Slide 1

Media Literacy and Language of Media Language and Mass Communication Slide 2 Journalism and Linguistic Devices Emotive languageloaded language; reflects the emotional tone of the writer and instigates an emotional response from the reader Emotive language Censorshipintentional removal of information deemed harmful, sensitive, or controversial Euphemismswords or phrases that are substituted for more direct words or phrases in attempt to make things easer to accept or less embarrassing Euphemisms Collateral damage > death of civilians Neutralize > kill Enhanced interrogation > torture Vague languagewords, especially quantifiers, that mean different things to different readers: a lot, Vague language Slide 3 Newsworthiness Bias from perspective and actual reporting Sensationalism sellswriting that is exaggerated, emotive, controversial Sensationalism If it bleeds it leads Advertising is profit model, dependent upon ratings Relevanceability for news to answer why should I care? Relevance is a component of newsworthiness Not all plane crashes are important for your news Extraordinariness: Man bites dog Slide 4 Introductory Terms Public opinionthe collection of opinions and beliefs held by the adult population of a nation; the pulse of a nation Media (medium)the channels of mass communication that manage public opinion Media literacythe skill of understanding how language in the media is used as a tool to shape public opinion Mad Men / Moguls.......ordinary people / online Slide 5 Example, ODonnell / Coons DebateODonnell / Coons Debate Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances Christine ODonnell Stumbles on First Amendment, San Francisco Chronicle In debate, ODonnell Gets a Lesson on First Amendment, The Seattle Times ABC News Exclusive: Christine ODonnell Stands Her Ground on First Amendment Statement, Blames Media for Distortions, ABC News ODonnell Questions Separation of Church, State in Senate Debate, Fox News Christine ODonnell blanks on First Amendment, CNN Slide 6 Bias The skewed presentation of a story from a particular ideological position In theory, journalists should be objective and unbiased, but: Pressure to break story first Pressure to write stories that sell Tempting to tell public what is thought they want to hear vs. facts / need Slide 7 Vantage Points: See the Differences! Analyze and address Wording of headline Use of positive and negative connotations Images used Sources: genuine? Named? First-hand? Relevant? Man on street? Real reporting? Punditry? Linguistic devices of bias and sensationalism Perspective, depth? (placement of article on site): "front page, buried in links, bottom / side bar? Slide 8 In-Class Practice For Women Under 30, Most Births Occur Outside Marriage Feminism / gender studies: describing and interpreting womens experience through literature Challenges patriarchal cultural values Uncover essential differences between men and women Challenges male representations Rediscover ignored writers Opens discussions to form and perspective interpretations Release humankind from oppression of any conscious / unconscious assimilation or subordination It used to be called illegitimacy. Now it is the new normal. Once largely limited to poor women and minorities, motherhood without marriage has settled deeply into middle America. Meanwhile, children happen. She described her children as largely unplanned, a byproduct of uncommitted relationships. I want to do things with her, but I end up falling asleep. Slide 9 Textual Analysis > Annotation It used to be called illegitimacy. Now it is the new normal. Unnamed it to begin > illegitimacy > strong negative connotations Not belonging, marginalized, unaccepted New normal suggests fad, fashion, something to change Once largely limited to poor women and minorities, motherhood without marriage has settled deeply into middle America. Start with poor / minorities > negative connotation of exclusion, marginalization, disadvantage without suggests motherhood lacking something without marriage Meanwhile, children happen. Combining children with happen = glib fatality / 'shit happens', Meh / acceptance /complacency to event (childbirth) usually viewed as exceptional and life-changing. Slide 10 Textual Analysis > Annotation She described her children as largely unplanned, a byproduct of uncommitted relationships. Whose words? Mothers? Journalists? Byproduct = waste, or discarded material, not an expected reference to a mother-child relationship. I want to do things with her, but I end up falling asleep. suggest a working parent who cares about her child. in context, invites judgment about ability of single mothers to take care of their children. The idea that working mothers in couples might be tired too is not suggested. Opinion Article: Slates ResponseSlates Response Slide 11 Vantage Points Sochi 2014, Womens Halfpipe Finals (Snowboarding) http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/kaitlyn-farrington-is-surprise-gold-medalist-in- womens-halfpipe/2014/02/12/81d07e5c-942c-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/kaitlyn-farrington-is-surprise-gold-medalist-in- womens-halfpipe/2014/02/12/81d07e5c-942c-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/winter-olympics/26057352 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/sochi-winter-games/torah-bright-claims-silver-australias- first-medal/story-fnl6xsc2-1226825594599 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/sochi-winter-games/torah-bright-claims-silver-australias- first-medal/story-fnl6xsc2-1226825594599 http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/olympics/article/10446224/espnw-message-home- lifts-kaitlyn-farrington-halfpipe-gold http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/olympics/article/10446224/espnw-message-home- lifts-kaitlyn-farrington-halfpipe-gold http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2014/02/13/us-women-take-gold-bronze-in-halfpipe- competition/?intcmp=latestnews http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2014/02/13/us-women-take-gold-bronze-in-halfpipe- competition/?intcmp=latestnews Egypt 2012 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/27/egypt-protesters-descend-tahrir-square http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/28/egyptian-court-suspends-work-nationwide-to- protest-morsi-power-grab/?test=latestnews http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/28/egyptian-court-suspends-work-nationwide-to- protest-morsi-power-grab/?test=latestnews http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19562688 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/mursi-opponents-clash- wit_n_2197944.html?utm_hp_ref=egypt-protests http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/mursi-opponents-clash- wit_n_2197944.html?utm_hp_ref=egypt-protests Slide 12 Homework Watch Colbert Report, Andrew Keen, August 16, 2007 Colbert Report, Andrew Keen We Think, Charles Leadbeater We Think, Read The Internet? Bah! Clifford Stoll, Newsweek, February 26, 1995The Internet? Bah! Define, exemplify, and link to bias (one PPT slide) Crowdsourcing Long tail marketing Notifications / RSS feed pay-per-click Personalization Social networking Super crunching Viral marketing