‘How the media got it wrong’

There’s a lot of commentary out there about the media’s (specifically journalistic reportage, comment and analysis) ‘got it wrong’ about the Election 2007. Probably, this debate will continue, and no doubt is continuing on since the revelations about Berti-gate.

It would appear that the issue at core is not about the merits or otherwise of the media coverage, moreover it is about the relationship between media producers and consumers, between the fourth estate watchdog and the public.

When everything is spun through the media, whether it comes from First, Second or even the Third Sector, the challenge for the media consumer is to appraise the sources and content of journalism and to use that to inform his/her voting choices. Ultimately the primary motivator for the public’s ballot choices are their political concerns, ideologies and allegiances. Does the media shape and influence these, or does it reflect them?
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Last week, MediaForum was at the Young Social Innovators exhibition Showcase 2007 in the RDS. MediaForum, itself being young, and working at social innovation, has a particularly interesting time.

We got chatting to a fair few students about their projects, and how the media related to the social issue that their project was exploring.

Here’s a selection of some of the questions that the students had to ask; (answers on an postcard, please …)

• Who do media people sell to; the advertisers or the audience?
• Is the media saying what really happens, or what the public want to hear?
• Why do middle-aged people set the news to reflect thier views and agenda?

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May 14th 2007 Posted to Media Literacy

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