2. Name and explain three of the four characteristics of the concept ‘framing’ 

 

3. Demonstrate ‘framing’ with the use of an example taken from praxis 

 

4. Consider Noelle Neumann’s (1974) ‘spiral of silence’.

-On which two presuppositions does her theory rest? (two times 2 points)

-What is the ‘Quasi-Statistical Organ’ about? (4 points)

-Which three main mechanisms in the public sphere are at work? (three times 2).

 

5. Construct a coherent narrative in which the following concepts: ‘off the record’ gatekeeping; ‘framing’, and ‘Embargo’ are explained from 

-the perspective of the information source and 

-the perspective of the journalist. (two times 5 points)

When a journalist obtains information from his/her information source, but the source does not want to be linked to the given information in the article the source says that is it off the record, which means that the journalist may mention a gossip for instance but without mentioning the source. However, when a source gives information under embargo, it means that journalists may already start writing a story on that subject but they have to wait for a certain moment to publish it. When a scandal happens, for instance at a car manufacturer, the media will be all over the facts and figures; a newspaper will frame a story and give their perspective on the case. However, to limit the consequences of this scandal, a member of the board may give out a statement or press conference to give information from without the company. HE will then me the gatekeeper of information, he will decide what kind of information and in what form will be given out.

 

-       The perspective of the journalist. (two times 5 points)

From the perspective of the journalist, off the record means that the journalist may publish information on a certain person or event but cannot mention the source of the information. As for Embargo, the journalist is allowed to mention the name of the source but has to wait until a certain moment, after the source (prinsjesdag) gave the information for example, to publish the story to the public. A newspaper may be very democratic, which means that the stories/articles they publish may be framed in a way that is positive towards democratic persons and situations, and more likely to write critical stories/articles on republican matters. Therefore,  the gatekeeping of the journalists from a democratic newspaper is to only spread positive info about democratic points and more negative info on republican matters.