17.1.07

AY '06-'07 2nd Sem English 10 concept annotated bibliography

Juan Gabriel L. de Leon
2006-07148
English 10 MHW
Mrs. Anna F. Sanchez
Concept Paper [Annotated Bibliography]

Annotated List of Works Cited

Beder, Sharon. “Sphere of Objectivity.” The Media. 17 Jan. 2007 <http://homepage.mac.com/herinst/envcrisis/media/objectivity/sphere.html>.

Beder presents an in-depth analysis of what the limits of objectivity are, that objectivity should only be applied “to a recognized sphere of controversy”; that is, balance is not needed if not two sides are considered. He pointed out that “journalists are free to write what they like if they produce well written stories… if what they write fits the ideology of those above them in the hierarchy.” Furthermore, he also noted that generally, the media thinks of the “status quo” as the norm, and that adhering to it is part of being objective.
This is one of the primary sources of the paper; the definition of objectivity and the paper’s scope and limitations revolve around the main points of Beder’s article.

“How to Detect Bias in News Media.” Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. 2000. FAIR. 17 Jan. 2007 <http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=121>.

This article published by the United States’ media watchdog, FAIR, discusses in short detail how the media’s audience could evaluate and challenge the fairness and accuracy of news media institutions, knowing that the media has “tremendous power in setting cultural guidelines and in shaping political discourse.” Specifically it points out how the media’s primary sources, race and gender diversity, stereotypes and assumptions tend to stain the truth values of the information presented for its consumers.
A chunk of the paper’s conclusions and recommendations come from FAIR’s analysis of media biases in general.

Kinsley, Michael. “Osama Done Told Me.” Slate Magazine. 8 Nov. 2001. 16 Jan. 2007 <http://www.slate.com/id/2058456>.

Michael Kinsley, a journalist, uses Osama bin Laden as one of the major causes of the decline of media objectivity in America. He noted that after the September 11 tragedy, American media strongly believed that the statement “it’s wrong to hijack a plane and crash it into the Pentagon is closer to being a fact than an opinion.” He also acknowledges that though the media has become “flagrantly pro-American” and has slanted to more liberal approaches, being American is not an excuse for being excessively biased; yet as a result of these past events, objectivity is not wanted from the press anymore.
This essay contributed greatly to the approach used in analyzing the paper’s main problem, aided with concrete examples provided by Kinsley.

Loren, Karl. “The True Purpose of Media in the Planet.” Online posting. 9 May 2003. Moral Group. 12 Jan. 2007 <http://www.moralgroup.com/moraldiscus/messages/42/44.html>.

Loren gives more of a critical view against the media and less of his topic’s title, which asks what the true “purpose” of the media is. His article presents the media as “the “harbingers of bad news” who in turn “creates chaos in many ways, chief of which is to create conflict where none had existed”. He strongly stressed that the media is a “tool in the hands of truly evil men who… tried to rule the world. The author backs up his opinion with statements of confession from “disgraced” journalists and newspapers.
Loren’s position represents a radical view of the media; yet his position only exaggerated the actual influence of the people who control the media.

Simmons, Shraga. “7 Principles of Media Objectivity.” Objectivity and the Media. Aish HaTorah. 16 Jan. 2007 <http://www.aish.com/Israel/articles/7_principles_of_media_objectivity.asp>.

Rabbi Simmons tackles some of the basic principles of media objectivity and how they are usually violated, citing various media interpretations of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which, according to Simmons’ examples, tend to influence public opinion and invoke sympathy for the Palestinians because of many misleading or deliberate errors like “selective omission”, “distortion of facts” and disguising opinions as news.
The rabbi summed up the violations of the very values the media claim to adhere and follow, and seriously stressed that such errors must be corrected.

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