News Analysis

As a media student, I’ve realised that news is not just about what happens, but about how it is presented. News analysis is important for gaining insight into the decisions made by journalists and media outlets in the reporting of an event beyond just headlines and breaking news. This blog is centred on analysing how news is framed and how that framing affects the way the audience understands the news.

 The News Story I Have Been Following

The news story I chose to follow is the most recent media coverage of a social issue that is currently in the headlines across many, if not all, news organisations. All organisations covered the same core facts but there was a wide variation in the tone, emphasis, and selection of images used by the various media organisations.

This leads me to wonder if news can ever be completely objective or if framing of the news story is more significant in how people interpret the news than we realise.

How the Story Was Framed

Some news media sources focused on conflict and controversy, using emotional imagery and strong language in their reporting of events and issues. Whereas some other news media sources used an explanatory reporting style that included information and data in addition to professional opinions and perspectives. Also, there were instances where the story was framed by placing more emotional-based narratives ahead of providing context that ended up making it a 'more sensational' event versus providing an accurate information base for the reader to understand.

Due to how the various news organisations framed the story, their supporters may view the issue as a crisis that demands a response of outrage or, as a more complicated issue that requires understanding and dialogue.

The Role of the Word and Image.

The use of language and image is a significant factor in how we perceive the world. The way we use language creates either urgency and frustration (e.g., words such as "crisis", "fail", and "outraged") or gives the reader time to consider; with visuals, the repetition of an event, the use of large type, or the use of dramatic graphics can heighten the emotional response.

On the psychological side of things, the use of language and image can be very powerful in terms of affecting an individual's emotional state, sometimes at the price of losing clarity and subtlety.

 

What Was Not Included In The Coverage

From my analysis of the media, I also realised that there are voices that are not represented in the media coverage of this event, particularly those who were most affected by this event. In many cases, the focus was on the immediate response, and there was little or no mention of the long-term effects of this event. The absence of information in the media is just as powerful as the presence of information 

Thus, this study has taught me that being a media consumer requires active participation. As a Communication and Media student who is studying psychology, I am learning to identify sources of information, question their framing, and detect bias, rather than only accepting the information as truth.

It made me think about how much responsibility journalists have when they choose their language, their emphasis and how they frame a story; all of these will shape people's perceptions about events and will affect the way in which society discusses something.

In short, News analysis is more than just covering the facts; it is looking at the motive(s) behind the news article, how it is framed, and how it will affect people. I have learned that the media does not just mirror reality; it is the creator of it, and I have learned to be a more critical reader of the news and to be more aware of the media in my life.