WEEK 3- Chapter 2 ‘Agents of Power’

WEEK 3- Chapter 2 ‘Agents of Power’

1. Which media function do you think is most important and why?

I think informing society would be the most important media function. Informing society educates society. Entertainment is still an important function because it grabs the reader’s attention. This is evident with the publics’ choice of news, soft news over hard news.

2. To what degree should journalists be concerned about their employer’s profitability and readership/viewership figures?

Wouldn't high readership/viewership figures result in profitability? If readership/viewership figures are high it represents that the publics demands are being meet and catered for. I think journalists should be concerned with readership/viewership figures as it is their job to cater for what the audience wants. With successful ratings in readership/viewership, profitability would increase.


3. Is it reasonable for the owner of a media outlet to direct editorial policy and to make editorial decisions on political and other issues?

It is not reasonable for owners of media outlets to direct editorial policy and to make editorial decisions on political and other issues. Media outlets must provide factual information and not bias views. We learn that the newspapers have the crucial role of being the fourth estate. However today I believe that this view has shifted and the media is always going to be politically involved.

4. Does investigative journalism really matter? Does it sell newspapers or increase ratings?

Investigative journalism is very important area of journalism but it is expensive time and consuming. Today consumers require the latest news updates frequently. Investigative journalism requires time and research, due to the demands of consumers, journalist cannot afford to research stories in depth. However investigative journalism still has a place in the media industry but just with certain publications rather than newspapers.



Journalism Issue

I am going to focus on the lecture this week that was conducted by the honour student. It was quite an interesting lecture as well as entertaining. The typical perceptions by the public regarding journalists were all negative views. 71% of the Australian public feel that journalist want to just make money. I found this amusing as I did not think journalist are paid enough for what they do, well the majority. Journalists provide news and entertainment for the public, they write and report what the public want. Then there is the paparazzi association with journalists. 51% of the Australian public do not trust journalist. Maybe this is an issue in general; whom can we trust these days. Despite all these negative views, there will always be a demand for new information.