Today in class, we were going to discuss the results of our unofficial content analysis of foreign media. Instead of doing that in person, we will do it virtually. Here are the rules:
Take a moment and write a paragraph (or two) of what you would have presented in class; this would include the media you studied, the time length you studied, and the results of your analysis. Also, try to offer some sort of conclusion that you can make when it comes to the media content in your country (this part could include some allusion to the content pertaining to your country in the text).
After you make your initial post, real all of the other posts. Then, comment on two (2) other posts. Your comments should be substantial and add to the virtual conversation we are maintaining. A "good job!" is not a sufficient. This may mean that you will have to visit this site more than once over the weekend.
Finally, after some time, make a few comments on the comments you received. Again, furthering this virtual conversation.
In all, you should have at least five (5) comments. Your initial comment, two comments on other analyses and two replies to other people's comments.
To kind of get the ball rolling, I came across this item on The Smoking Gun. There are a few things of interest dealing with this item, but two I would like you to consider. Looking at the front page, what do you think about the paper's placement of the Obama victory? Secondly, what do you think The Smoking Gun is implying by highlighting this story? Even though these two items may seem congruent, there are (or, at least could be) some differences that are noteworthy.
Have fun.
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Swedish online newspaper, Stockhom News provides the latest news in categories such as Local News, National News, Politics, Business, Sports, Culture, and Chronicles / analysis from Stockholm, Sweden. Stockholm News is primarily a politically independent, English-language news site. The site is owned by the two founders Tommie Ullman and Mats Öhlén through the General partnership Stockholm News HB. The target group of the newspaper is any English speaking person who finds interest in the day to day occurrences of Stockholm, Sweden. The Stockholm News, like most newspapers, contains categorized sections of information to better help the reader to distinguish between articles of choice. Although the news site did not list the most popularly read section, I found interesting content within the sections of Local News and Culture. However, in an analysis of the commentary left on articles, it appears that Swedes most enjoy reading and commenting in the sections of Local News which left 15 comments from the list of 20 stories, National News and Politics which both had 14 comments to the list of 20 stories, and Sports which left 12 comments to the list of 20 stories. The least amount of comments to stories was found in the sections of Business and Culture both including nine comments to their lists of 20 stories. These numbers were discovered upon current findings so my research that suggests Local News, National News, and Politics to be the most popular of sections is not definitive.
For my content analysis I used the newspaper headlines in Ghana from the dates October 31, 2008 –November 4, 2008. There were 24 headlines for those 5 days. Of those 5 days there were 7 stories in Politics, including their upcoming election and our election here in the U.S. There were 5 stories about the economy and their attempts, including project revenue and the countries investment in the aluminum industry. There were also 5 stories on the business in Ghana including Ghana’s switch from analogue TV to digital. On the subject of crime there were only 4 stories out of 24, this really shocked me because here in America it seems like that is the most popular topic of discussion. In the local section there were only 3 stories with one being 3 escape unhurt in train accident. My favorite story out of all 24 was one with the headline, Golf teacher sentence to death by hanging; this was probably my favorite because it was a headline that we would never see in America, since we don’t do hangings any longer. Something else I also found very interesting about this paper was the fact that they don’t produce a paper on Sunday’s. Some of the headlines were the same as one’s we would see here, but some were very different.
Sorry this is SO LONG, you guys; just kept typing away. Have fun.
After an unsuccessful attempt to access a week’s worth of Guardian (one of UK’s major newspapers) content, I resorted to Plan B: BBC World Service Radio, which is an entity of the British Broadcasting Cooporation. Interestingly enough, the broadcast schedule that I access was for next week, so we are getting a taste of the future. The schedule referred to in this little mini-analysis is for November 7th-November 13th. Set up much similarly to North American radio broadcasting, BBC News reports every hour, on the hour, every day of the week. “World Briefing” and “World Business News” tends to immediately follow BBC news—but only in the wee hours of the morning (say, from midnight to 2:00 a.m.). During the next two hour portion “Outlook” and “The Strand” monopolize the airways, with the exception of Sunday and Monday, when documentaries and “Charlie Gilett’s World of Music” are broadcasted. The next two hour segment returns to the exchange of “World Briefing” and “World Business News”, this time accompanied by “Sports Roundup”. A new show emerges called “The World Today” and is continuously broadcast from the six to eight a.m. spot. Given the addition of the sports update and the continuous world news, one would assume by now those in the UK would be stumbling about the kitchen looking for their cup of tea, fumbling for the radio dial. World Service is prepared to greet UK’s yawning face. The nine o’clock hour content varies with each day of the week. Starting at ten o’clock, another cycle of “World Briefing” and “World Business News” starts again. At one o’clock, (presumably when World Service has a large audience due to lunch hour), an entire half hour is dedicated to “World Briefing”. Basically this cyclical pattern continues throughout the day. In the evening World Service listeners are graced with “World, Have Your Say”. I shall not bore you with further detailed commentary of World Service content.
As those of you with a pulse can conclude, this broadcasting network is globalization in a nutshell. Or a wave-length. World Service content centers around world events. Of course, World Service is not Britain’s only radio station. According to our text, Radio Times magazine provides an excellent resource of radio content on Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, and Radio 4 (paraphrased from the UK portion of Chapter 9).For more info, www.radiotimes.com is the online version of this. A major theme of UK radio, analysis (McKenzie 206), is evidenced in a little 10-minute segment just before noon during the week. During this little tidbit of time, the hosts of whatever broadcast is on at the time “discuss and analyze the content” (McKenzie 206). What keeps striking me is the prominence of globalization in this broadcasting network. And it seems kind of ironic to me that the United Nations headquarters is not in Europe but is instead located in the United States (New York). Why? The U.S. was a superpower but the UK seems much more involved in this globalization than the U.S.
HELLO HOPE!!
It is interesting that business would have a low participation rate, considering the economic crisis that is starting to shake the globe. One would think that it would affect Swedish business. Perhaps they are just not feelings the ramifications of the crisis yet. Or perhaps I am incorrectly associating business with economics.
HEY MARY BETH!!
I thought it also interesting that crime had the least amount of headline space in your analysis, as contrasted to our own country. (It has been said that here in America we have the most violent crimes of any nation, but I'm not positive of that.) Though it was probably not meant to be so, your "favorite" headline struck me as funny, though in reality it is quite serious. And yes, that is different that they don't have a Sunday edition of the paper; here in the U.S., that is our largest edition!
IN RESPONSE TO MR. CRAIG'S POST:
The reason Obama was ousted the front page position by a canine would be due to policial and racial prejudice. Georgia was a Republican state in the election (although a weak one), and has also been a location of racial tension in our nation's past. This scenerio is in direct contrast to The Ledger, where the whole front half of the page consisted of a picture of Obama. No words, no other headlines but those declaring his presidency. Look for it in your local LRC and you will find it true. Have a good weekend, America. I'm logging off.
In response to Mary Beth's analysis, I found it interesting that digital television was replacing analog television in Ghana since we too in America are also making the switch to digital broadcasts. Also, your analysis caught my eye when you revealed the article about the golf teacher being hanged because for the same reason you suggested, the title of that article wasn't one you would find in headlines in America.
oh cup of tea I graciously thank you for your extensive analysis. I now feel utterly educated and competent on BBC World Service Radio. Now for my response, I must agree with you when you refer to what's occuring in this broadcasting network as an undoubtedly strong example of globalization. This program seems to repeatedly re-identify the exchange of "World Briefing" and "World Business News". I'd say this broadcasting corporation has a pretty sound grasp on what's taking place in countries around the world.
cup of tea:
I don't believe you are incorrectly associating business with economics. We have all experienced the reprocussions of the failing economy and I too was surprised that the business section of the paper had as little participation as it did. However, I do feel that if Stockholm News separated their business section into two sections - one focusing primarily on economics and the other on varying modes of business, maybe we would have witnessed a differentiation in the totals.
Ha ha you are most graciously welcome, Hope, for my extensive analysis. At your service. What the British butler does best. Alright, in all seriousness, I think that we have concluded that UK media is a major force in globalization. Speaking of globalization, the U.S. election was on BBC's homepage a few days before Nov. 4th, which is both facinating and scary. The content was slanted towards Obama, and I can safely say that objectively. But I suppose I should stop talking politics. One more post and I'll have met my quota.
Good insight into a possible solution to Stockholm's current (seemingly uninformative) business section. The "failing economy", as you put it, is certainly big news. It is also a global failing economy. The U.S. has laid off half a million people, if I'm not mistaken (just go to BBC's website to check it out), the UK is slashing interest rates in an attempt to boost their economy. Even the Japanese yen suffered considerably. When those super-smart Asian people can't even stop the crisis, you know it's bad.
Oh HOPE!! I found it very interesting that the Swedish online newspaper, Stockhom News, was an English language news site. This is interesting because why would a swedish speaking country want to read their news in English?? I also found interesting that readers could comment on the stories they read. What did they comment about exactly?? What they liked or dis liked or if they agreed with it??
cup of tea!!! I like your name! This radio station seems very organized and on top of their game. This reminds me of what American radio would have been like before we had so many other news options ( satelite tv, internet, etc..) Does this radio station reach everyone in the entire country or is it only in a certain area??
Cup of tea! On your comment about my paper and the fact that it doesn't run on sunday's. I think that maybe there is another paper that branches off of that one that only runs on sunday's. Although I am not positive I would assume that to be the case.
hopey dopey! hehe! Until you stated that we in America are also replacing analog and digital I did not realize it.
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