Question.3374 - Select two media sources with very different viewpoints from each other, but which discuss some of the same issues. Students should easily recognize the way that viewpoints act as "filters" so that two reporters starting with the same facts will interpret them very differently. Students may find it helpful to analyze their choice of graphics, navigation, typography, advertisements, letters to the editor, tables of contents, etc. to get a feel for their points of view. When the sources with contrasting viewpoints have been identified, students will locate a news story in each source that discusses approximately the same subject matter (international events, politics, science, etc.). Use these two news articles to write a three-page essay demonstrating this assignment's thesis: The viewpoint of a news source influences the opinions expressed in the articles it publishes. Be sure to document your sources with APA in-text citations and an accompanying APA references page.
Answer Below:
Introduction The viewpoint of a news source influences the opinions expressed in the articles it publishes exactly as it is. Media Bias is an intrinsic aspect of news reporting, influencing how events are understood, analyzed and projected to the public masses. This essay attempts to understand how two distinct sources, CNN and Fox News, report the same story from different angles. By probing into how they cover the event that has unfolded, I aim to demonstrate how a news source's viewpoints can directly impact the opinions expressed in an article. For this purpose, I have on the political event of the U.S. immigration policy change announced by Biden's administration (Anderson & Rainie, 2020). Media Coverage CNN (Cable News Network) is known for its tolerant leaning, often aiding progressive policies and critically analyzing conservative viewpoints. It caters to an audience that moves more to the left and merits social justice, environmental issues and progressive reforms. Fox News, on the other hand, is known for its more cautious bias, promoting traditional values, limited government interference and free- market principles. Its audience typically encompasses right- leaning individuals who support traditional policies and viewpoints (Druckman & Parkin, 2005). Analysis CNN's article on the Biden administration immigration policy changes features the philanthropic aspect of the new policies. The headline read that Biden's administration took bold steps towards protecting immigration policies. The article stresses on the advantages of the policy changes, including the protection of vulnerable immigrant groups and the compassionate treatment of asylum seekers. The language used is empathetic, focusing on the positive impact on immigrant lives. Graphics and images in the CNN article show smiling immigrants and families reuniting fortifying the positive aspect. The article is clean and modern, with a clear direction that guides the reader through the article smoothly (Druckman & Parkin, 2005). CNN does mention quotes from administration officials and immigration advocacy groups to demonstrate the positive reactions to the policy change. For example, the articles takes a quote from a leading immigrant rights organization showering praise on the administration for its mission to human dignity and justice. The article also makes sure to include historical contexts, compare new policies to previous ones and highlight Biden's administration in a more positive light. In contrast, Fox News represents the same policy changes with a headline that states Biden's immigration policy sparks National Security concerns. Here the article centers on the potential risks and challenges presented by the new policies, such as high illegal immigration and the strain on public policy. Critiques states that the policies could affect national security and public safety (Druckman & Parkin, 2005). Fox News adopts are more alarmist tone with words such as "crisis" and "threat" to paint the picture. The graphics include border patrol and packed detention units which expresses security concerns. The context here is bold and to the point with regular prompts relating to traditional viewpoints. Fox News includes statements from law enforcement officials and policymakers who are skeptic of the policy changes. For example, the article takes about boarder state governors warning about how the new policy can lead to unchecked immigration. The article includes data on recent increase in border crossing using numbers to argue that the policy is ill-advised (Druckman & Parkin, 2005). Comparison Both CNN and Fox News begin with same facts regarding the Biden administration's immigration policy changes but understand and display them through an ideological lens. CNN's liberal stance leads to featuring the humanitarian advantages and outcomes of the policies, while Fox News drives a traditional stance stressing on security and risk challenges (Entman, 2007). The difference is not only present in language and tone but also in the choice of graphics, navigation and advertisements. CNN's sympathetic and positive display aligns with the audience's values, whereas Fox News focuses on security concerns to enhance conservative viewership. CNN is more structured to illicit empathy towards administrative policies. As we can decode from the article the first is a personal story of the immigrant family affected by the change to evoke a human side. In contrast, Fox News article open with numbers and statements from officials to set a tone of caution from the outset (Entman, 2007). Moreover, CNN's prompts readers to relate to the positives of the immigration policies and human experiences, while Fox News directs readers to articles on boarder security and crime. This difference in understanding the same article from a conservative approach and from an intrinsic approach allows for a more comprehensive sense (Entman, 2007). Implications The implication of media bias does not confine its space to only individual articles but to other pieces such as editorials or opinion pieces. When audiences continuously receive news from sources that agree with their preconceived beliefs, it reiterates their viewpoints and allows them to ideological look at the news. This phenomenon of echo chamber effect leads to more of society uniting together. For instance, a regular CNN viewer might take away the importance of a humanitarian approach when reading about the policies. In contrast, a regular Fox News viewer might be more convinced for the need of tight boarder control (Entman, 2007). Additionally, the framing of news stories can influence how the public accommodates issues. Highlighting certain aspects of the story while not giving much importance to others, media can mold public mindset for their plans. In the case of immigration policy changes, CNN look at more the benefits humans might get from considering immigrant rights in their political draft. Meanwhile, Fox News stressed on security concerns in order to allocate more attention towards national security and border control. Conclusion The analysis of CNN and Fox News coverage of the same story projects how viewpoints of a two news sources portraying the same idea can directly play a role in opinions expressed in the articles published. Even though stating the same facts, each source condenses the information through its ideological lens, resulting in different positions. This exercise stress on the importance of critical thinking and media in discriminating the biases in news reporting. By staying alert, readers can understand the news landscape for a more balanced approach (Entman, 2007).More Articles From Others