Throughout this course, you have seen that reality may not be as clear as one would think. An event occurs. Is there one accurate story of what really happened or do the media or storytellers see the story in different ways and ultimately construct more than one reality?
For this week’s discussion board, choose one of the following options:
Option 1) Pay attention to one news story that occurs this week. It can be local, domestic or international. Find two or three different ways the story is covered either on television news, twitter, blogs, hard copy or online newspaper or other source. Explain how you see the story and how the different media channels cover it differently. What was in one story and not in another and why? Did the intended audience have an effect on the storytelling? Why or why not? How does this relate to media psychology?
Option 2) A major natural disaster (earthquake, cyclone, flood, heatwave, etc.) has just hit a neighboring state. Hundreds, perhaps thousands are injured and/or dead. Houses and other buildings have collapsed. Local and national officials, including medical personnel and the armed forces are scrambling to help. Relief flights are beginning to come in to the area. Wear the hat of:
A reporter covering this incident from another country
A reporter covering this incident from your neighboring state
A citizen blogger who is right near the damaged area (and is able to access the internet)
For each hat, describe how you would cover the story differently and why. What would be in one story and not in another and why? Did the intended audience or the background of the reporter have an effect on the construction of reality? How does this relate to media psychology?
