News Construction on the Pivots of Framing and Ideology: A Theoretical Perspective

Andy Ofori-Birikorang

doi:10.7176/rhss/9-2-06

Abstract

This paper reviews framing and the concept of ideology as imperatively intertwined theory in the construction of news by the media. It further explores each theory as independent media pivot in news making, and presents their coupling as a consequence of the inevitable link. The paper also interrogates the two- framing and ideology- as connected concepts that are rarely interrogated in media studies but nevertheless influence the construction of new stories. The paper further indicates that the coupling of the concepts is further grounded on the social construction theory, positioning the argument that news production and its consequential framing is based on constructivism. The paper contends that when such mode of construction becomes embedded, reified and routinised in the newsroom, a journalistic ideology is forged and established that, consequentially, provides deterministic dominant modalities through which events, issues and personalities are framed and understood by the media. In particular, where the voices of the elites, through the journalist’s appropriation of official discourses, become the sustaining dominant, authentic, credible, and authoritative voices of news framing and construction, a news framing ideology becomes established; and all events, policies, and issues become constrained of extra interpretation except that which suits the journalistic ideological cause. Keywords : framing, ideology, news construction, media, official discourses, journalistic ideology DOI : 10.7176/RHSS/9-2-06

Highlights

The mass media are the fulcrum between government policy agendas and the public (Collins et al, 2006; Soroka 2002)
The mass media serve as the source of information flow for public policy issues, and determine the ground upon which public opinion get shaped on those policy initiatives
They influence public policy development by putting issues on their news agenda. Such news coverage of important policies can legitimize the problem so that greater percentage of the population will support efforts in finding solutions to the issues raised (Walt-Chiders, 1994). This view is supported by political science research that has documented that the media play a very significant role in shaping how issues come before policy makers (McCombs & Shaw, 1972; Iyengar & Kinder, 1987; Iyengar & Simon, 1993)

Summary

Introduction

The mass media are the fulcrum between government policy agendas and the public (Collins et al, 2006; Soroka 2002). From the social constructivist perspective, news story is nothing more than defining events, their causes, and consequences through an organized basic frame embedded in the local culture.

Results

Conclusion