REPRESENTATION -


This is a key concept in media studies.


Representation refers to the 'construction' of media texts; what we see is a re-representation of events, people or ideas. this is also known as mediation.


It is not possible for the media to present the world as it really is because the media constructs meanings about the world.  Media makers change or mediates what is really there.


People interpret media texts in different ways, depending on their cultural background, economic standings and personal reference. Audience members can play an active role in decoding messages of the text which has been encoded by the producer.


Dominant- the hegemonic response, people share the code and preferred meaning.
Negotiated- they accept what the text is saying and adapt it depending on their social background.
Oppositional- they understand, but reject the message.

there are three steps in the journey between the real world and the reality presented by newspapers: their representation.


Selection - news values/ target audience
Omission- bias, agenda, audience
Construction- bias, ideology, audience


Newspapers and reporters are supposed to provide their readers with;


Objective information- this means it should be free from prejudice caused by personal feelings.
Unbiased- represent people, events and ideas fairly.
Reliable information- from trusted sources.






Ideology-An ideology is a set of normative beliefs and values that a person or other entity has for non-epistemic reasons. These rely on basic assumptions about reality that may or may not have any factual basis.


Discourse- written or spoken communication or debate.


Ideological Discourse- communication that upholds a particular ideology/ set of ideologies. Discourse that serves to sustain or challenge social positions.


Dominant Ideology- Dominant ideologies are ideologies or beliefs that we live in by our day-to-day beliefs and often do not question - they have not become 'natural common sense' things to do. This effectively dissuades people from rebelling against these beliefs, and sense of stability in society.