In their first issue about last week’s elections, The Hook has provided a clever cover this week. Instead of having their usual one featured story, there are four potential covers pictured: one featuring Governor Elect Tim Kaine, one featuring Supervisor Elect David Slutzky, one featuring the elected school board, and one featuring Sen. Creigh Deeds. It had never really crossed my mind that they have to settle on one their one cover story will be, or that they might mock up multiple candidates each time. This approach provides a great look both at how the media can shape the news and how they do what they do.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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Waldo wrote:
I understand what you mean by “how they do what they do.
But…
I don’t really see how this is shaping the news. To me “shaping the news” implies having an agenda and trying to forward it.. via selective coverage of subjects/issues/topics… etc.
And btw the phrase “how the media can shape the news” just has a rather sinister “Fair and Balenced” Fox News sort of sound to it.
My 2 cents.
I don’t really see how this is shaping the news. To me “shaping the news” implies having an agenda and trying to forward it.. via selective coverage of subjects/issues/topics… etc.
Well, sure. :) As a relatively passive consumer of news, I tend to figure that the front-page story is just the biggest thing that’s going on. The Hook makes two points with this cover: a) there’s a lot going on b) we help to shape what people perceive as the biggest thing going on by what we put on the cover.
The Hook could have reasonably ignored the statewide race, and focused solely on the elected school board. Then many people, myself included, would perceive that to be the biggest story right now. Or they could have ignored the election, and written about the rash of burglaries, and then that would be perceived (by some) to be the most important thing going on.
One of the great things about being a journalist, I speculate, is having the ability to influence what is important to people. That’s the whole point of exposés and consumer-help columns, to take injustices that would otherwise go unnoticed and make them important to people. That’s a big part of what makes journalism so cool.