Reading about the conditions of working in Cognizant's moderation facility reminds me staunchly of Winston's job in 1984 of moderating physical content -- no phones or scrap paper allowed, nothing that isn't visible through a clear bag. The job is quite dystopian in nature. #so315
K8
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I think one of Jensen's most relevant points was on the use of "official" sources by journalists. The normative and encouraged expectation for journalists to report on the basis of elite sources (usually the gov. and corporations) exemplifies how the status quo is ultimately always perpetuated by most mainstream news sources, whether they critique systems or not. There is no "free press" when agendas have already been set by those in power and are then simply distributed by news media. #so315
@smm1 I also found the idea of "false balance" to be interesting and very pertinent. I think we are consumed by notions of fairness and balance in journalism, but there are also objective truths that have been identified through empirical methods of scrutiny, revision, and review. Do we really need to question scientific fact after it's been through this extensive process of questioning by the world's top minds? Does individual opinion of scientific fact matter in the public sphere? #so315
@iloveharryhoudini I also think about Succession a lot during our class readings and discussions, especially the recurring notion that reporters working for Waystar stick to Logan's agenda and own personal views. I think about the election night episode too, and how corporations essentially invent reality by owning news media. Glad to see someone else appreciating/noticing the parallels :) #so315
@sra1119 I think this point also brings up the rise of journalists leaving news organizations to create their own content, as well as increased popularity of independent creators who produce journalistic content. That strain caused by the different fields within news media in particular may be driving journalists away from traditionally organized media production #so315
The part in the chapter that highlighted how data analytics are an increasingly important factor in news work got me thinking about the vital role of the "audience" in content production and distribution. While we may have our gripes with certain functions of gatekeeping, it is people like ourselves who decide what to produce at least in part based on what we as consumers want to see. What does the role of data look like as the presence of fake, A.I.-ran accounts permeate the internet? #so315
I thought about how the proverbial slogan of right-wing media is "Truth" (to the extent of the conservative social media platform, Truth Social) -- they constantly reinforce that what they're sharing is the absolute truth, as if everything else is coercive or plain falsehoods. I think this plays to many Americans' need to be informed/aware, as well as their possible fatigue in the stratification of news media. #so315
I appreciated how the podcast highlighted the importance of professional journalism in political news media. Without essential bias training, media literacy, etc. journalists obtain from their training, media personalities with far, relatable reach (like Joe Rogan) are able to shape narratives and spread rhetoric according to their own agenda/interests. #so315
@ccaruso34 I also was intrigued by how decisions regarding media regulation are often cited as in "public interest", yet "public interest" is defined by governing bodies, not the public themselves. The public has clearly been at odds with the state in media regulations on many occasions; pirate broadcasting being an example. #so315
The Current Affairs article brought to light how right-wing media is more often free, quippy, and easy to digest, while left-wing media is more often behind paywalls and takes time and thought to process. This makes me think about the intensification of the right-wing movement -- conservative media has a way of capturing and maintaining attention in easily digestible and relatable ways that leftist media often falls behind on. #so315