Media Bias in the Coverage of the Parkland Florida School Shooting
Introduce topic
Introduce topic
Today we will be analyzing two live broadcasts from the day of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, one from FOX and one from MSNBC, to contrast their coverage and identify their implied biases.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
- How do the political leanings of these news outlets affect the biases within the text of their articles?
- How do biases of the articles impact the way readers perceive the shooting?
- Does it persuade viewers to favor a specific political ideology?
Learning Outcomes
Show an awareness of the potential for educational, political, or ideological influence of the media/Show the way mass media use language and image to inform, persuade, or entertain.
Thesis
In the coverage of the recent school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, news media outlets, primarily focusing on FOX and MSNBC, though appearing to be unbiased and relaying information to their audience, still have a political agenda they impose upon their viewers.
FOX Video
http://fox5sandiego.com/2018/02/14/multiple-people-injured-in-shooting-at-florida-school/
FOX Video
MSNBC Video
http://fox5sandiego.com/2018/02/14/multiple-people-injured-in-shooting-at-florida-school/
MSNBC Self Promotion
MSNBC Self Promotion
- promote their own broadcasting by placing the MSNBC logo right beside the headline of the video
- accentuated with bold lettering, and given a background of white
- reminds viewers subconsciously of what news source they’re watching, and from where they are gaining that information
FOX Self Promotion
FOX Self Promotion
- Fox doesn’t place it’s logo or the all capital “LIVE” tag, choosing instead to display a shocking attention-grabbing headline.
- they create the impression they’re more focused on the “facts” rather than self-advertisement and political bias.
MSNBC Bolded
- focuses on response of local law enforcement vs. the actual events of the shooting
- gives no information beyond the fact that there was a reported school shooting
- focuses on the government attempting to alleviate a problem, which is emphasized in most liberal policies.
FOX Bolded
- focuses on casualties and devastation directly caused by the shooter
- more detail regarding the actual shooting, stating that the suspect is young, close to the age of the students
- use trigger words such as “killed” and “deadly” in the headline to draw viewers in
MSNBC/FOX Colors
- red is most effective because it portrays a sense of urgency, reader feels obligated to watch their broadcast
- also represents danger which employs a feeling of concern for the victims and the horrific event they experienced on Valentines Day
MSNBC Subheadings
- gives the impression the broadcast is providing new, crucial information
- use the phrase “Breaking news” loosely however, often showing the same footage on loop
- “LIVE,” its unscripted, there isn’t editing, which alters the medium's normal edited delivery
FOX Subheadings
FOX Subheadings
- smaller “Breaking news” creates, to a lesser extent, the same sensation
- “LIVE” misleading to viewers, gives the impression with the phrase “breaking news” that it is just receiving fresh information and that it is live, although it isn’t
MSNBC
- By opening with the statement that a strong political figure is following this tragic event, viewers feel a sort of obligation to follow the news
- focuses on casualties and the placement of law enforcement personnel and vehicles
Conclusion
Learning Outcomes