1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910787775903321

Autore

Uscinski Joseph E.

Titolo

The People's News : Media, Politics, and the Demands of Capitalism / / Joseph E. Uscinski

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, NY : , : New York University Press, , [2014]

©2014

ISBN

0-8147-6287-5

0-8147-6286-7

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (196 p.)

Classificazione

POL000000SOC026000

Disciplina

302.23

Soggetti

Mass media and culture

Mass media - Economic aspects

Mass media - Social aspects

Mass media - Public opinion

Mass media - Influence

Mass media - Moral and ethical aspects

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Informational Demands for News -- 3. Demands for Gratification -- 4. Perpetual Feedback -- 5. Where Can We Go? -- Notes -- References -- Index -- About the Author

Sommario/riassunto

Uncovers the surprising cause behind the recent rise of fake news In an ideal world, journalists act selflessly and in the public interest regardless of the financial consequences. However, in reality, news outlets no longer provide the most important and consequential stories to audiences; instead, news producers adjust news content in response to ratings, audience demographics, and opinion polls. While such criticisms of the news media are widely shared, few can agree on the causes of poor news quality. The People’s News argues that the incentives in the American free market drive news outlets to report news that meets audience demands, rather than democratic ideals. In short, audiences’ opinions drive the content that so often passes off as “the news. ”The People’s News looks at news not as a type of media but



instead as a commodity bought and sold on the market, comparing unique measures of news content to survey data from a wide variety of sources. Joseph Uscinski’s rigorous analysis shows news firms report certain issues over others—not because audiences need to know them, but rather, because of market demands. Uscinski also demonstrates that the influence of market demands also affects the business of news, prohibiting journalists from exercising independent judgment and determining the structure of entire news markets as well as firm branding.Ultimately, the results of this book indicate profit-motives often trump journalistic and democratic values. The findings also suggest that the media actively responds to audiences, thus giving the public control over their own information environment. Uniting the study of media effects and media content, The People’s News presents a powerful challenge to our ideas of how free market media outlets meet our standards for impartiality and public service.