Isn’t it interesting that your interpretation/analysis of news events is usually shaped by which news outlets you get your news from?
I’ve always been fascinated by media theories, particularly Framing Theory and how news organizations “weaponize” it to make us interpret events from their lenses.
Let’s use the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot as an example, and we will look at how CNN and Fox News reported the same event.
CNN’s Framing:
“CNN framed the Capitol riot as an insurrection and a threat to democracy. Their coverage emphasized the violence, the breach of security, and the involvement of supporters of then-President Donald Trump…”
Fox News’ Framing:
“Fox News, on the other hand, framed it differently. They focused on the peaceful aspects of the protest and portrayed rioters as patriots who were expressing their frustration with the election results.”
Your view of January 6, 2021, is largely shaped by which news organization you consume.
What the heck is Framing Theory, you say?
According to Kahneman and Tversky:
Framing theory is a concept in communication and media studies that examines how information is presented (or "framed") to audiences, and how this presentation influences their perception and understanding of the information. The main idea is that the way a story is framed can shape the interpretation and reaction of the audience.
Framing theory suggests that media not only tells us what to think about (agenda-setting) but also how to think about it. The "frame" refers to the context or perspective through which information is presented.
#media #framingtheory #mediatheory #theory #news #cnn #fox
