Deciding What’s News – Herbert Gans – 1979
Deciding What’s News: A Cultural Exploration
Herbert Gans’s Deciding What’s News, first published in 1979, examines the complex process by which events are selected, shaped, and presented as “news” by mass media. Gans, a sociologist, moves beyond a simple consideration of journalistic objectivity, arguing that news is inevitably filtered through a set of values held by journalists and their organizations. He identifies eight key values – timeliness, negativity, conflict, novelty, currency, human interest, proximity, and prominence – that influence which stories are deemed newsworthy. The book isn’t about intentional bias, but rather the inherent predispositions shaping journalistic choices.
Historical / Cultural Context
This work arose during a period of increasing scrutiny of the media’s role in shaping public perception, particularly in the wake of events like the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. Prior to Gans’s analysis, discussions about media bias often centered on political leanings. Gans offered a more nuanced perspective, revealing that the selection of news isn’t necessarily driven by a deliberate political agenda, but by a shared professional culture and set of values. It challenged the assumed neutrality of journalism and forced consideration of the ‘gatekeeping’ functions inherent in news production. The book’s continued relevance stems from its ability to explain how news continues to be constructed and interpreted in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Who This Book Is For
Deciding What’s News is relevant to a broad audience, including students of journalism, communication, and sociology. It also holds interest for anyone curious about the forces that shape public discourse and the construction of reality through mass media. It offers valuable insights for critical media consumers, helping them understand how and why certain stories receive attention while others are ignored. It’s particularly useful for those studying the psychology of belief, as it demonstrates how the framing of information can impact perception.
Further Reading
- Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky: Offers a more explicitly critical perspective on media bias, focusing on structural factors and power dynamics.
- The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel: Examines the principles and practices of journalism, providing a contrasting view on journalistic ethics and standards.
- Public Opinion by Walter Lippmann: A foundational work in public opinion research, exploring the role of stereotypes and symbolic representations in shaping beliefs.
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