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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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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Zee Television Network.

ZEE TELEVISION NETWORK Zee Television Network started with the small screen, but with big resources behind it. There's technology worth millions, many years of experience of futuristic vision and a unique viewer insight. As India's largest and only fully integrated media and Entertainment Company, Zee has proved its ability as well as its ambition. In this spirit it has kept over 225 million viewers across the globe informed and entertained. Zee is all set to consolidate this success on the small screen and target the media world with big ideas Zee has established itself as a household name as a channel that specializes in serials. There are some of the best serials in the industry that Zee broadcasts and has gained popularity among South Asians. Zee also has some local production of programs like 'Sa Re Ga Ma' and 'Mausam'. Zee also has Pakistani programs like Pakistan Business Week and Pakistan News Link. Friday is a religious day for followers of Islam and Zee broadcasts 'The Quran', a religious program for Muslims on this day. Zee TV has become a favorite among South Asians in the US and has gained immense popularity in the first two years of its existence. The subscription numbers exceed 50,000 subscribers and are still growing. With the addition of SET, Zee TV and SET will complement each other and would make an excellent package for South Asians. Zee TV is the numero

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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'In attempting to understand the making of meanings in contemporary media cultures, should our focus be on forms of representation in media output or on practices of media use in day-to-day life?'

'In attempting to understand the making of meanings in contemporary media cultures, should our focus be on forms of representation in media output or on practices of media use in day-to-day life?' The understanding of the makers of meanings in contemporary media cultures is a common, albeit complex and omnipresent key debate in contemporary media studies. The areas for concern in addressing this question are firstly the media industries and their forms of representation and output, and secondly how people use those forms of output in everyday social situations. The focus on these two key sites works to discover which area is primarily, and to what extent, responsible for making meaning in media cultures. The answer however is not so clear cut. The concern based around understanding the processes of encoding and decoding media messages is crucial, as echoed by authors such as Eldridge (1993) and Hesmondhalgh (2006). Early work forged a casual link between mass communication and mass behaviour whereby the stimuli of media depictions invoked mass responses. However, research has since shifted its focus to counter-research in which audiences are viewed as active consumers, using the media to fulfil their interests and pleasures instead of being viewed as cultural dupes whose behaviour was tainted or determined by the so-called 'magic bullet' effect of the media (Davis, 2005).

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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How BBC World(TM)s World News Today and CNN International(TM)s World News Asia produces their evening news shows

Jennifer CHUNG Hiu Kei (2005654208) JMSC0046 Intro to Television - Laurie 9 Dec 2007 Research Project How BBC World's "World News Today" and CNN International's "World News Asia" produces their evening news shows Every time I watch the evening news and see the lead story, I wonder what other news also occurred during the day around the world but missed out the winning title of being the most important piece. I also ponder over what other news events happened but weren't featured in the limited news time there is for each show. These thoughts lead me to investigate as to how editors and producers make the tough yet crucial decisions every day when deciding what kind of stories they run in their news broadcasts and how they prioritize the news events. I also want to explore what other factors may contribute to the decision for designing the run down each night. Understanding that if there's a continuous thriving supply of a product, there must mean there is a steady demand for it as well. In the case of evening news programs, this must mean there is a specific target audience demanding the news broadcasts. Who this target audience is and how the role of the audience plays out in the chaotic world of decision makings under time constraints, are some of the interesting questions that I intend to investigate. I also intend to explore how producers balance between journalistic

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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REALITY SHOWS AS A REFLECTION OF A CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

REALITY SHOWS AS A REFLECTION OF A CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY Summary The aim of this work is to understand the phenomenon of the new television program - reality shows, in the other words, the TV program that is based on a real life. A post-modern society and their way of thinking changed dramatically in the past few decades, with the appearance of the Internet and other communication services to become known and famous, became easier than ever. Because of all these alterations, the concept of fame changed and being famous just for being famous is something new now. Notably, it is very important to understand the real meaning behind the “new” type of fame and why it is the one of the main influences for the participants. As a result, I will try to find out what kind of people want to be a part of this creation and for what reason most of them will be identified as narcissists Essentially, do reality shows reflect the realism of humanity or is it just a new way of entertainment? This and the rest of the issues will be analyzed along the article. Key words: reality shows, narcissism, fame, post-modern culture, entertainment There have been many deep changes in the realms of culture, media, and related technologies, as well as a change in their social meaning in the past few decades. In the first half of the 20th century, in an age before television, cinema was a form of

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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How would you explain the continuing popularity of major British Soap Operas such as Eastenders and Coronation Street?

Monday 12th January RUPA KANABAR TV FORMS AND MEANINGS (fm2007) How would you explain the continuing popularity of major British Soap Operas such as Eastenders and Coronation Street? The soap opera genre originated in American radio serials of the 1930's. (1) The soap opera is a genre originally drawn from radio rather then film. British soaps can be traced back to radio serials such as "Mrs Dale's Diary in 1948 to 1969 and "The Archers" in 1950. (2)Soap opera as a form is more popular then ever. At least five different programmes are regularly listed amongst the top ten audience ratings and historically it was conceived as being a "woman's genre." (3) A number of conventions of soap opera will be discussed in the essay to explain the continuing popularity of British soaps. Considering the visual conventions used in soap opera to construct a sense of reality and the representations of the world they offer and their pleasures, is a vital tool in explaining the continuing popularity of soaps. According to Julia Smith, the producer of Eastenders, she states that what marks Eastenders popularity is the fact that "reality is not constructed but is reflected"(4) and this is what marks the appeal of Eastenders to its audience as the contours of the soap opera world become in many ways as familiar as those which constitute one's everyday reality. Eastenders

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the BBC:

sec/100 Q1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the BBC: a) Producing its own programes (as opposed to commissioning others to make programes for it) b) Competing for rating s with other television channels (as opposed to being a public service broadcaster) c) Being a global player (as opposed to being a UK provider) The BBC as public service broadcasting receiving license fee form government plus selling radio receivers. has brought up a set of ideological and often political stereotypes, born in the main from overall demeanors of middle class, institutionalized beliefs and practices. Post 1946, when television broadcasting resumed, the BBC's popularity was at its height, largely because of its part in the nation's efforts during the Second World War, the BBC. Now, in the 21st century, has to redefine itself to both the public and politicians. They shares many of the current crisis' in broadcasting, as expected issues surrounding funding/revenue and it is also having to reconsider its position in terms of self opinion and audience perception. BBC has developed into one of the world's leading broadcasting and programmer makers. I will answer this question by defined the advantages and disadvantages of the BBC on the following issues: o Producing its own programmes. o Competing for rating with other television channels. o Being a global player.

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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BBC assignment

BBC ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVES OF ORGANISATIONS TASK 1 The BBC was established in 1926 as a public corporation. It was established by an act of Parliament, Royal Charter, and a statement about what the organisation is and what it is there for. BBC has multiple objectives which it has to deliver against and these are: Strengthening BBC programmes and services * Underpin the BBC's public service remit by extending the range and quality of its radio and television services, with a focus on broadcasting more high-impact, memorable programmes, particularly arts and current affairs. * Strengthen the BBC's digital services, to ensure that the overall portfolio has something of value for everyone, provides a wide range of interactive learning opportunities and helps to drive digital take-up. Connecting with all audiences * Bring younger audiences to BBC services by developing bold and innovative programmes and content with a particular focus on making the BBC's news and current affairs more relevant and engaging for this group without diminishing the BBC's commitment to parliamentary reporting. * Continue to seek new ways of attracting audiences from the UK's ethnic minorities, through both mainstream and targeted services. * Ensure that the BBC is meeting the needs of audiences in all nations and regions of the UK. Transforming the BBC * Make the BBC feel a more creative,

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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The Music Business Research Project: Angel Music Group

Research Over the past decade we have seen a large increase in the growth and expansion of the events industry. Although the collapse in economic growth due to the recession has halted the industries progress, the events industry can thank the UK's previous thriving economy, increase in leisure spending and disposable income for its success in the 90s. Now, the majority of UK cities and towns have a diverse range of public entertainment events on offer each week, with the majority of them notably related to music and nightlife institutions. Events have become an essential element of a music industry which sees ever decreasing figures in record sales and is now one of the main sources of income for most record labels. My principal goal was to carry out primary and secondary research into the practises of events marketing companies, drawing up a profile using appropriate theoretical approaches and critiques to help interpret the findings of my research. In order to address this, I conducted fieldwork with a renowned company called 'Angel Music Group'. During my time researching the company I performed extensive interviews with staff at the company, with the most significant interviews being held with Angel Music Group's production/promotion director, Damian Eston. I also carried out ethnographic research in which I observed and shadowed a few members of staff to get a general

  • Word count: 3914
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Media Studies
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