Mass Media Outlets
When considering
the many mainstream news mass media outlets. I chose out of the two I utilize
the most. Which is internet and television, specifically Facebook, Inc. and
KTVU news station. I chose KTVU news station, San Francisco Bay Area channel 2
Fox news. Although, in some way everything has a political affiliation, but as
this news station often says, “We are here for the people.” However, KTVU has
proven to be trustworthy, reliable, and loyal to their Owner and Bay Area
Communities. KTVU is the San Francisco Bay Area local news station on channel 2
also known as Fox News. I selected this television media outlet because I use
it the second most often, and through this one media source other media sources
are available, such as an internet app, and live feed.
KTVU does not
discriminate, nor do they chose or pick sides. They are clear that they are
there to present the news, and not just present their opinions or only things
they like. They would most side with the democratic point of view, because they
believe the people and the community. Which falls into their core values, of
people, community, and providing accurate, current news. They would not pick a
political side. Fox News Statement of Purpose is as follows:
The Fox Nation was
created for people who believe in the United States of America and its ideals,
as expressed in the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the
Emancipation Proclamation. It is a community that believes in the American
Dream: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. One that believes being an
American is an honor, as well as a great responsibility – and a wonderful
adventure.
This is a place
for people who believe we live in a great country, a welcoming refuge for legal
immigrants who want to contribute their talents and abilities to make our way
of life even greater. We believe we should enjoy the company and support of
each other, delighting in the creativity, ingenuity, and work ethic of one and
all, while observing the rules of civility and mutual respect and, most
importantly, strengthening our diverse society by striving for unity.
The Fox Nation is
committed to the core principles of tolerance, open debate, civil discourse,
and fair and balanced coverage of the news. It is for those opposed to
intolerance, excessive government control of our lives, and attempts to
monopolize opinion or suppress freedom of thought, expression, and worship.
(Statement of Purpose, 2015)
Fox News founders
are; Rupert Murdoch, Roger Ailes. Roger Ailes is the current CEO of Fox News.
Roger Ailes is believed to be a Republican. The party's platform is generally
based on American conservatism, in contrast to the contemporary American
liberalism of the rival Democratic Party. Although his political views vary
from those of democratic or the view of the people, Fox News is still able to
hold a non-bias role.
Fox News values
may not correlate with the owner or the CEO of fox news, because as an
individual the owner may have their own political views, religions or values.
However, Fox news as a whole is not able to adapt those same values because
they need to remain neutral and not choose sides. Roger Ailes is a conservative Republican, Fox
News is not the Republican Network. Therefore, Fox’s values and political
affiliations do not correlate with those of their Owner.
The Fox News
Channel has been claiming for more than a decade that their news channel is
fair and balanced. The Fox News Channel has been claiming for more than a
decade that their news channel is fair and balanced. To test this claim a
statistical analysis was done on 32 partial transcripts of the Hannity and
Colmes Shows posted on the internet with dates from February 16, 2003 to
January 7, 2009. (Eubanks, Loffredo, & Harrington, 2013) Although, Fox news claims they are fair and
unbalanced, this may be true, however the mass media is highly influential and
even the slightest comment from an anchor or even an eye witness, can influence
viewers. The mass media have always had an influence in shaping the way
politics have been conducted. (Potter, 2012) So although, Fox news doesn’t take
sides and are fair and balanced, the influence of the media still has an effect
on Politics. If a news anchor were to say that they agreed, like or disliked something
on the air. Although, it is her personal opinion, the fact she gave her opinion
through the mass media, can be considered as choosing sides or not being
balanced as Fox News claimed because she is a representatives of Fox News.
Just as the news
anchor is free to have their belief, Roger Ailes is free to have his Republican
beliefs as well. The Fox News Network has to remain fair and balanced.
Therefore, this mass media platform’s opinion will never correlate with those
of the conservative owner. Belief are type of cognition; that is, they require
cognitive; that is they require processes to construct, and they reside in
human memory. They are mental construction about the probability that an object
or event is associated with a given attribute. (Potter, 2012) Since The Fox
News Network cannot have the definition of what belief is, therefore since
there is a lack thereof, the views and belief’s o the owner and network will
never correlate and, accounts for the news mass media outlet’s framing and possible
gatekeeping.
When evaluating
whether or not “truth “and objectivity are feasible, and if it should be a goal
in the mass media, I feel that Fox News need to stick with their values of
being fair and balanced. They can remain doing that by keeping their beliefs
off the airway and off camera. “Truth” and objectivity is feasible but it is
only for an individual not a mass media outlet. There have been studies
supporting my feeling, and the Fox news belief of not being bias.
Specific examples
that have supported these findings are explained in the Formation of Public
Beliefs. This is evidence of how the media influences beliefs and why mass
media outlets need to be fair and balances. People need to be able to trust
their media outlets. People cannot feel that the mass media outlet is agenda
setting. Agenda setting theory focuses its explanation on how news content in
the media shapes the public beliefs about what is important in society.
(Potter, 2012) After research and studies they concluded that media coverage of
current events influences the public’s agenda. The new network job is to
present the new not to influence the public. Over time, agenda-setting research
has also included findings that the media tell us what our beliefs should be on
the issue; this is called second-level agenda setting. (Potter, 2012)
Although, it is
easy for a person to say how they feel and what they agree with, however on a
mass media outlet such as Fox New it is imperative not to enforce public
opinion but to report the news in a fair and balanced way. The media has the
ability to make publics by making certain information available that shapes
“collective thought and action quickly, continuously, and pervasively across
previous boundaries of time, space and culture. (Potter, 2012)
In conclusion, one
of the reasons I watch Fox news the most is because I trust them and find them
creditable. I feel they do present the news in a fair and balanced manor, and
that although individuals have their own personal beliefs that mass media outlets
must have lack of. Therefore no matter any owner’s political affiliation or
public opinion, objectivity will never be feasible through a mass media outlet,
especially Fox news.
References
Eubanks, D. A., Loffredo, R., & Harrington, C. (2013).
Fox News: Fair and Balanced? We Report. You Decide. New Media and Mass
Communication, Vol.13.
p, W. J. (n.d.).
Statement of Purpose. (2015). Retrieved from Fox Nation:
http://nation.foxnews.com/our-purpose
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