PHIL 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Anthropocentrism, Unearth, Press Release
Document Summary
Lesson 10: the mainstream media as a source of information. Some of the most important lessons for readers and viewers of news media can be applied directly from material we have already covered. Choices about which word to use, the word order, and other forms of emphasis can have powerful framing effect of the kinds discussed in chapter 7. Weasel words ex: many but how many is many . Confirmation biases (chapter 7) people might find it reassuring to see news that confirms their strongly held opinions. Strong effect on the kinds of information made available through news feeds. Minimizing costs: (easier to get mass-produces stories than spending money uncovering new ones) tendency towards fewer avenues of independent inquiry and a smaller range of perspectives, even though the number of media outlets may be quite large. Thinking critically: checking for indirect evidence that reporting and advertising are converging in their perspective and content.
