatekeeping process Change in journalists' transparency Blurring of line between professional and personal Social media as a *topic* of news
Problems with Sensationalism
exaggeration of reality: creates false impressions of importance of issues
Information Operations
Attempts to manipulate foreign or domestic political sentiment are increasingly prominent in social media
Misinformation is novel
Attracts attention Notably different from all previous tweets in timeline in previous days and months
Political Propaganda
Biased, misleading, or inaccurate information used to promote a political viewpoint or agenda Deliberate attempts to manipulate Designed to provoke audience to take action
The Rise of Infotainment
Blurred lines between news and entertainment More sensational, emotional, and scandal based coverage Focus on people rather than issues (episodic) Focus on non-political traits instead of political qualities Less attention to politics, economics, society Part of the Tabloidization of news
Incidental Exposure to News
Both selective *and* incidental exposure are common paths to news and political information online
Digital Propaganda Tactic # 2: Bots
Bots: automated social media accounts meant to mimic real people Artificially boost content (follow, like, retweet) Goals: manufacture consensus and democratize online propaganda (allow individuals to spread propaganda) Make content seem more legitimate and widespread than they actually are
Goals Of Fact-checking
Change the Public's Mind Change Journalism Change political conversation
Social media are important to journalists' jobs/Social media allow journalists to...
Communicate directly with the public Break news faster Cover live events Use new tools for reporting Incorporate user content and information Share opinions Share personal details Experiment with new forms of storytelling
Tabloidization of news problem?
Concern is that quality news will increasingly rely on tabloid values, making it harder to distinguish the two
Blurring of the line between professional and private
Credibility and legitimacy critical for commercial success of news organizations Need followers, likes, comments, retweets, etc. from network Journalists can build credibility/community through personal branding or promotion Includes building celebrity and being personal
Algorithmic Curation
Decisions by technology companies about what content gets seen Black box—we know very little about it Based on behaviors and preferences Some evidence that it limits exposure to diverse news and information
Reliance On Cognitive Heuristics To Evaluate Credibility
Designed to be quick and minimize effort. But they can cause us to make mistakes in evaluation
2. Changes in gatekeeping process?
Do social media allow more voices in the gatekeeping process? Audience as sources Audience-assisted reporting
Strategic Curation
Easier for strategic actors to bypass news and other media and speak directly to audiences Examples: political ads or paid posts on social media Includes disinformation campaigns (Fake News, Fake Ads, etc).
Opinionated tweets are popular
Evidence of different journalistic norms on Twitter. Journalist do not refrain from opinionated commentary
Media Effects Not Limited to News
Entertainment programming can bring political content to people who might not otherwise see it Entertainment content contains both explicit and implicit political information
Word of Mouth Still Important for Personal Influence
Face to face discussion remains primary route of influence
Social Media Filtering And Algorithms
Facebook filters your posts. The average user has access to 1500 posts a day but only sees 300.
Facebook's Algorithm and political information/news
Facebook's algorithm removes hard news stories you disagree with but NOT those you agree with
Propaganda Tactic # 4: Manually manipulating online discussions with supportive commentators (Troll farms)
Fake grassroots support for the government (astroturfing) Smearing political opponents Moving online conversations away from controversial topics
Limits Of Framing Effects
Frames must come from a credible source Existing values, beliefs, dispositions may limit framing effects (e.g. attitudes toward abortion) Framing effects are not uniform Many news stories provide a mix of frames—two sided messages
The Effects Of Political Satire: The Good
Gateway to Politics: Increases attention to politics and awareness of political issues, especially for those less interested in politics to begin with May facilitate political learning and knowledge Increases political efficacy (belief that you can successfully participate) Encourages political participation and engagement—e.g. Rally to Restore Sanity, # Direct Effect on Public Policy? -Zadroga Bill passage
Mal-information
Genuine information used to cause harm (hate speech, harassment, leaks)
1. Are social media changing journalism norms?
Have journalists "normalized" twitter? Normalized: Adopted Twitter as part of their normal routine, mixing journalistic norms and practices with norms and practices of social media Or have journalists reshaped their norms to fit Twitter? Are social media leading journalists to step outside traditional journalistic norms?
High choice media environment creates A "preference-based knowledge gap"
High Political Knowledge [This group is more knowledgeable and votes more] ^ ------------ v Low Political Knowledge Claim: News junkies benefit more now in terms of knowledge
Expectancy Violation Heuristic
If information fails to meet our expectations, we will not deem it credible
What happens if we think the news will "find us"?
If we are surrounded by news, shouldn't we become more knowledgeable and participate more? News Finds Me Effects: Individuals who use social media for news score higher in the "News Finds Me" Effect Individuals who score high on "News Finds Me" items are LESS likely to use newspapers, TV news, or radio news
3. Changes in transparency?
In order to be accountable, journalists must be transparent Journalistic process used to be hidden Transparency is a new norm on social media More transparency in journalists' work Interacting with audience! Defending journalistic process!
Algorithms and filtering help us sort the abundance of information online
filtering provides us with the content companies think is most relevant for us
Misinformation
Inaccurate, incorrect, or misleading information but whose inaccuracy is unintentional Misinformation can spread when information is not verified (false connection, misleading content)
Healthy journalism should.....
Inform the public Provide an open forum for discussion Act as watchdog on abuses of power Seek the truth
Disinformation
Information that is deliberately false or misleading (false context, imposter content, manipulated content, fabricated content)
Tabloidization of news?
news and tabloid/sensational news on opposite ends of spectrum news: assumed to be informative, educational and focused on public affairs tabloid/sensational news: concerns=>entertainment-oriented, violates social decency, takes away from important news, excessive, leads to "idiot" culture
Media manipulation
Internet subcultures use media ecosystem to manipulate Strategically use social media to increase visibility of ideas (bots, memes) Media's dependence on sensationalism, analytics, and novelty/clickbait make them susceptible to manipulation
How do Opinion Leaders Influence Others?
Interpersonal communication important for opinion leaders Word of Mouth AND Social Media
Crowdsourcing News: Obtaining Data, Information, Or Ideas From Large Groups Of People
Journalist now embrace crowdsourcing as part of their routine News organizations ask audience to help gather and analyze information problems with crowdsourcing news: ex. Boston marathon bag men pic ended up being of the wrong ppl
Journalists bring others into the gatekeeping process
Journalists may use social media to tell stories from the audience's perspective
Sourcing information
Journalists use social media to find sources for stories
Verifying information
Journalists using social media to source information and verify facts
What We Know About Citizens News Use
LITTLE evidence for selective avoidance. few people actively avoid hearing news that runs counter to their beliefs Some evidence of Selective Exposure: When given a choice, partisans prefer likeminded news
Incidental exposure = more opportunity?
Low interest individuals may be able to "catch up" in knowledge via incidental exposure
The Effects Of Political Satire: The Bad
Lower Trust in Government Increased cynicism Lower Issue severity and importance Critics say hosts' style allow them to evade critical interrogation
Opinion Leaders, News, and Politics
Media/News---X---->Non-Opinion Leaders Most of the public does not pay close attention to news Opinion leaders can affect others' political attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors Media/News---Opinion Leader--->Peers, coworkers, friends, family, etc.
News outlets are increasingly reliant on social media platforms
Merging between news and technology companies Tech companies host, monetize, and distribute news Tech companies increasingly play the role of publisher Tensions between newsrooms and platforms Technology companies have great control over what news gets viewed Concerns over algorithms No longer just a place to distribute news Platforms serve as editors, writers, producers, hosts, etc. Uneven power distribution
How influential were bots in 2016?
More Pro-Trump activity by bots in 2016 election Bot influence continues post-election Engagement of Misinformation in Social Media Tops Real News
Misinformation is emotional
More emotion than average tweet Misinformation: Disgust Anger Surprise
Factors that influence knowledge: opportunity
More information = More knowledge Exposure to relevant information in mass media
Knowledgeable and informed citizens are...
More tolerant More efficacious More likely to discuss and participate in politics More likely to hold consistent political opinions
Curated news flows
Multiple, overlapping content flows provide us personalized information No single dominant content flow—depends on individual interest, social networks, and digital communication infrastructure No longer just elites controlling information (e.g. users, friends, algorithms) No two people have the same information flows
News Today: Blurred Line between News and Entertainment
Move to infotainment—not only for news but for politicians Part informational, part side show Moved from serious to entertaining Self-promotional Absence of commitment to truth-less likely to challenge officials Less distinction between news and opinion
What Makes Information Credible?
Multiple factors determine assessments of information credibility -Believability of source -Expertise of source -Trustworthiness of source -Believability of information
Factors that influence knowledge: ability
Must be able to understand the information at a basic level. Education creates ability.
Journalistic curation: gatekeeping
N---Journalists curating news--->A Traditional news sites have large followings on social media
How are media organizations standardizing reporting on social media?
NY Times Guidelines for using social media= Return to journalistic norms? Journalists must not express partisan opinions, promote political views, endorse candidates, or undercut the Times's journalistic reputation Be mindful of taking sides on issues the Times seeks to cover objectively Includes both personal and private social media use Treat others with respect Avoid responding to aggressive or inconsiderate criticism Be transparent: Correct errors Share a diversity of viewpoints in linked sources Be cautious of retweeting other news organizations' reporting if the Times has not confirmed the story
Directional motivated reasoning: Processing information toward a pre-determined goal
New evidence is interpreted through our prior attitudes and beliefs about political figures, issues, and policies. We are motivated to arrive at a certain conclusion. New information--->Prior attitudes, beliefs, emotions--->Evaluation of New information
Potential Issues Of Crowdsourcing
Need editorial judgment Reliability and accuracy of information Authenticity and verification of users Credibility—threat to journalism and journalistic news values and standards? Ownership of content
Digital media complicate credibility
New information providers Information not subject to filtering More information than ever before Much of the information may be poorly organized, out of date, incomplete, or inaccurate Traditional strategies for evaluating information do not work as well online Trusting known sources Evaluating credentials Harder for gatekeepers to filter information due to volume of information Source information is sometimes unavailable, hidden, or missing Source information can be difficult to interpret Easy to lie and deceive online Fewer cues to detect deceit Information can easily be altered, misrepresented, or created anonymously
Curated flows model
News Curation: select, organize, filter an abundance of information into a manageable size Individualized Exposure to News ^^^^^ Journalistic Curation Strategic Curation Personal Curation Social Curation Algorithmic Curation
Social media and engagement
News flows on social media influenced by algorithms Engagement matters: engaged content more likely to show up on others' feeds Sites incentivized to produce engaging content (liked, commented, shared) Biased toward provocative, emotional content (clickbait)? Amplified news?
Politicians and the truth
News needs politicians and elites to have a product To adhere to objectivity, news presents both sides of the debate But we know that politicians have an interest in lying and spinning the news to serve their interest
News In Democratic Societies
News should provide accurate, meaningful, and critical information to citizens Should help people make sense of gov't, politics, and public life Should be based on: -Independence -Inquiry -Verification Changes in the media environment may threaten these ideals
Social Curation
News we see from our social networks (friends, family, acquaintances, etc.) Results of others posting, sharing, etc. Incidental exposure: News we see without actively seeking it Networks are often like-minded and people share interests Return of the two-step flow and opinion leaders
Limited diversity in sources
Not all individuals have an equal chance of being called on as a news source Routines, geographic and social proximity have traditionally limited diversity of sources
Changes in journalistic norms?
Objectivity (fairness, balance, neutrality) a hallmark of journalism Journalists discouraged from expressing personal opinions (non-partisan) Are journalists increasingly using social media to comment on the news they cover? ex. opinion in tweets Are social media changing campaign reporting norms? Is there more fact-checking and less horse-race coverage?
How Opinion Leaders Influence in Social Media
Opinion leaders can recontextualize, frame, and endorse news
Social Media Becoming Important for Opinion Leaders
Opinion leaders more likely to share, post, and comment on news
Algorithms and filtering based on aggregated data from millions of users and data points
Our demographics, choices, and behaviors, determine what we see in the future
Why Opinion Leaders Matter
Our friends and social networks affect our political attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs, even if we don't know it
Endorsement Heuristic:
People Believe Information If Others Also Do (Social Endorsement) "Wisdom of the crowd" Content is less important
Instead of being recipients, citizens are now participants in the production of news
People can produce and distribute content, which helps shape what stories are covered and how (frame)
Factors that influence knowledge: motivation
People must be interested in news in order to learn Motivation should increase knowledge
Misinformation spread by politicians
Politicians are a very prominent source of false information Passive journalism, a focus on objectivity, and sensationalism have promoted the spread of misinformation by elites
America is increasingly politically polarized
Polarization is the divergence of political opinions
Supplying More Information May Not Lead To More Accurate Beliefs
Politically Interested And Educated People Are More Likely To Engage In Motivated Reasoning
3 forms of motivated reasoning
Prior Attitude Effect: Attitude-consistent information evaluated as stronger than counter-attitudinal information Disconfirmation Bias: Counter-argue opposing evidence, Spend more time delegitimizing other side Confirmation Bias (selective exposure): Seek information that confirms prior attitudes and beliefs
Problems with journalism and social media?
Problems with speed and accuracy Using the public and spreading misinformation?
Journalists and Digital Media Take Aways
Rapid adoption of social media by news organizations Social media may be changing journalistic norms, values, and traditions Adoption of social media by news organizations is not always positive
Reputation Heuristic:
Recognized Sources Viewed As More Credible Can be hard to determine if sources are not recognizable
Traditional model of gatekeeping
Regular people had little power to shape media content [Mainstream Media and Journalists were gatekeepers]
(Sensationalism in) Formal Features of news
TV: camera techniques, pace, graphics, or music that stirs emotions Internet: clickbait, bold font, provocative photographs emphasize the sensational
7 Sub-Types Of Problematic Information
Satire or Parody: no intention to cause harm but has potential to fool False Connection: when headlines, visuals, or captions don't support the content Misleading Content: misleading use of information to frame an issue or individual False Context: when genuine content is shared with false contextual information Imposter Content: when genuine sources are impersonated Manipulated Content: when genuine information or imagery is manipulated to deceive Fabricated Content: new content, that is 100% false, designed to deceive and do harm
Sensationalism and Tabloidization Take Away
Sensational and tabloid style coverage are emotional, outrageous, exaggerated, and unfair This type of coverage is increasingly prominent in contemporary news coverage Coverage can affect how people view the world
5. Social media also a topic of the news
Social media are not only used to report the news, but have also become the news. ex. trump tweets
News Consumers and Digital Media Take Away
Social media change the way we get news Information flows online are curated by several factors Opinion leaders are important source of news today Not yet clear if social media promote news learning
How do we deal with information overload?
Sort, Personalize, filter, prioritize, categorize Avoid Rely on Others
Sources = Power
Sources help determine which image of society is presented to the public Whose version of the world?
Why sources matter
Sources shape how events are reported and influence how the public understands the world
Disinformation: Information Operations
Strategic use of technological, operational, and psychological resources to disrupt an opponent's informational capabilities
Selective Avoidance?
Successfully counter-arguing creates positive feelings knowing what the other side is saying is useful (what arguments they make, how they might critique you) some people are fair-minded and want to be well-informed on a variety of perspectives avoidance of the other side is nearly impossible. *we see news about both sides in mainstream and social media*
Determining truth in information
TRUE - The statement is accurate and there's nothing significant missing. MOSTLY TRUE - The statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information. HALF TRUE - The statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context. MOSTLY FALSE - The statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression. FALSE - The statement is not accurate. PANTS ON FIRE - The statement is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim.
Traditional News Use Down
Television, newspaper, and magazine news audiences are shrinking Especially true with younger generations (18-29) News outlets are cutting staff and budgets Fewer resources, less quality news Less learning from the news 31% have deserted a news outlet because it does not provide the information it used to (PEW, 2013)
Use of Outrage
form of discourse used to provoke visceral responses (anger, fear, moral indignation) use of overgeneralization, sensationalism, misleading information, ad hominem attacks and partial truths limits the opportunities of reasonable discussion -outrage increasing over time coding what it looks like/most prominent forms of outrage: -insults, name calling -exaggeration -mockery/sarcasm
(possible) consequences of partisan selective exposure:
fragmentation echo chambers and isolation from disagreement polarization
echo chambers
ideas amplified and reinforced in a closed system, competing views are censored or underrepresented
News finds me beliefs are problematic
individuals who hold them are -Less knowledgeable about politics -Less likely to vote
4. Quality journalism or personal branding?
journalists' use of social media Professional networking! Sharing/promoting content!
What are the consequences of a media environment where news is everywhere? Has technology changed whether we learn from the news?
The U.S. Is not very knowledgeable about itself
Fair Play
make a transparent effort to include all relevant perspectives people or organizations get to respond to negative charges against them
2000s: Cable TV Arrives: The "Mass" Diminishes
more networks available roughly 35 million ppl tuned in each night
Most Partisans Do Not Devote The Majority Of Their Media Use To Partisan Outlets
most people use a mix of sources and general interest (mainstream) remain most popular
Partisan Media?
The problem is people cannot distinguish between news and opinion Partisan Media: Opinion vs. Factual Reporting
News consumption patterns are changing quickly
The rise of social media as a source for news Different news on different platforms social media news use increases among older, nonwhite and less educated Americans Yet, social media is still not a major source of news
Type 2: Misleading Headline or Visual
essentially the idea of clickbait headline does not match content intent is not necessarily to harm, but is to get clicks/generate revenue
The Internet Era: Endless Choice and Fragmentation
even more options roughly 24 million ppl tuned in each night
Selective Avoidance? No! Mix Of Sources Used
even strong partisans use some variety of sources (mainstream and partisan)
Fair language
ex. caravan of illegal immigrants headed to US vs caravan seeking asylum
example of journalists using social media to verify information
ex. David farhenthold breaking of trump story
News outlets encouraging leaks
ex. NYTimes confidential online tip line
As a routine, journalists tend to rely on sources with institutional power
Those in power (e.g. government officials, business leaders, police officers, etc.) more likely to be used as sources Studies show around 75% of sources in political news stories are "official' sources
Who can influence others? Who are opinion leaders?
Those who... 1. have a following 2. are seen as an expert in a particular area 3. are knowledgeable and have expertise 4. are socially embedded
Gatekeeping: Social Vs. Traditional Media
Traditional Media: costly one-way/non-reciprocal long-lasting not immediate/slow only elites can access highly trained Social Media: Inexpensive Interactive and Engaging Short-Term Immediate Anyone can use/easily accessible few skills required
History of Scandals in Contemporary American Politics
ex. Watergate, Reagan's Iran Contra, Clinton and Lewinsky, Trump and Russia
Type 6: Manipulated Content
ex. photoshopped image very easy to do with modern technology
ex. U.S. Recently Indicted one Russian Troll Farm (IRA: Internet Research Agency)
Twitter identified 3,800 IRA accounts that tweeted 176,000 tweets 677,000 people in the US followed, liked, or retweeted one of these accounts during the 2016 election Trump denies and downplays Russian interference despite overwhelming evidence
Twitter introduced in 2006 and news organizations soon began tweeting
Twitter was not originally a big part of media organizations' branding Twitter (and social media) now a key tool for reporting and news dissemination
Opinion Leaders and News
Two-Step Flow: Opinion leaders transmit news and political messages to the wider public, who does not pay close attention to mass media
Example: Crowdsourcing News
UK Members of Parliament Expenses: Guardian asked public to analyze 700k documents and pitch stories. Uncovered expense related scandals.
Public strongly divided over support for leaders
US is becoming more politically polarized Political center is mostly gone
Does satirical content meet these criteria?
Verified Independent Accountable
Mixed evidence whether social media promote learning
Whether people learn from news on social media is highly dependent on many factors: -Individual motivations -Social environment -Media environment
Partisan Motivated Reasoning:
We Are NOT Always Objective When Faced With News and Political Information Interpret new information and evidence in a way that is biased toward our prior attitudes, opinions, and beliefs
Self-confirmation Heuristic (Motivated Reasoning)
We Are NOT Always Objective When Faced With News and Political Information Interpret new information and evidence in a way that is biased toward our prior attitudes, opinions, and beliefs
Personal Curation
We can pick and choose news to shape our own experiences Can select which sites/who we want to follow (selective exposure) The content on those sites is not under our control People vary in the extent to which they personally curate News on social media: partisan "news" and opinion pages Personal curation allows for highly partisan sites to thrive on social media
News Filtering And Algorithms
What happens if they are right? What happens if they are wrong?
Digital journalism ethics
What journalistic ethical standards should we apply to digital media? Traditional Journalism Culture and Values: Accuracy Pre-publication verification Balance Impartial Digital Journalism Culture and Values: Immediacy Transparency Post-publication correction Partiality Non-professional journalists
Framing the News
Why are some aspects of a story emphasized over others?
Sensationalism is NOT New
Yellow journalism relied on sensationalism and tabloid style-news
Agent
actor type: unofficial/official level of organization: none/loose/tight/networked type of motivation: financial/political/social/psychological level of automation: human/cyborg/bot intended audience: members/social groups/entire societies intent to harm: yes/no intent to mislead: yes/no
fragmentation
audience spread out among many sources. no common point of reference.
How do we establish information credibility? 4. Author cues
author identification author qualifications and credentials author contact information absence of commercial motive reputation, name recognition
Fair Presentation
avoid prejudicial photos or videos present photos and other visuals that are appropriate to report
Incidental Exposure
being exposed to news or political information while engaging in non-political media use
Type 7: Fabricated Content
completely and entirely made up content, meant to deceive ex. pope's endorsement of trump Videos can be fabricated too
Propaganda Tactic # 1: Fake (or hijacked) Social Media Accounts
see title
Propaganda Tactic # 3: Online Advertisements or false "news" articles
see title
DIS SEC News Use Across Platforms
some sites are more popular some sites have more adults FEATURES= things a technology is built to do ex: share an image, username and picture AFFORDANCES= 'possibilities for action', relationship between an object/technology and the user, identity expression, anonymity, three criteria-affordances can't be... 1. an object or a feature of the object [ex. a phone's camera is not an affordance] 2. an outcome [ex. viewing someone's profile picture] 3. it must have variability [visibility of gender identity ex. the handle affords pulling] Social Networks: close ties vs. weak ties open vs. closed networks
Type 3: Misleading Content
when people use information to frame issue/individual in a way that is misleading (intentional)
Youth as News Producers
•Connective Journalism -Defines newsworthiness in relation to self and community -Journalistic practices that mobilize community members -Helps define how young people see themselves in their community
why should we care about partisan media?
(possible) consequences of partisan selective exposure: echo chambers and isolation from disagreement Fragmentation: Audience spread out among many sources. No common point of reference Polarization: Partisans grow increasingly far apart on issues People have a preference for like-minded news content
Democratic Dialogue
*Promotes idea of deliberative democracy—honest and civil discussions* Most guests appear to talk about serious topics—politicians, journalists, scholars, authors Interviews provide background and context for current events Often highlight the importance of disagreement Promotes idea of deliberative democracy-honest and civil conversation are a foundation of governance Very different from much of what is on television news
Critique Media—Attacks on conventional news practices
*Suggest media fail their democratic function* Though funny, topics and questions are serious Makes us think of what a reporter's job should be Attacks on conventional practices of TV news -Expose soft questions -Failure to hold politicians accountable -Not cover important topics -Critique the use of "expert" correspondents -Reliance on stock narratives
Partisan News Take Aways
1. Partisan media prevalent in news environment 2. People prefer like-minded content but don't/can't avoid the other side
5 sources of media frames (frame building)
1. Social norms and values 2. Organizational pressures and constraints (e.g. reliance on official sources) 3. Pressure from politicians and interest groups 4. Journalistic routines (e.g. neutrality and objectivity) 5. Ideological orientations or worldview of journalists
Youth News Consumption
1. Young people are *less likely* to pay attention to the news. 2. But *more likely* to get news online.
Getting News on Social Media
1. Young people are *more likely* to get news on social media 2. But *less likely* to engage with that news
3 Categories of Sensationalism
1. news content 2. storytelling perspective 3. formal features of news
Two routes to political information
Active: •Resources (e.g., time, money, interest, skills) •Active Seekers = more politically informed and powerful •Those who don't actively seek = have less of a voice in politics Accidental: •In the course of their everyday lives, individuals encounter "accidental data,"(Downs, 1957) •Low/no cost •May be able to close gaps in political knowledge
Unfairness Can Turn to Bias
Bias is a *pattern* of unfairness in the news NOT an isolated incident
Early Days of TV News in the US: 1950s and 60s
CBS News/Walter Cronkite during Cronkite's time... News and entertainment were separate Separated news from opinion (segments distinguished) News not intended to make a profit Professionalization of journalists-only journalists delivered the news
Infotainment
Content that is intended to both inform and entertain Most apparent on television Can bring news to entertainment or entertainment to news Sometimes called "soft news" Represents potential shift in news values
(Sensationalism in) News Content
Coverage of... scandal crime disasters terrorism violence political conflict ex. more sensationalist coverage of prime-time cable coverage of NFL controversy vs. California wildfires
Did Satirical News Change The News Environment?
Created a new type of news and journalism that uses satire Broadened the boundaries of who can participate in news and politics—no longer just elites Clips from these shows are shared online much more than traditional news—increases exposure Simultaneously highlight and critique the shift to infotainment
Types of Frames I
Episodic vs. Thematic Episodic: focus on the individual—a specific case study (short-term) Thematic: focus on the larger social problem (long-term) Episodic frames lead people to hold the individual responsible for the problem Thematic frames lead people to see society as the cause and encourages a collective response
Journalistic Balance and Objectivity
Equal Time & Equal Space
Types of Frames III
Ethical/moral vs. Pragmatic News media tend to construct issues in terms of opposing rights / moral principles, as opposed to economics or pragmatics Example: Charlottesville—Free Speech vs. Public Order People who see the free speech frame might support the right to protest more than those who see the public order frame Example: Tolerance for hate groups' freedoms Example: Tolerance for hate groups freedoms varies depending on Free Speech vs. Public Order Frame
Social Media as a Primary News Source
Facebook is a primary news source
Framing
Frames are the central organizing ideas or story lines that provide meaning to unfolding events (the angle). Journalistic decision Framing influences how the audience thinks about an issue. Identify what parts of an issue are relevant and important ex. Trump and Russia Frames--->Russian election interference, threats to national security, political response, effect on 2018 midterm elections, legal ramifications Framing can affect public opinion on issues. Frames can influence support or opposition. ex. NFL kneeling scandal--->Patriotic or traitors? Words matter ex. pro-choice vs. abortion advocates (pro-life vs. anti-abortion); Gay marriage vs. marriage equality; Illegal alien vs. undocumented immigrant;
Sensationalism as a market strategy
In a for-profit media, fragmented environment, sensationalism can be a competitive advantage and bring an audience
Real vs. "Satirical News:" Alternative News that uses Satire?
Is traditional news "real" and "satirical" news fake?News and entertainment are not opposites Similar amounts of substance in both formats These programs might be new forms of journalism (alternative journalism that uses a satirical format)
Why the journalistic norm of objectivity can be problematic
Journalists adhere to norm of objectivity (fairness, balance, neutrality) Means both sides of an issue are reported and get equal attention Not all issues necessarily have two sides—might lead to informational bias or distortion Can create false balance balanced coverage? ex. is negative in case of climate change
Political Satire and Entertainment
Large, young audiences Lean liberal and Democratic Rely on social media for distribution
Entertainment and public affairs
Less Exposure to "Hard News" ex. CNN, Fox Political Content in Entertainment Media ex. Modern Family, South Park
TV News Today: More Corporate, Focus-grouped, and advertiser approved
Less politics, public affairs, civic culture More "news you can use" crime, sports, celebrity news
What are "partisan" media?
Media outlets were stories are framed, spun, or slanted to help advance certain political agendas Partisan media are *opinionated media*
Who are "young people?"
Millenials Born: 1981 to 1996 Gen Z Born: 1997 and younger
Satirical programs interrogate power
Not held to conventional standards of journalism -Over half of Daily Show's content deals with foreign affairs, federal governance, or electoral politics -Hold leaders accountable through humor -Can call politicians out and highlight spin and hypocrisy -Provides counter-balance to usual press-politics relationships
Types of Frames IV
One vs. two-sided messages One-sided: only offers one perspective on the issue -Example: The war in Iraq liberated many Iraqis Two-sided: offers two perspectives (balanced frame) -Example: The war in Iraq liberated many Iraqis but the costs were very high for the American people
(Sensationalism in) Storytelling Perspective
Ordinary people giving emotional testimonies. Personalizes and dramatizes the news
How Often Do People Actually Use Partisan Media?
Partisan Media use is low: most people do NOT consistently use partisan news
Consequences Of Outrage
Positive Consequences: increases interest in politics encourages participation more learning? (maybe) Negative Consequences: lowers political trust increases cynicism damages credibility of source (e.g. newspaper) silencing effect polarization
Dissonance Theory: Seek Consistency Between Attitudes, Behaviors, And Beliefs
Premise: The discomfort experienced when these are "dissonant" motivates our attitudes and behaviors <-->behaviors<-->attitudes<-->beliefs<--> ex. im a smoker smoking causes cancer how to deal-COGNITIVE DISSONANCE-avoid disagreeable information, seek consistent information, make belief less important, change belief, change behavior
How Real is Satirical News?
Programs argue their purpose is to make people laugh—but are they more than that? Interrogate power Critique news and politicians Place for democratic dialogue
Political Entertainment And Political Satire join the news environment
Programs like SNL long satirized politicians By 1992, political candidates regularly appeared on entertainment programming (e.g. Tonight Show, Oprah) "Fake" News or political satire programs like The Daily Show evolved out of public's dissatisfaction with traditional news
Political Satire and Entertainment
Satire can highlight ridiculousness, hold people accountable, attack power, and pass judgment
Scandals Can Be Good for Media
Scandals can attract attention, divert competition, and lead to financial gain for media orgs. Tabloidization increases coverage of scandalsLots of drama and entertaining but often little substance ex. Anthony Wiener Sexts
Sensationalism Sells
Sensationalism as a market strategy also appears in legacy media ex. CNN's ratings surge covering the mystery of the missing airliner
Types of Frames II
Strategy vs. Policy News coverage of elections and political issues is often framed as either strategy or policy Strategy: "Horserace"—who is winning, who is losing, politics as a game & competition Policy: Pros and cons of alternative choices—detailed information about issues ex. Strategy frame: Competition and drama between political actors Elections are covered as a competition or game. Horse race coverage. Horserace coverage more likely during elections
News Norms And Frame Effects
These dominant news norms of focusing on specific episodes over broader themes, political strategy over policy, matters of principle over pragmatics, and always adhering to objectivity all reduce citizen competence
Crucial Readings To Review
dis sec exam notes= First, in terms of pragmatic frames, you should think pragmatic frames as ones that highlight the practical dimensions of an issue or event. The example in class was that a protest that is framed pragmatically focuses on issues of public order (i.e. will traffic be disrupted?). Second, when trying to discern between types of problematic information I'd refer you to slide 11 in the mis-information lecture. The diagram helps you think about different types of problematic info within the three broad categories (mis-information, dis-information, and mal-information). See the examples of each type for more specific ideas.
Sensationalism: Scandals
ex. political scandals scandals=moral transgression that are deviations from conventional social behavior (norms) action is intentional or reckless need for responsibility and accountability for actions covered by the news media and turned into narrative attract widespread interest and discussion
Cognitive Dissonance
ex. proud republican who is told that their views are bad/wrong this creates discomfort and dissonance how to cope-avoid disagreeable info, seek consistent info, make belief less impt, change belief, change behavior
What does tabloid style or sensational coverage look like?
exaggerated, unfair or biased Selective reporting of facts and context (misleading) Focused on outrage Appeals to emotions Attention to trivial matters Interested in scandal
Tabloid and sensational news is often unfair
fair news is: impartial and honest free from self-interest, prejudice, and favoritism being fair to people covered fairness includes fair language, fair presentation, fair play
Decline of Investigative Journalism
large media organizations are less interested in large-scale investigative journalism expensive i.e. not profitable can create legal trouble editorial caution may reduce access to public officials
Do partisan media offer different content?
most straight news coverage at news outlets is centrist. opinion sections offer more partisan content. -some evidence that content varies a little bit
The Internet Era: The End Of Mass Society
news can be personalized and tailored (daily me) audience fragmentation and polarization [less accidental exposure, more partisan content] less demand for civic information [less news, more entertainment, possible knowledge gap]
evidence for Partisan Selective Exposure
people have a preference for like-minded news content
Does Selective Exposure = Selective Avoidance?
question: do people also AVOID sources that are disagreeable?
In class 1-230 Dec. 5, Wednesday format= •In class exam on Wednesday, December 5 (80 minutes) •Closed-book and note exam •100 points --25 multiple choice questions (50 points) --short answer, fill in blank, or problem questions (20 points) --1 essay: two questions, pick 1 to answer (30 points) ~Questions are broad and ask you to take a position and argue for it •Worth 20% of grade 100 points, worth 20% of your grade in class 80 minutes
readings: -Danger of Fair and Balanced -News Coverage of the 2016 Election: How the Press Failed Voters -Breitbart-led right wing media ecosystem altered broader media agenda -Partisan Divides over Political Values Widen -Media Bias Chart -From Incivility to Outrage: Political Discourse in Blogs, Talk Radio, and Cable News -To Understand Brexit, Look to Britain's Tabloids -Is There a Difference Between Tina Fey and Katie Couric? Policing the Boundaries Between News and Entertainment -How Youth Navigate the News Landscape -Curated Flows: A Framework for Mapping Media Exposure in the Digital Age -News Use Across Social Media Platforms -Friend and Foe: The Platform Press at the Heart of Journalism -How David Fahrenhold used Twitter to Break Some of the Biggest Trump Stories of 2016 -The Best Ways to Build Audience and Relevance by Listening to and Engaging Your Community (p. 1-35) -The Long and Brutal History of Fake News -Fake News: It is Complicated -Distinguishing Between Factual and Opinion Statements -This Article Won't Change Your Mind -Journalism in the Age of Trump
Partisan Echo Chambers Do Not Appear to Exist
shared media experiences remain more similarities than differences between republicans and democrats media diets
Negativity in Politics Is Not Inherently Bad
some negativity necessary in political debate Negativity may promote more diverse viewpoints and ideas But outrage is more than just simple negativity
1960s to 1990s: Era of Mass Society
three tv networks available: ABC, CBS, NBC [these sources provide a more balanced prospective---less partisan] roughly 70 million ppl tuned in each night
Power of Framing
when Information is equivalent... §A framed positively in terms of benefits (72% choose this) §C framed negatively in terms of risk (22% choose this)
What is news to young people?
•News is more than hard news from mainstream media •Young people consider a range of topics and formats to be news •News is "depressing," but it is something you need to know. •Young news consumers are skeptical and assume some level of bias •Low-levels of trust in the media •Echoes the struggle in journalism to define news and newsworthiness
A Rational-Choice Perspective
•People make rational choices about what information they consume •To make informed choices about how to vote, they must expend limited resources to seek and process information -It is actually rational to spend as few resources as possible getting the news of the day •But...less informed citizens may have less influence over the government