Define the media’s role in contemporary society.

 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.

 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.

Derka derka derka

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?

 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?

 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.

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?

 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 SPOOF Schools 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!

 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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