University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Communication

The problem is to determine if identifiable factors influence selection of soft news for coverage on television newscasts. Data were obtained from news releases, newscast scripts, and interviews with participating practitioners and editors. Chapter I presents the problem; Chapter II contains an analysis of news releases submitted to editors; Chapter III presents analysis of techniques and attitudes of practitioners and editors; Chapter IV presents conclusions and guidelines. The study indicated practitioners could influence selection of their items through attention to certain factors and techniques: elements of newsworthiness, personal contact, method of item dissemination, quantity of items submitted, and professionalism and credibility. Specific guidelines were developed for practitioners to follow in dealing with television news editors.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 2016 / The  violence,  destruction  and  death  of  more  than  1  200  people  resulting  from   the  highly  disputed  2007  election  results  in  Kenya  was  a  considerable  watershed   moment.  It  exposed  the  deep  fragmentation  within  the  nation-­‐state  and  became   a  significant  fissure  for  the  simmering  tensions  among  the  42  “tribes”  of  Kenya.   In  the  media-­‐scape,  these  events  evinced  the  elitist  and  tribal  hegemony  in  media   ownership  and  revealed,  more  than  ever  before,  that  certain  voices  and   narratives  were  privileged  over  others.  These  events  also  unmasked  recurrent   motifs,  which  illuminated  the  stranglehold  that  the  political,  media  and  economic   elites  wielded  over  media  instruments  and  platforms,  for  their  own  benefit.       This  study  aims  to  explore  the  extent  to  which  active  user-­‐generated  content  in   the  digital  media  space  can  intervene  in,  and  disrupt,  some  of  these  exclusionary   practices  in  the  public  service  mediascape,  to  potentially  inspire  a  re-­‐imagination   in  this  space  for  nation  building  in  Kenya.  It  is  premised  on  a  participatory  action   research  approach  that  draws  on  theoretical  discourse  on  nationalism  and   nation  building,  as  this  is  the  field  from  which  the  study’s  key  problems  stem  and   where  conceptual  discourses  on  digital  media  converge.  The  study  also  draws  on   participatory  discourses  in  the  media,  as  these  potentially  present  an   emancipatory  platform  for  those  on  the  margins  of  the  hegemonic  centres.  Here   it  mainly  draws  on  Bhabha’s  cultural  difference  theory,  Billig’s  banal   nationalisms,  Jenkins’  ideas  on  convergence  culture,  Carpentier’s  thoughts  on   maximalist  media  participation  and  Thumim’s  assertions  on  self-­‐representation   in  the  digital  space.     The  study  also  hinges  on  the  practice-­‐informed  pilot  project  titled  Utaifa   Mashinani  Masimulizi  ya  Ukenya  (UMMU)  digital  narratives,  co-­‐created  by  the   researcher  together  with  the  Abakuria  (the  Kuria  people)  of  Kenya.  This  is  a   community  marginally  represented  in  the  public  service  broadcasting-­‐scape  in   Kenya  and  a  people  whose  narrative  discourse  is  seldom  present  in  the  public   sphere.     The  study  argues  that  broadcast  content  –  not  just  in  Kenya  but  also  in  Africa  –   on  User  Generated  Content  (UGC)  for  broadcasting  predominantly  focuses  on   passive  forms  of  UGC  rather  than  Active  User  Generated  Content  (AUGC)  -­‐  a  term   coined  in  this  study  to  refer  to  user-­‐generated  content  that  entails  a  more   meaningful,  emancipatory  and  empowering  form  of  participation  amongst  those   traditionally  referred  to  as  consumers  of  broadcast  content.  It  contends  that   although  many  contemporary  television  broadcasters  around  the  world  continue   to  create  a  perception  of  increasing  and  robust  audience  participation  in   televised  content,  in  Kenya  this  is  certainly  not  the  case.  It  argues  that  significant   forms  of  current  participation  on  television  are  illusionary,  minimalist  and  futile,   as  they  largely  entrench  television’s  balance  of  power  among  the  media  elites.   Ordinary  people  are  often  ‘invited’  to  participate  in  broadcasting,  but  their  entry   point  into  these  narratives  tends  to  be  limited  to  accessing  already-­‐completed   narratives  and  engaging  in  what  constitutes  token  participation,  with  minimal,   and  in  most  cases,  no  impact  on  the  story,  its  conception,  distribution  and  socio-­‐ economic  benefits.       Drawing  on  insights  from  the  UMMU  project,  the  study  proposes  that  AUGC  can   potentially  disrupt  some  of  the  existing  tropes  and  motifs  in  the  Public  Service   Mediascape  opening  up  spaces  for  multiple  and  diverse  voices  and  narratives  in   Kenya.  This  potentially  enables  active  participation  from  constituencies  that   have  traditionally  been  on  the  margins  of  the  Kenyan  nation-­‐state  to  partake  in   the  nation  building  process. / XL2018

Thesis advisor: Marilyn J. Matelski / Sports and broadcasting have enjoyed a profitable and advantageous co-existence since television's inception. Television manufacturers depended upon the popularity of baseball, boxing, and roller derby, for instance to initially boost their products' popularity. Today, sports and media are major players in some of the most profitable unions in entertainment economics. These profitable deals have become a mainstay in our society, but what is to be said about the criticism levied at the institutions that profit off of what was once simple and pleasurable sport? These broadcasting/sport unions grant the sports markets and the networks involved distinct and noteworthy advantages worthy of critical analysis. What is to be said about this co-evolution of sports and media, its overwhelming presence in American society, and the more than profitable monetary implications and consequences for all involved? Alongside this line of investigation, one has to wonder whether sports and television as we know them today would maintain their present distinctions in the absence of a half-century of codependency. Would we have split screen, instant replays, or elaborate graphics and effects if the demand for TV sports had not escalated to its present status? Would sports occupy its present reign of superiority in our society if they did not have access to the dominating voice of television? And would sports have evolved into the sometimes glamorous and showy, sometimes evocative stage of statement that we have come to know without television's vast reach? In developing this thesis, I relied on resources such as critical articles, books, and internet sources in addition to sports and media commentary to create a historical-critical research project addressing the status of the sports and media codependency in American society today. The finished project includes: A brief historical overview of the main factors in the development of the sports and broadcasting links that have evolved over the past half century. Subsequent sections address the many areas of sports broadcasting from broadcast networks, to the cable universe and new media. Following this historical approach comes a more critical examination of sport evolution through media dependency. Here we note the many changes that have taken place in American competitive sports through the increasing exposure, popularity and revenue linked with media usage. Major League Baseball then becomes the specific case study for this historical-critical investigation. This section includes a look at Major League Baseball's storied history in relation to television and an investigation of the criticism presently levied at the organization for its multi-billion dollar profit linked with media deals. Further investigations of baseball's much-publicized strikes provide proof of the pitfalls of the sports/media relationship. The examination and line of questioning employed in this thesis have been relevant through half a century, and continue to be considered today. Furthermore, research employed provides definite proof of the media/sports dependency and predictions for the future if such relationships persist. We as a media-consuming public and nation of sports fans are left to weigh the options and enact our fate. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2003. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Communication. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

Hong Jiachun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-108). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- The Spring Festival --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- The Spring Festival Gala --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- The Spring Festival Gala as a media event --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Approaches to media events --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5 --- The approach in present study --- p.7 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1 --- Studies on media events --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2 --- Studies on the Spring Festival Gala --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3 --- "Studies on gratification, festivity, and national integration" --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Research Question --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Methodology --- p.29 / Chapter 4.1 --- Village of West Port (Fu Xi) --- p.28 / Chapter 4.2 --- Sampling methods --- p.30 / Chapter 4.3 --- Interview --- p.32 / Chapter 4.4 --- Diary --- p.33 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Social Use of the Gala --- p.36 / Chapter 5.1 --- Environmental use of the Gala --- p.37 / Chapter 5.2 --- Regulative use of the Gala --- p.44 / Chapter 5.3 --- Conclusion --- p.53 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- The Gala as Televised Festivity --- p.57 / Chapter 6.1 --- Four stages of Spring Festival celebration --- p.57 / Chapter 6.2 --- Material ingredients of festivity --- p.62 / Chapter 6.3 --- Spiritual ingredients of festivity --- p.68 / Chapter 6.4 --- Conclusion --- p.73 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- The Gala as National Integration --- p.76 / Chapter 7.1 --- National integration of the televised festival --- p.77 / Chapter 7.2 --- National integration of the pre-televised festival --- p.86 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Conclusion --- p.94 / References --- p.102

通過對香港電視明星在中國內地的跨境粉絲文化研究，我分別和粉絲研究、香港研究對話，並力圖勾連二者。我的「學者粉」位置、九年的民族志經驗、對四十三個粉絲的以面對面為主的深度採訪構成了本文的方法論。文化消費研究應該從經濟交易做起，再擴展到更廣義的社會文化領域。在本案例中，最突出的粉絲實踐是「追星」，粉絲通過這種社會實踐探索和試驗了新型社會關係──粉絲與「粉都對象」、粉絲與粉絲之間的關係。其中，消費模式、學習模式、（同性）情欲模式和粉絲友誼模式是本案例最主要的關係模式。我不是靜態地列出這些關係，而是動態地探測它們在粉絲敘述中被啟動或迴避的過程。我還進一步檢視了粉絲社群，用「網絡化結構」來打破鐵板一塊的社群想像，捕捉流動的組織形態。這樣以來，我更新和發展了粉絲研究中的主導理論取徑「收編抵抗模式」和「人生模式」，指出了它們的缺點，結合了彼此的優勢──既保持對權力關係的質詢，又全面展現粉絲的人生經驗，力圖描繪具有全局觀的跨境文化消費圖景。 / 在證明了粉都對粉絲來說重要之後，我調轉視角來關注粉絲文化何以對當代社會來說重要。香港研究認為流行文化正是主流文化，娛樂就是政治，這提醒了我把微觀的日常生活消費和宏觀的「香港身份」、「中港關係」問題接合起來。我追問粉絲何以對港劇（明星）情有獨鍾，喜歡的「港味」究竟是什麼？研究發現，粉絲熱愛並生產的「香港性」是一種刻進青春成長的「消費慣性」，亦是一種對「烏托邦感性」的策略性誤認，但會被輕易浮現的「中港衝突」所傷害而成為一種（暴力的）論述。也就是說，「香港性」一直都在否定的層面運作，它只是一個空洞的能指，缺乏充實、本真和周全的內容。但它不能被轻易忽視，正因為空洞，所以內容無限。「香港性」這個空洞的能指是一種飽含感情的象征符號，香港必須被理解為一種感情。本文提供的境外的、以粉絲感情來維繫的「香港性」有著新穎的「位置性」，希望能為持續爭辯的香港研究打開更多空間。 / This is a transborder cultural consumption study which focuses on the fan cultures of Hong Kong television stars in contemporary Mainland China. The methodology of this research is composed of my aca-fan position, nine-year’s ethnographic experiences, and forty-three in-depth interviews with the fans. I argue that any cultural consumption study has to begin with the examination of economic transactions and then expand to the wider social and cultural dimensions. It is found that two new types of social relations, which are the F-O (fans and the object of fandom) and the F-F (fans and fans) relations, have been constantly experimented in the processes of star-chasing fan practices. Among these relations, the consuming model, the learning model, the (homosexual) eroticizing model and the fan-friendship model are the most important four models in this case. These models are not listed statically in this paper; rather, I show the dynamic processes in which they are activated or avoided by the fans in the fan talks. Meanwhile, I contend that the structures of the fan communities should be understood in a ‘networking’ way to go beyond the monolithic imagination to envision these fluid fan formations. Therefore, the two predominated theoretical approaches in the previous fan studies, the IRP (Incorporation/Resistance Paradigm) and LP (Life Paradigm), have been re-examined. By interrogating the power relations and fully capturing the fan experiences in their life trajectories at the same time, this paper draws a cultural consumption picture with a holistic vision. / Furthermore, I endeavor to articulate the micro-politics of everyday consumption to the macro-politics of the heatedly debated issues on the Hong Kong identities and the Sino-HongKong relations. In this particular fan culture, if it is the HongKongness which is enjoyed by the fans, what is it exactly? It is found that the HongKongness could be a consumption habit which had been carved into the fans’ growth of youth, and/or a strategic misrecognition of the ‘entertainment utopia sensibilities’; when it comes to the Sino-HongKong conflicts, the HongKongness is a kind of discriminating discourse. In other words, the HongKongess is usually operated through negation in the fan talks, thus, it might be an empty signifier without any concrete, authentic and comprehensive contents. However, it cannot be easily ignored, since it is this very emptiness that could be filled with anything. HongKongness, even as an empty signifier, is an emotion-loaded symbolic sign. In this case, Hong Kong should be understood as a format of emotion. By picturing an out-of-HongKong HongKongness with its unique positionality, which is formed through the popular culture fandom, this research tries to bring with more possibilities in the Hong Kong studies. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / 周潞鷺. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 252-275). / Abstracts also in English. / Zhou Lulu.

Orientador: Murilo Cesar Soares / Banca: Maximiliano Martin Vicente / Banca: Danilo Rothberg / Resumo: A pesquisa analisa a cobertura jornalística de temas relacionados ao governo do presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) realizada pelo Jornal Nacional da Rede Globo, o mais importante telejornal brasileiro. Por meio da análise de enquadramento de reportagens sobre as reformas constitucionais (previdenciária e tributária), a definição da taxa de juros e o caso Waldomiro Diniz, temas direta ou indiretamente relacionadas ao governo Lula, verifica-se como o Jornal Nacional destaca ou atenua aspectos favoráveis ou desfavoráveis à gestão federal de modo a torná-los mais ou menos visíveis. Ao final do estudo, conclui-se que o telejornalismo da Rede Globo pratica enquadramentos pouco críticos ao governo federal, fenômeno observado em outros trabalhos a respeito de governos anteriores. / Abstract: The research analyses the journalistic coverage of issues related to president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government (PT) carried out by Jornal Nacional of Rede Globo, the most important Brazilian news-bulletin. By means of analyzing the framing of reformas (social security and tax policy), the adjustment of the interests' rates and Waldomiro Diniz case, issues directly or indirectly related with Lula's government, it is verified how Jornal Nacional exaggerates or attenuates favorable or unfavorable aspects about federal government in order to make them more or less apparent. At the end of study, the conclusion is that news-bulletin of Rede Globo conducts quite uncritical frames about the federal government, phenomenon perceived in other studies about previous governments. / Mestre

Thesis (M.M. (ICT Policy and Regulation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2013. / In the year 2004, before the advent of competition in the South African subscription television broadcasting market the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) identified various potential barriers to enter this market. Then, in January 2006 ICASA issued an invitation to apply for commercial satellite and cable subscription television broadcasting licenses. Eighteen applications were received and five were licensed during November 2007. The purpose of this qualitative study is to assess how effective the regulatory approach has been in addressing the identified entry barriers and in promoting competition and convergence in this market. The findings from the research study indicate that there is lack of effective and sustainable competition and convergence in the market, and that the applicable light-touch regulatory approach is preferred for this market but needs to be intensified. This may seem contradictory, but it is not if the regulator is regarded as absconding from its responsibilities. A significant finding is that ICASA is viewed as a weak regulator that is absconding from its regulatory obligations in this market. Some of the important negative findings include: there are extensive barriers to entry which have created an uneven playing field that favours the dominant operator; ICASA and the Department of Communications have been captured by the dominant operator; there is monopoly in the ownership of content rights which stems from abuse of content exclusive rights and lack of relevant regulations; and the regulatory framework and licensing regime should be modified in the context of the migration to the Digital Terrestrial Television transmission, the urgent need to promote competition in this market and the creation of a converged communications industry in the country.

No description available.