Media Worlds in the Postjournalism ERA

Abstract

The concept of media logic, a theoretical framework for explaining relationship between mass media and culture, was first introduced in Altheide and Snow's influential work, Media Logic. In Media Worlds in Postjournalism Era, the authors expand their analysis of how organizational considerations promote a distinctive media logic, which in turn is conductive to a media culture. They trace ethnography of that media culture, including knowledge, techniques, and assumptions that encourage media professionals to acquire particular cognitive and evaluative criteria and thereby present events primarily for media's own ends. Case studies and examples of mass media presentation of entertainment, news, politics, organized religion, and sports during past twenty years illustrate how scheduling, sources of information, style, format, and professional awards influence how world is portrayed in various media. The authors analyze influence of media logic on society's perceptions and judgments of issues and its impact on public opinion, culture, and social institutions.