Framing in the Media Flashcards
1) Define framing:
According to Entman, framing is the way in which an argument or depiction or a person, group or event is packaged, in order to make accessible & encourage a particular interpretation.
1) Define framing:
According to Entman, framing is the way in which an argument or depiction or a person, group or event is packaged, in order to make accessible & encourage a particular interpretation.
2) Who uses framing and why?
As powerful actors & institutions, such as politicians, governments & mass media outlets often seek to promote a particular ideology, a le to keep
2) Who uses framing and why?
As powerful actors & institutions, such as politicians, governments & mass media outlets often seek to promote a particular ideology, a le to keep
3) What problems arise with the application of framing in media?
Whilst the media should ideally report events objectively & provide a balanced account of all issues, the reality is that media outlets are frequently influenced by political figures/groups to provide a particular framing of reality.
3) What problems arise with the application of framing in media?
Whilst the media should ideally report events objectively & provide a balanced account of all issues, the reality is that media outlets are frequently influenced by political figures/groups to provide a particular framing of reality.
4) What other problems have arisen more recently, in relation to media & framing?
In recent decades increased profit expectations for news media (U.S.A) have driven the need/desire to dramatize & entertain reports of events, in order to maximise audience share.
4) What other problems have arisen more recently, in relation to media & framing?
In recent decades increased profit expectations for news media (U.S.A) have driven the need/desire to dramatize & entertain reports of events, in order to maximise audience share.
5) According to Chong & Druckman, what are the 2 main types of framing in media discourse?
Equivalency Framing & Emphasis Framing.
5) According to Chong & Druckman, what are the 2 main types of framing in media discourse?
Equivalency Framing & Emphasis Framing.
6) What is equivalency framing?
Equivalency frames offer “different, but logically equivalent phrases,” which cause individuals to alter their preferences.
6) What is equivalency framing?
Equivalency frames offer “different, but logically equivalent phrases,” which cause individuals to alter their preferences.
7) What is emphasis framing?
Emphasis frames offer “qualitatively different yet potentially relevant considerations” which individuals use to make judgments.
7) What is emphasis framing?
Emphasis frames offer “qualitatively different yet potentially relevant considerations” which individuals use to make judgments.
8) What did De Martino et al. (2006) highlight in their study of equivalency framing?
Though the neurobiology is not fully understood, their study showed how common accounts of human rationality (e.g. game theory) are undermined by the fact human choices are highly susceptible to the way information is framed.
8) What did De Martino et al. (2006) highlight in their study of equivalency framing?
Though the neurobiology is not fully understood, their study showed how common accounts of human rationality (e.g. game theory) are undermined by the fact human choices are highly susceptible to the way information is framed.
9) What connections could be made from the findings of the study?
The framing effect, emotional behaviours & the decision-making procedure.
9) What connections could be made from the findings of the study?
The framing effect, emotional behaviours & the decision-making procedure.
10) Describe the study (De Martino et al., 2006).
Participants were told they would receive £50 & subsequently that they had to choose between taking a guaranteed portion or gamble to keep it all.
Gain frame = “keep £20”
Loss frame = “lose £30”
10) Describe the study (De Martino et al., 2006).
Participants were told they would receive £50 & subsequently that they had to choose between taking a guaranteed portion or gamble to keep it all.
Gain frame = “keep £20”
Loss frame = “lose £30”
11) What were the results of the study (De Martino et al., 2006)?
Results showed this simple manipulation of the wording significantly influenced the decisions made.
Those subject to the ‘gain frame’ were risk-averse (43% gambled), compared to the risk-seeking ‘loss frame’ participants (61% gambled).
11) What were the results of the study (De Martino et al., 2006)?
Results showed this simple manipulation of the wording significantly influenced the decisions made.
Those subject to the ‘gain frame’ were risk-averse (43% gambled), compared to the risk-seeking ‘loss frame’ participants (61% gambled).
12) What further conclusions were drawn from the study (De Martino et al., 2006)?
Results depicted the cognitive effect of the framing bias, where brain activity was measured during the decision making process.
Individuals incorporated a broad range of additional emotional information when making decisions - so some were more rational than others, based on the active areas of the brain.
Ultimately, this demonstrates how in the modern media saturated society emotional responses to information, rather than rational/analytical ones, can lead to humans being easily influenced.
12) What further conclusions were drawn from the study (De Martino et al., 2006)?
Results depicted the cognitive effect of the framing bias, where brain activity was measured during the decision making process.
Individuals incorporated a broad range of additional emotional information when making decisions - so some were more rational than others, based on the active areas of the brain.
Ultimately, this demonstrates how in the modern media saturated society emotional responses to information, rather than rational/analytical ones, can lead to humans being easily influenced.
13) What are the two main things that framing theory considers? Define them.
Selection: the choosing of some aspects of a perceived reality.
Salience: making select aspects more noticeable, memorable & meaningful to audiences.
13) What are the two main things that framing theory considers? Define them.
Selection: the choosing of some aspects of a perceived reality.
Salience: making select aspects more noticeable, memorable & meaningful to audiences.
14) How does agenda setting relate to the selection of information?
Agenda setting is the process by where some issues gain more media attention over others.
It determines what audiences should think about, firstly, before how they should think about them.
14) How does agenda setting relate to the selection of information?
Agenda setting is the process by where some issues gain more media attention over others.
It determines what audiences should think about, firstly, before how they should think about them.
15) What did Funkhouser (1973) find when it comes to media agenda setting?
By comparing media coverage to official statistics, there was little evidence that real-world events consistently drove media coverage.
15) What did Funkhouser (1973) find when it comes to media agenda setting?
By comparing media coverage to official statistics, there was little evidence that real-world events consistently drove media coverage.
16) What have other (later) studies found when it comes to agenda setting?
Public opinion does not drive the agenda, but rather the media agenda drives public opinion.
16) What have other (later) studies found when it comes to agenda setting?
Public opinion does not drive the agenda, but rather the media agenda drives public opinion.
17) How does the hegemony model also demonstrate how the media agenda cannot be taken as given; appropriate?
The hegemony model posits that ruling elites construct their preferred versions of reality & imbed them in society through ‘cultural workers’.
I.E. journalists act as agents of those in power - politicians, advisors & institutions.
17) How does the hegemony model also demonstrate how the media agenda cannot be taken as given; appropriate?
The hegemony model posits that ruling elites construct their preferred versions of reality & imbed them in society through ‘cultural workers’.
I.E. journalists act as agents of those in power - politicians, advisors & institutions.
18) What is the consequence of the hegemony model?
The voices of ruling groups are amplified to produce & renew particular meanings, which become hegemonic.
I.E. framed realities become popular public opinion, as accounts are naturalized so as to appear as common sense, neutral & the default position.
18) What is the consequence of the hegemony model?
The voices of ruling groups are amplified to produce & renew particular meanings, which become hegemonic.
I.E. framed realities become popular public opinion, as accounts are naturalized so as to appear as common sense, neutral & the default position.
19) What are the limitations of the hegemony model?
Counter themes may run contrary to powerful, dominant frames & gain traction if they better explain events.
19) What are the limitations of the hegemony model?
Counter themes may run contrary to powerful, dominant frames & gain traction if they better explain events.
20) Describe the main example of dominant, universally accepted frames that were free from competition.
War on Terror Frame
Adopted in the U.S after 9/11, gained acceptance since government officials commonly dictate foreign policy framing in the U.S.A - so the Whitehouse could freely frame the agenda.
Entman also notes how a frame’s capacity to influence rests on its cultural relevance. The War on Terror frame appealed to shared knowledge, experience & image of U.S. culture.
20) Describe the main example of dominant, universally accepted frames that were free from competition.
War on Terror Frame
Adopted in the U.S after 9/11, gained acceptance since government officials commonly dictate foreign policy framing in the U.S.A - so the Whitehouse could freely frame the agenda.
Entman also notes how a frame’s capacity to influence rests on its cultural relevance. The War on Terror frame appealed to shared knowledge, experience & image of U.S. culture.
21) What statistics show that the war on terror frame was effective & culturally relevant?
71% of Americans said they believed the purpose of the war in Afghanistan was to ‘defend freedom & democracy’. 92% supported the war initially, through Bush deploying this theme.
Liberty, as core value, & world trade centre as an iconic centre of NY.
21) What statistics show that the war on terror frame was effective & culturally relevant?
71% of Americans said they believed the purpose of the war in Afghanistan was to ‘defend freedom & democracy’. 92% supported the war initially, through Bush deploying this theme.
Liberty, as core value, & world trade centre as an iconic centre of NY.
22) How do critical events reframe policy debates?
Numerous studies have documented how the media plotline in the aftermath of the 2001 attacks matched Bush’s compelling frame: a virtuous, innocent & unsuspecting country was savagely preyed upon by evil terrorists who hated it for the freedoms its people enjoyed.
McCombs and Shaw concluded “that media have exerted a considerable impact on voters’ judgments of what they considered the major issue of the campaign”.
22) How do critical events reframe policy debates?
Numerous studies have documented how the media plotline in the aftermath of the 2001 attacks matched Bush’s compelling frame: a virtuous, innocent & unsuspecting country was savagely preyed upon by evil terrorists who hated it for the freedoms its people enjoyed.
McCombs and Shaw concluded “that media have exerted a considerable impact on voters’ judgments of what they considered the major issue of the campaign”.
23) Describe how Schnell & Callaghan depict elections after 9/11, demonstrating salience.
Candidates in the elections immediately following 9/11 frequently evoked images of the critical event & framed it so it coincided with their political agenda. Public attitudes towards gun control in the U.S. which, while still divisive, were relatively stable, became more contested through the application of provocative war on terror frames.
I.E. the salience of Islamic terrorism was more prominent in post-9/11 frames.
23) Describe how Schnell & Callaghan depict elections after 9/11, demonstrating salience.
Candidates in the elections immediately following 9/11 frequently evoked images of the critical event & framed it so it coincided with their political agenda. Public attitudes towards gun control in the U.S. which, while still divisive, were relatively stable, became more contested through the application of provocative war on terror frames.
I.E. the salience of Islamic terrorism was more prominent in post-9/11 frames.
24) Describe the Schnell & Callaghan study.
Pre-9/11 gun-control frames included the ‘rights frame’ vs. the ‘crime/violence frame’.
Post-9/11 frames were the ‘guns cause terrorism’ frame vs. ‘guns stop terrorism’ frame.
When individuals were subject to these frames, as well as a dual theme frame, the new terrorist frames were far more effective.
The ‘guns stop terrorism’ frame significantly decreased support for gun control laws, whereas the guns cause terrorism frame increased support for gun control - whilst the pre-9/11 frames had no significant effects.
24) Describe the Schnell & Callaghan study.
Pre-9/11 gun-control frames included the ‘rights frame’ vs. the ‘crime/violence frame’.
Post-9/11 frames were the ‘guns cause terrorism’ frame vs. ‘guns stop terrorism’ frame.
When individuals were subject to these frames, as well as a dual theme frame, the new terrorist frames were far more effective.
The ‘guns stop terrorism’ frame significantly decreased support for gun control laws, whereas the guns cause terrorism frame increased support for gun control - whilst the pre-9/11 frames had no significant effects.
