Many voices one cause: One cause many voices? An investigation into Zimbabwe broadcasting corporation's news hour as a democratic platform of participation.

MANY VOICES ONE CAUSE: ONE CAUSE MANY VOICES? AN INVESTIGATION INTO ZIMBABWE BROADCASTING CORPORATION'S NEWS HOUR AS A DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM OF PARTICIPATION BY MIDZI WASHINGTON R00091M A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA AND SOCIETY STUDIES OF THE MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE HONOURS IN MEDIA AND SOCIETY STUDIES DECEMBER 2003 SUPERVISOR : MR W. MUONWA ABSTRACT This dissertation investigates the notion that ZBC - TV news hour is wont to favour or promote ideas espoused by the ruling party and government at the expense of other oppositional political voices. The main thrust of this study has been to investigate how news content of ZBC's news hour was structured especially during the 2002 Presidential Election Campaign. The investigation was done during the campaign period but the quantitative data used here only encompasses the period between December 1,2001 and March 8, 2002.Qualitative and institutional research methods were also used in a bid to establish the nature of the relationship between the programming of news at ZBC and the various voices that were presented by the public broadcaster, especially during the election period. How the different voices were presented is also of interest to this study. This enquiry is therefore a product of

  • Word count: 24742
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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What has been the social, cultural, political and technological impact the TV programme Big Brother has had on us, the television viewer?

What has been the social, cultural, political and technological impact the TV programme Big Brother has had on us, the television viewer? The TV programme Big Brother has had a massive impact on today's society for a variety of reasons. Some may say that it is the defining jewel-in-the-crown in reality television; it is without doubt the most recognised and quite possibly the most watched in an expansive genre. Its creation, by a Dutchman for the television company Endemol in 1997, spawned the first broadcast of the programme in Great Britain shortly after in 2000. And so the fly-on-the-wall docu-soap was born, followed by variations to the theme and structure, but in essence keeping the same core format of members of the public being kept locked away in a house, their every move captured by 30 cameras. The housemates are, for the most part, isolated within the house. They are allowed no access to the outside world using any medium and in some shows, even books and writing material are not permitted, with the exception of religious materials such as the Bible. They perform tasks in order to win prizes and extend their shopping budget for the week. In previous years, the contestants were usually young, good-looking and charismatic, but as the show has grown in popularity, and therefore attracted a wider viewing demographic, they have gone for a mixture of people, old and

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Background to the history of radio

Background to the history of radio Radio has become one of the most important forms of communication through out the 20th century this is truly one of the forefathers of modern communication methods. It has played a important part in both war time and peace time. In this seminar we will be looking at how radio has developed over the years from a primitive form of communication to a very high tech form of propaganda. The birth of radio took place in 1895 when the lightning recording antenna was invented by Aleksandra s popov. This then lead to the first experimental transmission of a wireless signal in 1896 by then two brothers by the name of Marconi who had successfully transmitted Radio signals my Morse code over a 3km distance. Later on in 1899 Marconi twins made the first wireless transmission over the channel from Wimereux to Dover. Over the next ten year this idea had begun to grow. After various other inventions were formulated and parts refined this lead to the first radio program being transmitted .On Jan 13 1910 the first broadcast took place from the Metropolitan Opera house in New York city was heard 20 km away on a ship at sea. This was the birthplace of radio, as we know it. From 1911-1930 radio popularity began to grow at a breakneck speed. Within this time radio broadcasting was born in America with every day a new radio was born. From then onwards battery

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Has the Presence of commercially driven broadcasting in Britain necessarily lead to a "dumbing down" of programming content?

Has the Presence of commercially driven broadcasting in Britain necessarily lead to a "dumbing down" of programming content? There has been much debate about what effect commercially driven broadcasting in Britain is having on programming content. Reith warned those involved in the television business that by allowing commercially driven broadcasting to rise, would lead to deterioration of programming content. But what did he mean by this? Well, he referred to beginning of domination of television content by advertisers and private owners, who would use this new medium as it was in the 1920's as a weapon of self promotion, helping to deter content, as entertainment programming would rule the programming schedule, and effectively produce mass cheap products for the public. Reith also felt that by commercialising television, audiences would be segregated and the myth of 'making the nation one man' (Curran et al, impacts and influences, ch7) would look distant as a result. So, we look at then what it means to be commercial perhaps, and to understand whether commercial media, which includes radio, has in some ways evolved and been criticised for its entertainment orientated programming schedule, yet argument being provided for commercial television and the fact that choice has furthered and helped to progress broadcasting. So, what is commercial broadcasting, and how has it

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Why is it important to study the media, rather then simply consume it?

Student name: Yun-Ting Wong (Waldo) Student ID: 1902226 Course: COM 1010 Media Studies Why is it important to study the media, rather then simply consume it? 'What is media?' lecturer Daniel Black brought out this question as the introduction for the course, Media Study. 'What is Media?' it looks like a very simple topic to discuss and understand, but through the way for preparing this assignment, Media is not that simple and easy. It carries lots of theory, different ways for application, and, a lot more. "Understanding the media has never been simple, and it is becoming more difficult every day" (Turner, and Cunninigbam, 2002: xvii). Media consist everywhere in the living world. As a normal habit for all the human being, it is quite easy to contact or connect to the Media. Newspaper while having breakfast, advertise along the highway, sales catalog in the mail box, TV program while having dinner. Remember, these all were just common example. Do not forget Magazines, Books, Movies, and Videos. Media is an object that no one can be avoided, it is historical, massive, influential, powerful, entertainingly, psychology and that is why it is so important to study the Media, rather then simple consume it Media is important to study because it is historical. From the past to the modern world, it is very obvious that Media is still growing and thriving. "History, or rather the

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Evaluate the influences of the mass media on our lifestyles today using two sociological perspectives

TRACY THORNTHWAITE Evaluate the influences of the mass media on our lifestyles today using two sociological perspectives. The mass media has a massive influence on our lifestyles today. Although there are a number of ways to define the mass media, one is that there is a 'physical distance' between those communicating. This can include past forms of communication such as drums, town criers and smoke signals. However the explosion of the 'technical age' in the late twentieth century has revolutionized the mass media today, bringing it to the masses through television, radio, newspapers and the internet to name but a few, giving limitless choices to the population. The pluralist theory of the mass media is that we are free to watch or read what we want. The media reflects what the public want, and reacts to the demand of the public. If someone is not interested in the mainstream view points, there will be a media output to cater for their interests. Pluralists believe the media has some influence on the population although it may be bias, for example, favouring one political party. Sceptics argue that the freedom of choice is illusory as there are censorships for example pornography, racism and violence, so the public's choice is limited because of the censorships. The Marxist theories of the mass media argue that the media do not only influence the public, but they also

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Reconsidering the Fourth Estate:

Reconsidering the Fourth Estate: The functions of infotainment : Reconsidering the Fourth Estate Page 1 It is hardly possible to write a history of information separately from a history of the corruption of the press. Walter Benjamin (1973:28) Abstract Criticism that TV infotainment is "dumbing down" public discourse invites investigation into the relationship between journalists and their audiences and reflection on the applicability of "fourth estate " theory to contemporary conditions. Consideration is given to the genres of infotainment - lifestyle shows, reality TV, docu-soaps, docu-games, tabloid news, talk shows, mocumentary and news sit-coms. It is suggested that when considered as a totality, these genres actually offer greater diversity of viewpoints, acuity of representation and depth of critique than traditional news and current affairs programs presently provide. Introduction Traditional TV news and current affairs programs are shrinking in terms of audience reach and thus significance to public discourse. The challenge to these traditional forms comes from an emerging, still-formless genre, infotainment. We might begin the work of defining infotainment by noting that it refers to a grab bag of styles, formats and sub-genres whose only common feature is that they fall somewhere in the space between the two traditional

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Media, Power and Responsibility

SOC 2004 Media, Power and Responsibility Essay 2: Qu.7) 'Despite various regulators efforts, Sky has undermined nascent media empires and created one of its own'. Discuss in relation to analogue and/or digital broadcasting. Emma Mills Student No. 20066838 The aim of this essay is to evaluate the notion that the Sky Television service has managed to undermine nascent media empires and create its own unassailable domain within both analogue and digital broadcasting markets through the evolution of Satellite television over the past fifteen years. This essay looks at the launch of the Sky service, and the early merger with its first competitor, the company's ability to elude broadcasting regulators efforts to constrain their operations through both the 1990 and 1996 Broadcasting Acts and Sky's development and supremacy within the Digital broadcasting market in the UK, against its main competitor ITV Digital. Sky television was launched on February 5th 1989, part of the Rupert Murdoch owned News International (later to become News Corporation) empire, the business was Britain's first Satellite television service provider. The station operated four channels initially, these were; SkyNews, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky 1, and the service was to be funded by subscriptions and advertising. Murdoch had been developing cable operations in Britain since 1983; during the next

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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To what extent can it be argued that situation comedies package existing norms and beliefs for audiences (Selby & Cowdery 1995)?

To what extent can it be argued that situation comedies "package existing norms and beliefs for audiences" (Selby & Cowdery 1995)? "Why do we need to laugh, even to the extent of inventing comedy over and above that which we can discern with ordinary life?" (Crisell 2006. p120) This question posed by Crisell sums up the type of comedy that is present in most sitcoms, hyperbole's of everyday life situations. A situation comedy (sitcom) is a setting and a group of characters that can be used with a comic narrative where the situation usually remains open so that it is available for future disruption. The sitcom uses a setting and characters that are believable but adds the twist of them encountering exaggerated problems with exaggerated consequences. However, it is important for the popularity of the sitcom that the beliefs and opinions of the viewers are catered for and this is where "existing norms and beliefs" (Selby & Cowdery 1995) are followed. Sitcoms use these contemporary ideologies constantly in their bid for popularity and will continue to do so as long as they continue to be aired. It has been argued that sitcoms are always "using a formula so 'transparent' that they could stand in for 'indigenous' programming for the local audience." (Creeber 2001. p.65) Creeber is suggesting that although the sitcom could be based in a different country or situation that one

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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: Issues in Contemporary Media and Culture Studies

Group Portfolio )Text analysis Introduction A media text is often said to be full of hidden messages, codes and ideological values which can be 'read' or perceived in different ways depending on the viewer's/reader's cultural and/or critical perspective (Kress, 1988, Barthes, 1915-1980 and Bryson, 1991). By studying a text from a range of perspectives we can make sense of these codes to gain a deeper, more rounded insight into the text's meaning and purpose. For this project, we have decided to analyse the Robinsons Wimbledon television advert, 2009. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBfLstxqjok) We will look at how meanings are constructed from three different perspectives; Whiteness and Central Identities, Diversification and 'Britishness'. The advert depicts a variation of families and individuals watching a game of Wimbledon tennis on television. We never see the television screen but the commentary informs us that one of the players is British. We see the public anxiously willing the British player to win whilst drinking Robinsons drinks. The tension mounts as the scores are read out. Finally the viewers are seen cheering at the win of a British champion and we are left with the line "It will happen again and we will be proud to be part of it. Robinsons; part of Wimbledon since 1935." We chose this text because it deals with themes of British patriotism, identity

  • Word count: 2049
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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