Comments on: Putting People at the Center of Journalism

By: Liens vagabonds (10 juil) | Metamedia

Liens vagabonds (10 juil) | Metamedia — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:07:32 +0000

[...] La fausse objectivité met en danger CNN – Stearns [...]

By: Who benefits from the news on 24-hour cable network news?

Who benefits from the news on 24-hour cable network news? — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:01:18 +0000

[...] at his blog, Groundswell, Josh Stearns [...]

By: The Scienceblogging Weekly (June 29th, 2012) | Stock Market News - Business & Tech News

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:36:49 +0000

[...] Putting People at the Center of Journalism by Josh Stearns [...]

By: The Scienceblogging Weekly (June 29th, 2012) | Prutic Networks

The Scienceblogging Weekly (June 29th, 2012) | Prutic Networks — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 11:41:13 +0000

[...] Putting People at the Center of Journalism by Josh Stearns [...]

By: Josh Stearns

Josh Stearns — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:55:34 +0000

Recommended Reading – also published today: Jonathan Stray on Bias. “How do you tell when the news is biased? It depends on how you see yourself”

Here’s the excerpt that resonates most with the discussion above: “Because perceptions of bias depend on how we are thinking about our identity in that moment, if we can find a way to tell our stories outside of partisan frames, we might also reduce feelings of unfairness. The trick would be to shy away from invoking divisive identities, preferring frames that allow members of a polarized audience to see themselves as part of the same group. (In this regard, the classic “balanced” article that quotes starkly opposing sides might be a particularly bad choice.)”

But be sure to go read the full post: http://www.niemanlab.org/2012/06/how-do-you-tell-when-the-news-is-biased/

By: Josh Stearns

Josh Stearns — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:16:04 +0000

You make a good point Erin. While I have a bit more faith that people understand that they aren’t seeing all sides to a story, your point about people’s over-allegiance to one brand may also erode trust in the larger media landscape. This may be a case where there is room for both truths to exist. And it is worth noting that another key to storytelling is selecting certain details and that narratives are necessarily composed and incomplete. Thus, I don’t want to appear to say that any one story can capture the full range of human experience. Stories can illuminate as much as they hide.

By: Erin Perry O'Donnell

Erin Perry O'Donnell — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:01:52 +0000

This explores a great taboo topic in journalism and I find it very refreshing. However I don’t think I agree with your analysis in this statement: “But those same audiences also understand that they are only getting part of the picture, because even while audiences grow trust in the media continues to hover around all time lows.” I (a journalist) have a hard time believing that audiences understand the holes in the picture they get. I remember trying to explain to my in-laws, steadfast MSNBC fans, that Keith Olbermann was a commentator and not a reporter. They did not get the difference. And maybe they didn’t care. Here’s the scenario more likely to me: My mother-in-law watches MSNBC, and watches it more often as it tells her story, as you say. Her trust of ALL OTHER NEWS SOURCES is what’s low. We cling to what reinforces our existing beliefs and turn a distrustful eye toward that which does not.

More storytelling? Definitely. Keep tooting that horn, please.