Representation

What is representation?


Representation is the way the media represent and constructs individuals, groups, events and issues.
Representation may look realistic but in reality it is constructed by the media.


Representation and reception theory:












Dominant - The hegemonic response, people share the code and preferred reading.
Negotiated - they accept what the text is saying and adapt it according to their social background.
Oppositional - They understand, but reject the message.




Representation in Newspapers:


Selection             -----            Omission             -----         Construction




News Values                          Bias                                     Bias
Target Audience                     Agenda                               Ideology
                                               Audience                             Audience




Bias
- Newspapers are supposed to provide their readers with:


- Objective information: This means it should be free from prejudice caused by personal feelings.
- Unbiased: Represent people, events and ideas fairly.
- Reliable Information: from trusted sources.




However...


Fiske (1987) called this 'The Transparency Fallacy' as the news is not objective or transparent - the news cannot cover every event that happens in the world, therefore individual newspapers select those that are newsworthy and mediate them according to the producers ideology.