DOCSLIB.ORG

Better Journalism in the Digital Age

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Better Journalism in the Digital Age Better Journalism in the Digital Age Blair Jenkins AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY Blair Jenkins OBE is a Fellow of the Carnegie UK Trust and one of the most experienced figures in Scottish media. He has been Director of Broadcasting at Scottish Television and Head of News and Current Affairs at both STV and BBC Scotland. From 1998 to 2003 he was Chairman of BAFTA in Scotland and he has also been a member of the Royal Television Society’s steering group on current affairs. Blair started his career at the Evening Express in Aberdeen and was Young Journalist of the Year in the Scottish Press Awards before joining BBC News in London in 1980. He moved to Scottish Television in 1986 and became Head of News and Current Affairs in 1990. Four years later he joined the main board of STV as Director of Broadcasting and he was also a member of the Broadcasting Board of the ITV network. He was Head of News and Current Affairs at BBC Scotland from 2000 to 2006. In 2008 he chaired the independent Scottish Broadcasting Commission set up by the Scottish Government to make recommendations on the future of the industry, and from September 2010 to January 2011 he chaired the Scottish Digital Network Panel which examined funding models for the proposed new Scottish public service broadcaster. In 2010 Blair was appointed an OBE for services to broadcasting. He is Visiting Professor of Journalism at Strathclyde University and a Governor of Glasgow School of Art. AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My thanks to everyone who helped with this publication, but in particular to Douglas White and Jennifer Wallace at Carnegie UK Trust who offered intelligence, improvement and insight in a most generous manner. The text of this work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Designed and printed by Falconbury Design by-sa/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain View, California, 94041, USA. This report is printed on paper that is FSC certified. i Contents Foreword Executive Summary Chapter 1 – Restoring Trust Chapter 2 – A New Code of Conduct Chapter 3 – Industry Regulation Chapter 4 – Public Service Interventions Chapter 5 – New Models for News Chapter 6 – Journalism Education Chapter 7 – Extending Access Chapter 8 – Looking to the Future: a Profession based on Trust ii BETTER JOURNALISM IN THE DIGITAL AGE 1 Foreword In February 2010 the Carnegie UK Trust appointed This belief formed an important strand in our Blair Jenkins as a ‘Carnegie Fellow’ to investigate how 2010 report on the future of civil society in the UK better news media can be delivered in the digital age. and Ireland, Making Good Society. That report argued for greater engagement by civil society When we began this work, we thought that one of organisations and citizens more generally with the our first tasks would be to persuade a wide array of conduct and content of news media. Meanwhile, politicians, policy makers, practitioners and civil society in September 2011 we published a new discussion organisations that this was a major public policy issue, paper on the future regulation of the press – worthy of serious attention and consideration. examining the key questions and options and However, the phone hacking crisis and the encouraging citizens and civil society organisations subsequent Leveson Inquiry have placed the to make an informed and substantial contribution debates about the future of news media in the to the debate. UK firmly in the public and political spotlight. It The Trust wishes to have a positive influence is important to make the voicemail interception on the policy outcomes during the consultation scandal a turning point for journalism in the UK. period leading up to the new Communications Act The task is to convert a low point for the industry later in this UK Parliament. An additional – and into an opportunity for improvement and reform. just as important – objective is to help develop There has been a significant loss of public trust in new approaches to high-quality journalism in the news organisations, which is why a new culture of digital age. The Trust is interested in building a integrity and transparency within the media and a broad coalition around this work and in acquiring restoration of that trust are so important. knowledge and insight from others. We will The Carnegie UK Trust believes there are a range of be undertaking further work on this agenda important issues to be addressed in the provision throughout 2012. and consumption of good journalism around the As part of the preparation for this latest UK. These issues relate to funding, training and publication, Better Journalism in the Digital Age, ethics, as well as the regulatory issues primarily we have held seminars in Edinburgh, Cardiff and being considered by Lord Justice Leveson. We wish Dublin and listened to the ideas and concerns of to encourage wider and deeper public engagement many journalists, academics and members of the with these matters and this paper is intended to set public. We wish to thank all of those who have out some basic principles and to provoke further contributed to our thinking in this area. discussion and debate. The Trust is convinced that robust and reliable news media are essential for an Martyn Evans informed democracy and healthy society. Chief Executive, Carnegie UK Trust February 2012 2 BETTER JOURNALISM IN THE DIGITAL AGE Executive Summary Journalism is a profession based on eliminating various forms of bad behaviour, trust. People need to know that the whereas the public interest also requires positive actions in support of good journalism. Tougher news they are viewing, or listening regulation on its own is not enough. to, or reading is fair and accurate and honest. In the end, journalists The work of regulation is largely that of have to be proud and protective of eliminating various forms of bad behaviour, their ethical and editorial standards, whereas the public interest also requires built on the secure foundations of positive actions in support of good integrity and experience. journalism. Tougher regulation on its own is not enough. The purpose of this paper is to examine some of the challenges and opportunities facing serious There is no question that there is a lot of really journalism in the UK and to make suggestions good journalism around today. In recent years, about actions and initiatives that will strengthen we have seen some exceptional reporting of the supply of high-quality news. challenging stories from difficult parts of the The establishment of the public judicial inquiry world, stories told with honesty and conviction. under Lord Justice Leveson has triggered a great This kind of journalism is expensive and proving deal of speculation and reflection on possible difficult to sustain. As is now well known inside or desirable changes to the UK system of press and outside the industry, the business models of regulation. It is understandable that this should traditional news media have looked increasingly be the focus of public attention in the wake of vulnerable in recent years due to the growth of the phone-hacking scandal, but it is important internet content and advertising. that the many issues concerning the future of The quality of our national debate and discourse journalism on all platforms should not simply be is directly related to the quality of our news media reduced to a new regulatory imperative for the services. Journalism is part of the necessary printed press. checks and balances in a healthy society. News media accountability is of great importance The key argument to the effect that there is a and the Carnegie UK Trust has proposals in this strong public interest in high-quality news media paper on how it might be strengthened and is based on the belief that a well-informed society improved. But news quality and news availability has a better chance of being well-governed. are just as significant. There is more than one With transparency comes accountability, and priority in this debate. with proper accountability come better policy Stronger or smarter regulation is only one of a and legislation and, indeed, the consent of the number of levers that will have to be applied if governed. Vigilant media help to prevent the we are to secure better journalism in the digital erosion of civil liberties and provide significant age. The work of regulation is largely that of benefits for wider society. 3 There is, therefore, a collective interest in providing good news media and in the public thereby having an informed sense of engagement There is a need to restore public trust in society. It is hard to underestimate the and confidence in the press. importance of this to our democracy. We need to know about the key decisions that are being The approach of the Carnegie UK Trust is to made – the ones that really do shape our lives, look for ways of encouraging and supporting the ones that are sometimes hidden from us. better news media in the digital age and we are We need to know the facts that underpin the recommending a number of related actions: decision-making process. • The adoption of a new industry-wide code While all news media are facing budgetary and of conduct by all journalists and news editorial challenges in the digital age, it is evident organisations to give much clearer guidance that there are particular concerns about how on the higher ethical and editorial standards some parts of the press operate in the UK: expected – standards which ought to be • Newspaper owners and editors are perceived universal and transferable between all bona as having too much power and influence, fide press, broadcast and online news services.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The News Media Industry Defined
    Spring 2006 Industry Study Final Report News Media Industry The Industrial College of the Armed Forces National Defense University Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. 20319-5062 i NEWS MEDIA 2006 ABSTRACT: The American news media industry is characterized by two competing dynamics – traditional journalistic values and market demands for profit. Most within the industry consider themselves to be journalists first. In that capacity, they fulfill two key roles: providing information that helps the public act as informed citizens, and serving as a watchdog that provides an important check on the power of the American government. At the same time, the news media is an extremely costly, market-driven, and profit-oriented industry. These sometimes conflicting interests compel the industry to weigh the public interest against what will sell. Moreover, several fast-paced trends have emerged within the industry in recent years, driven largely by changes in technology, demographics, and industry economics. They include: consolidation of news organizations, government deregulation, the emergence of new types of media, blurring of the distinction between news and entertainment, decline in international coverage, declining circulation and viewership for some of the oldest media institutions, and increased skepticism of the credibility of “mainstream media.” Looking ahead, technology will enable consumers to tailor their news and access it at their convenience – perhaps at the cost of reading the dull but important stories that make an informed citizenry. Changes in viewer preferences – combined with financial pressures and fast paced technological changes– are forcing the mainstream media to re-look their long-held business strategies. These changes will continue to impact the media’s approach to the news and the profitability of the news industry.
    [Show full text]
  • Broadcast News Media in Video Art and Art Education
    170 Wyrick Truth rhoI S~lls 171 systematic delivery of public infonnation. Teachers should al50 seek to study contemporary artists and critics that enjoin us to examine ourselves and our institutions to acknowledge the complex of notions that reproduce oppression. In this paper, I will examine contemporary video artists and critics as potential models for student art making and written critidsm. "Truth" that Sells: Broadcast News The New Face of Broadcast News Media In Video Art and Art Rapidly advandng technologies that bro.adcast twenty­ four-hour-a.-day news reports imp.act .as never before on local Education and global communities. While tr.aveling in Yucatan and Chlapas, Mexico, in 1992 (prior to the Zapatista uprising in 199.), I saw numerous .apparently Indigenous people living in homes with Mary Wyrick th.atched roofs similar to those pictured on the walls of ancient Mayan pyramids in that region. Much to my surprise, many of these otherwise b.asic homes were equipped with televisions .and some had ac~s to cable TV. While visiting Costa Rica in a hotel room that was without hot water, I watched Cable News Network (CNN) broadcasts of dirt track races from Charlotte, Vincent Lanier (1969). Manuel Sarkan and Laura Chapman North Carolina. Our broadcast news media in the United States, (1967), laura Chapman (1982), Paul Duncum (1987, 1989), and for better a.nd for worse, a.re not only bringing other cultures to Dan Nadaner (1985) have written about the implications of us, but are spreading our culture on a glob.al sale. using mass media sources in art education.
    [Show full text]
  • “Authentic” News: Voices, Forms, and Strategies in Presenting Television News
    International Journal of Communication 10(2016), 4239–4257 1932–8036/20160005 Doing “Authentic” News: Voices, Forms, and Strategies in Presenting Television News DEBING FENG1 Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, China Unlike print news that is static and mainly composed of written text, television news is dynamic and needs to be delivered with diversified presentational modes and forms. Drawing upon Bakhtin’s heteroglossia and Goffman’s production format of talk, this article examined the presentational forms and strategies deployed in BBC News at Ten and CCTV’s News Simulcast. It showed that the employment of different presentational elements and forms in the two programs reflects two contrasting types of news discourse. The discourse of BBC News tends to present different, and even confrontational, voices with diversified presentational forms, such as direct mode of address and “fresh talk,” thus likely to accentuate the authenticity of the news. The other type of discourse (i.e., CCTV News) seems to prefer monologic news presentation and prioritize studio-based, scripted news reading, such as on-camera address or voice- overs, and it thus creates a single authoritative voice that is likely to undermine the truth of the news. Keywords: authenticity, mode of address, presentational elements, voice, television news The discourse of television news has been widely studied within the linguistic world. Early in the 1970s, researchers in the field of critical linguistics (CL; e.g., Fowler, 1991; Fowler, Hodge, Kress, & Trew, 1979; Hodge & Kress, 1993) paid great attention to the ideological meaning of news by drawing upon a kit of linguistic tools such as modality, transitivity, and transformation.
    [Show full text]
  • Portable News Media Studio
    2011 PORTABLE NEWS MEDIA STUDIO (CG4TV) Paulo Cavalcanti Jonathan Goldsmith Nathan Tetreault Worcester Polytechnic Institute Project Number: IQP MQF 289 PORTABLE NEWS MEDIA STUDIO by Paulo Cavalcanti Jonathan Goldsmith Nathan Tetreault An Interactive Qualifying Project Submitted to the Faculty of the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science In Mechanical Engineering _________________________ ____________________ ________________________ Paulo Cavalcanti Jonathan Goldsmith Nathan Tetreault APPROVED: APRIL 2011 ________________________________ Professor M. S. Fofana, Major Advisor Mechanical Engineering Department Abstract The Portable News Media Studio is a unit to be used in the future. This would serve as a temporary shelter during any type of emergency situation for a news team that is broadcasting on site. The unit would provide all the necessary elements for long term sustainability for the occupants. The unit would be able to broadcast from anywhere in the world as well as allowing the occupants to travel on any terrain in the world including land, sea, and snow. The power generated would all be self‐provided and would be able to supply enough power for computers, a washing machine, lighting, broadcasting equipment, a waste treatment station, and any other utility in the unit that consumes electricity. Through research, various designs for the portable studio were developed. These designs encompass a range of necessities that would make the portable media studio feasible. Some of the necessities include portability, habitability, and sustainability, etc. This would be the best recommendation for any news station that wants to broadcast the world’s most relevant news sources to a large audience.
    [Show full text]
  • Fake News” in Poland
    092 092 DISINFORNATION: DISINFORMATION PRACTICES IN CEE Authoritarian Change, Public Broadcasters, and “Fake News” in Poland PIOTR BENIUSZYS PIOTR BENIUSZYS 093 uthoritarian regimes and dic- tatorships of any kind have al- ways typically striven to control the flow of information in the IN A WORLD countries they governed. All FILLED WITH FALSE mediaA outlets that would come under con- trol of such political systems were bound OR INACCURATE to cease as reliable sources of informa- tion. The political agenda of the govern- NEWS, ment would thence dictate their political news broadcasting: some facts would be AUTHORITARIAN omitted, others manipulated or distorted, blown out of proportion, or even simply REGIMES CAN created out of nothing. SET UP PUBLIC At the same time, some authoritarian re- BROADCASTING gimes would declare themselves genu- inely free democracies and would hope to NEWS OUTLETS transmit this kind of image to at least part of the world. The fact-checking activities of AND PUBLISH free media, usually from the democracies abroad, would present a major challenge DISINFORMATION to this image-building strategy, as lies and propaganda of their state media would get ALMOST exposed time and again. In some cases, this threat would constitute an incentive WITHOUT LIMITS to limit the frequency of false information broadcasting to only the most urgent or inevitable situations. But in today’s reality, where people are permanently confronted lish disinformation almost without limits. As with a tremendous amount of online news public TV and radio stations in democratic sources (many of which are of rather low countries still enjoy a somewhat better rep- quality), with identity media outlets, which utation than other outlets2, them being tak- dress up ideological formation as news, en over by a government which is gearing and, of course, with blunt so-called “fake towards introducing a change of the politi- news” spreaders, the general trust in media cal system – away from liberal democracy credibility has been profoundly damaged1.
    [Show full text]
  • Community Radio Journalism in India
    News by any other name: community radio journalism in India Bridget Backhaus* Griffith University, Australia Abstract Community radio journalism is a cultural resource that offers a voice to local communities and works to democratise media landscapes. Despite its indisputable value, community radio journalism in India faces a unique set of challenges: the foremost being that, officially, it does not exist. According to government policy, community radio stations are prohibited from broadcasting any news and current affairs content. The situation is further complicated by the presence of a development discourse underpinning the entire rationale for the sector. Instead of serving their listeners, community radio stations are beholden to a nebulous ‘development’ agenda. Under such circumstances, it is unsurprising that community radio journalism in India is relatively unexplored in the literature. This paper aims to address this gap by exploring how community radio practitioners in India source content and work around their restrictions in order to provide their listeners with relevant information and news. Keywords Community radio, India, news, journalism, development, social change Introduction Community radio is considered to be a voice for the voiceless and a stronghold of alternative views. Similarly, community radio journalism also has a tradition of democratising the media and acting as a cultural resource to provide communities with a local voice (Forde, Meadows & Foxwell-Norton, 2002). In India however, community radio journalism faces a unique set of challenges: the foremost of which being that, officially, it does not exist. Government policy prevents community radio stations in India from broadcasting any news or current affairs coverage. Employing the concept of community radio as rhizome as a theoretical framework, this article explores the fluid and contingent nature of community radio news and journalism in an environment where it officially does not exist.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relationship Between Net Neutrality and Local News
    Slowing Down the Presses: The Relationship Between Net Neutrality and Local News Adam Hersh | December 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 I. The Modern World of Local News 3 A. Legacy Local News Providers Are in Trouble 5 B. Online Local News Is Still in Its Infancy 9 II. Eliminating Strong Net Neutrality Rules Would Make It Harder to Rejuvenate Local News 10 A. Access Fees 12 B. Blocking 16 C. Discrimination 19 D. Paid Prioritization 23 E. Zero Rating 28 Conclusion 34 Introduction In 2011, the FCC released The Information Needs of Communities, a lengthy report on the state of American local news in the world of the internet.1 The report detailed a legacy media landscape struggling to adapt to the challenges of the internet, and a surprising dearth of online news sources coming in to fill the gap. The report also presented a series of policy recommendations designed to spur a more robust digital news ecosystem. Among them was a brief reference to the “open Internet debate” going on at the time: The open Internet debate has several implications for news. First, if the Internet were to evolve toward a tiered system in which preferred customers get better service, it could end up privileging certain types of content over others without regard to consumer demand. Public and nonprofit media would be particularly vulnerable, as it is likely that such a structure would reward established, well- heeled companies over less-well-capitalized start-ups, possibly commercial over nonprofits. It also is plausible that a broadband Internet provider with strong political views might wish to minimize the dissemination of antithetical viewpoints.
    [Show full text]
  • New News, Future News the Challenges for Television News After Digital Switch-Over
    New News, Future News The challenges for television news after Digital Switch-over An Ofcom discussion document Publication date: 26 June 2007 Foreword The prospects for television news in a fully digital era are a central element in any consideration of the future of public service broadcasting (PSB). News is regarded by viewers as the most important of all the PSB genres, and television remains by far the most used source of news for UK citizens. The role of news and information as part of the democratic process is long established, and its status is specifically underpinned in the Communications Act 2003. This report, New News, Future News, is one of a series of Ofcom studies focussing on individual topics identified in the PSB Review of 2004/05, and further discussed in the Digital PSB report of July 2006. The others are on the provision of children’s programmes and on the prospects for a Public Service Publisher. All three studies are linked to areas of particular PSB concern for the future, and set out a framework for policy consideration ahead of the next full PSB review. Other Ofcom work of relevance includes the review of Channel 4’s funding. It has not been the role of this report to come up with solutions, and no policy recommendations are put forward. Instead, the report examines the environment in which television news currently operates, and assesses how that may change in future (after digital switch-over and, in 2014, the expiry of current Channel 3 and Channel 5 licences) . It identifies particular issues that will need to be addressed and suggests some specific questions that may need to be answered.
    [Show full text]
  • An Economic Review of the Extent to Which the BBC Crowds out Private Sector Activity
    An economic review of the extent to which the BBC crowds out private sector activity A KPMG Report commissioned by the BBC Trust October 2015 FINAL REPORT Important Notice This report (‘Report’) has been prepared by KPMG LLP in accordance with specific terms of reference (‘terms of reference’) agreed between the British Broadcasting Corporation Trust (‘BBC Trust’ or ‘the Addressee’), and KPMG LLP (‘KPMG’). KPMG has agreed that the Report may be disclosed to third parties. KPMG wishes all parties to be aware that KPMG’s work for the Addressee was performed to meet specific terms of reference agreed between the Addressee and KPMG LLP and that there were particular features determined for the purposes of the engagement. The Report should not therefore be regarded as suitable to be used or relied on by any other person or for any other purpose. The Report is issued to all parties on the basis that it is for information only. Should any party choose to rely on the Report they do so at their own risk. KPMG will accordingly accept no responsibility or liability in respect of the Report to any party other than the Addressee. KPMG does not provide any assurance on the appropriateness or accuracy of sources of information relied upon and KPMG does not accept any responsibility for the underlying data used in this report. No review of this report for factual accuracy has been undertaken. For this report, the BBC Trust has not engaged KPMG to perform an assurance engagement conducted in accordance with any generally accepted assurance standards and consequently no assurance opinion is expressed.
    [Show full text]
  • Reporters Without Borders Facilitates-Thai-23-05-2014,46338.Html
    Reporters Without Borders http://www.rsf.org/thailand-media-censorship- facilitates-thai-23-05-2014,46338.html Asia - Thailand Coup d’Etat Media censorship facilitates Thai military coup 23 May 2014 After the failure of talks between the opposing political factions, the Thai army announced in a nationally televised message yesterday that it was taking control of the government “in order for the country to return to normality quickly.” The television networks are now limited to relaying news and information from the army (see video). Foreign network transmissions have been blocked nationwide. Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS), a public network, tried to broadcast its programs via YouTube, but was shut down by military personnel, who then arrested the network’s deputy director, Wanchai Tantiwithayapitak. The announcement came after four more TV stations (including Voice TV and Hot TV) and six community radio stations yesterday joined the list of 10 TV stations previously closed by the military. Political comments by analysts and academics have been partially banned, while programmes in which commentators participate cannot be broadcast live. At the end of the day, the soldiers stationed outside certain news media received orders to leave, but without giving these media permission to resume broadcasting freely. In their eighth official communiqué, the armed forces told social networks that to avoid closure, they should remove “distorted” content or content liable to “cause misunderstanding or fuel conflicts.” Together with the Peace and Order Maintaining Command (POMC), a new entity created by the military, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) invited Internet Service Providers to form a group with the job of censoring the Internet.
    [Show full text]
  • Here's What We're Proud of Women' Giving Circle
    L’CHAYIM www.JewishFederationLCC.org Vol. 42, No. 3 n November 2019 / 5780 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Here’s what we’re proud of 6 Our Community By Brian Simon, Federation President s part of our annual Federa- credible addition. Jodi Cohen gets shining example of a program that 11 Jewish Interest tion board retreat, I asked our a special shout out from me for was waiting to be created. 19 Israel & the Jewish World Aboard members to list some of her work with Jewish Family Ser- Our holiday gift bags, which are the things we are proud of about the vices and chronicling that work in delivered to senior living commu- 23 Marketplace Federation in the last year. I am happy L’CHAYIM each month. Lori Ra- nities throughout the area. Thank 26 Commentary to share this list mos is an unsung hero in the of- you to the volunteers who help us with you. fice, and Paula Zlatkin handles the accomplish this for Rosh Hasha- 28 From the Bimah The resources bookkeeping flawlessly. nah, Passover and Hanukkah. 30 Community Directory we have been able We’re proud of our Senior Lunch I would like to add how proud I 31 Focus on Youth to identify that Bunch. This program has quickly am of our board. It is an honor to serve are available to grown to become one of our staple alongside each of them. Together, we 33 Organizations seniors. Our new- events. It has drawn a huge group are accomplishing a lot for our Jewish est board member, of attendees and volunteers.
    [Show full text]
  • Castaldo Et Al., 2020)
    Junk News Bubbles Modelling the Rise and Fall of Attention in Online Arenas Maria Castaldo, Tommaso Venturini, Paolo Frasca, Floriana Gargiulo To cite this version: Maria Castaldo, Tommaso Venturini, Paolo Frasca, Floriana Gargiulo. Junk News Bubbles Modelling the Rise and Fall of Attention in Online Arenas. 2020. hal-03043521 HAL Id: hal-03043521 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03043521 Preprint submitted on 7 Dec 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Junk News Bubbles Modelling the Rise and Fall of Attention in Online Arenas Maria Castaldo, Tommaso Venturini, Paolo Frasca, Floriana Gargiulo In this paper, we present a type of media disorder which we call “junk news bubbles” and which derives from the effort invested by online platforms and their users to identify and circulate contents with rising popularity. Such emphasis on trending matters, we claim, can have two detrimental effects on public debates: first, it shortens the amount of time available to discuss each matter; second it increases the ephemeral concentration of media attention. We provide a formal description of the dynamic of junk news bubbles, through a mathematical exploration of the famous “public arenas model” developed by Hilgartner and Bosk in 1988.
    [Show full text]