The Awful Truth: The Role of the Media

In pairs,

Define the media’s role in contemporary society.

Does the media tell us the TRUTH??

In pairs, develop a short response to this question.

Can you think of any examples when the media has not told us the truth?

The media plays a massive role in bringing attention to various issues and events. Television, the internet, radio, advertising and newspapers all help to shape our views of these events and issues.

However, the media can also manipulate information and how they present an issue in order to position their audience.

They can do this by sensationalising things and choosing what we see or don’t see….It’s all about controlling information.

But sometimes, we can see wonderful examples of how the media can work for good not evil….

The media’s representation of issues, events, people and places can in turn shape our perceptions, though not always in a positive way.

For example, following 9/11, our perception of terrorism and the Middle East was manipulated largely by politicians and in turn, by the media.

The information presented to us was in some cases false or overly sensationalised to create an atmosphere of fear.

Many people were positioned to believe stereotypes about Middle Eastern people….

Derka derka derka

And we were also led to believe that George W. Bush was really President….But now we know the truth….

But luckily, we had people to protect us…

The media is particularly effective in sensationalising what celebrities and personalities are up to…

JEFF GOLDBLUM IS DEAD!Channel Nine reporter Richard Wilkins

announces Jeff Goldblum’s death: Analyse how the story gains authority

and believability through the use of the following techniques:› Language› Visual Images› Physical Context

Explain whether the story is mainly informative or emotive?

DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE

Watch the clip again and take note of any ways that the news story loses credibility and authority. Think carefully about language and images – those that are included or excluded. Be specific.

There is a large amount of uncertainty in the telling of the story. How does the Breaking News banner invite readers to overlook this uncertainty?

IT’S A MEDIA EAT MEDIA WORLD OUT THERE!

In today’s media saturated society, various types of media rely on each other for the communication of information › Richard Wilkins got the story from the web› People ‘Googled’ the story after hearing it on

the radio and Channel Nine.

They also critique each other:› Shows like Chaser’s War on Everything, Good

News Week. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knN-nbxADLQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0RsKai7oNE&feature=related

Do we control the media, or

does the media control us?

Write your response in paragraph format using the Jeff Goldblum hoax to support your answer.

THERE ARE 9 PEOPLE IN THIS

PICTURE.

CAN YOU SEE THEM ALL?

What techniques do magazines use to

capture our attention??

Sensationally Stupid! Dramatic language is often used in

media texts, especially in magazines and current affairs programs, to attract the audience and make them want to read, listen or watch more.This is called sensationalising events.

Sensational language is a construction – an exaggeration – that is often only loosely based on truth.

Can you tell which sensationalised headlines are spoofs?

Haiti Punished Because They Hate Tea Schools Urge Expansion of Zero Tolerance

Policies Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Experts

Say Conjoined Twins Perform Magical Separation

Operation Typhoon Rips through Cemetery; Hundreds

Dead Police Begin Campaign to Run Down

Jaywalkers Pygmy Orphans in the Congo: Please Don’t

Let Angelina Adopt Us! Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Space

Haiti Punished Because They Hate Tea SPOOFSchools Urge Expansion of Zero Tolerance Policies

SPOOF

Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Experts Say

REAL!

Conjoined Twins Perform Magical Separation Operation

SPOOF

Typhoon Rips through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

REAL!

Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers

REAL!

Pygmy Orphans in the Congo: Please Don’t Let Angelina Adopt Us!

SPOOF

Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Space

REAL!

A picture is worth a thousand words

Create a catchy headline for the main stories on the magazine cover.

Compare your headlines with the person next to you.

How close were your headlines to the actual ones?

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