Polarization of Media: 7 Reviews of Comprehensive Awareness of International Journalism Practices

OUTLINE AND REQUIREMENTS 

The research report is intended to encourage a comprehensive awareness of international journalism practices. 

-Identify a topic/problem of relevance to international journalism and conduct an in-depth inquiry into the same. 

-Observations should be framed by related theory. 

A detailed literature review evaluating relevant published work on the topic and a reference list are to be included. 

– All research material referred to must be submitted in soft or hard copy. 

-The report should be logically organised and appropriately formatted following the standards of an academic research assignment. 

-Skills needed for referencing, formatting, literature review.

Polarization of Media and Journalism Practice

The media plays a significant role in shaping the ideologies of its audience. Media practitioners cum journalists may trigger a rift between groups who have varying viewpoints about certain policies based on the events’ coverage. Such a phenomenon is apparent in the political scene where some individuals’ perception of rival parties highly depends on the media presentation of the party’s activities. This research paper focuses on the above scenario, among other issues, which is described as polarization. In this context, the term implies the division that the media triggers between two opposing groups or belief systems in a country owing to the range of available news content.

Literature Review on Polarization of Media

There exist different groups of people who are influenced by the media at different levels. According to Mitchell et al. (2014, n.p.), the groups are: consistently liberal, mostly liberal, mixed, mostly conservative, and consistently conservative. Each of these groups relies on certain media outlets to gather political news. The diversity in media sources sometimes triggers conflict in ideologies as each group seeks to affirm the credibility of their source of information (Brandt et al. 2014, p. 28).

Consistently Liberal and Polarization of Media

The following group is said to rely on a broad range of media outlets for a comprehensive analysis of news updates. Reports indicate that the consistently liberal individuals place trust in the majority of news outlets as compared to other persons (Desilver 2014, n.p.). Further, the set of individuals places politics before social relationships.

Apparently, a consistently liberal person can terminate a friendship on social media owing to varying political viewpoints. The implication is that the press influences the social lives of members of a particular society. In Kenya, for example, the current electioneering period fever has led to a severe state of polarization between supporters of the incumbent government and the opposition regime. The social media is among the main sources of conflict between the diverse groups.

Mostly Liberal and Polarization of Media

The mostly liberal individuals share similarities with the consistently liberal. However, this group sieves through fewer information sources. According to Gentzkow and Shapiro (2011, p. 1803),the mostly liberal may rely on broadcast media strictly as compared to their counterparts. In essence, the consistently liberal may form political opinions based on print media and even social media platforms. In the context of this study, the mostly liberal are, therefore, less likely to experience social disintegrations owing to varying media coverage of politics.

Mixed Ideological Group and Polarization of Media

The mixed ideological group has a relatively balanced level of trust in news sources. According to Desilver (2014, n.p.), the international journalism practices moderately influence the group’s viewpoint of politics. For example, in the 2016 U.S presidential elections, some of the sources that influenced the group’s choice of the candidates include Fox News and CNN (Cook 2016, n.p.).

The similarity across the groups is that the media shapes their belief systems. However, unlike the liberal individuals, people with mixed political ideologies do not lean on either side of the political parties. In this study’s context, therefore, the media does not divide the group into contrasting viewpoints.

However, polarization in media influences the audience’s decisions during the electioneering period. This scenario is evident during analysis and review of polls for the candidates vying for different posts. In Kenya, for example, the local media has been updating the audience on the popularity of various political aspirants including presidential candidates as the country prepares for the general elections. The different poll results from different research companies are bound to influence the decision of some voters.

According to Clarke et al. (2011, p. 241), the popularity of a leader gives voters the impression that such an individual has a high probability of winning a political seat. Mostly, the group of undecided voters relies on such data to select their leader of choice.  The media, therefore, acts as an eye-opener to the citizens. In the context of elections, voting based on the broadcast poll results implies that the audience trusts its news sources.

Mostly Conservative and Consistently Conservative in Relation to Polarization of Media

The conservatives do not trust as many news sources as the liberals (Mitchell et al. 2014, n.p.). Consequently, their scope of information, as far as politics is concerned, becomes limited. Scholars argue that such a phenomenon raises the potential for circulation of false information. In essence, conservatives may be blinded by the few media sources thus missing the facts in the wider scope of news coverage.

Therefore, the conservatives tend to be at war with liberals as the volume of information differs between the groups. The latter thus seeks to dominate political conversations while the former plays a passive role; listening instead of contributing to the discussion (Desilver 2014, n.p.). Primarily, the liberals feel empowered with information, as well as their enthusiasm about political debates.

Away from the different individual ideologies on media polarization and politics, the discussion shifts to the commercialization of political content. In many countries across the world, politicians seek public attention through media advertisements. In Kenya, for example, the politicians are currently striving to broadcast their campaign manifestos through the local media outlets. Both the incumbent government and opposition parties are fighting for airtime to reach their target audience.

The commercialization of either party’s campaign strategy significantly influences the voters. Unfortunately, a section of the public believes that the advertisements represent the particular media house’s political affiliation (Somerville 2011, p. 91). The argument relies on a review of the Kenyans’ social media comments regarding the commercials.

The media’s commercialization of political content, therefore, raises concerns among the audience on the impartiality of the country’s local media. Nevertheless, marketing executives in such broadcasters would argue that the adverts are purely a revenue-generating avenue and an affiliation with any political party.

Racial segregation is another element of polarization in media. During Barrack Obama’ 2012 election campaigns, the aspect of a racist society was apparent in the international media broadcasts. The journalists would highlight on the citizens’ perception of a Black President. Many American racists barely considered the former U.S President’s policies. Rather, the individuals’ discriminated against Obama based on their deep-rooted racist attitude towards African Americans (Bonilla-Silva and Dietrich 2011, p. 197).

In this research paper’s context, the media appears to fail on its agenda-setting role. In essence, instead of focusing on the reforms that the presidential candidates aspire to implement, the international journalists emphasized on the theme of racism. Consequently, the voters’ attention drifted to the relatively less significant issue. Luckily, Mr. Obama’s 2008/2012 win proved that a majority of the American citizens did not give in to racism despite the apparent media polarization.

The aspect of racism has also tainted the image of the Kenyan media. The 2007 general elections in Kenya were marked with violence and ethnic crashes. Reports indicate that the local media played a significant role in inciting the citizens to wage war against rival ethnic groups. The events followed alleged election irregularities which saw a leader of one of the largest ethnic group in Kenya announced as President. The supporters of the opposition leader turned against their neighbors from other ethnic groups leading to mass violence, deaths, human displacement, and destruction of property (Njoroge, Kimani, and Kikech 2011, p. 46).

In a nutshell, malpractices in journalism have negative consequences. Further, the reliance on media outlets as sources of information influences the action of the audience. Therefore, the international media has a role to play in advocating for racial cohesion lest events such as Kenya’s 2007/2008 election aftermath reoccur. Above all, media regulators have a task at hand to educate journalists on the acceptable code of conduct and ethical requirements of journalism practice.

Polarization of the American Media

Research shows that the American media is relatively more polarized than other news outlets in the Western countries’ category. The conservatives (right-leaning audiences) have distrust on mainstream media such as CNN and New York Times. As mentioned earlier, this group of people has a selective choice of news sources. The individuals’ skepticism of mainstream news sources arises from the belief that such outlets report false information (Coady 2011, p.279).

The American conservatives primarily rely on Fox news. The difference in media ideologies between the U.S conservatives and liberals define the country’s politics (Milner and Tingley 2001, p. 45). The outstanding fact is that the U.S media has to strive to practice professional journalism towards winning the trust o conservatives.

A related study indicates that the country’s audience is shifting its attention to online journalism. Young people, especially, are reported to subscribe to news sources such the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. Scholars observe that the younger generation find online access more convenient than traditional media (Jackson et al. 2010, p. 326). In the digital era, a simple gadget such as a smartphone is enough to stay informed.

Therefore, the internal media has a gap to bridge in the generation of digital news content. Besides, readers of traditional print media such as newspapers and magazines are decreasing by the day (Sanderson 2010, p. 441).All in all, TV viewership remains an attractive option among many. In the U.S, about 66 percent of the audience watch local television stations.

The broadcasters, therefore, have a role to play in advocating for cohesion among societies to bridge the gap of polarization. Nevertheless, the freedom of choice of a preferred news source creates diversity of knowledge. Whether the international audience consumes online content or audiovisual media, the spread of information remains constant.

Polarization in European Media

A majority of European countries lean towards the left wing. Fundamentally, citizens in the European continent feel that the media is biased. The popular broadcaster, BBC, has been critiqued for giving prominence to certain issues at the expense of others. According to recent research, people in seven European countries link media bias to reporting in areas such as economics, health, immigration, and crime (Dahlgreen 2016, n.p.).

The report further notes than Norway, France, Germany, and Sweden have the least trust in the continent’s news outlets. However, Finland and Britain rate the media better regarding reporting on the areas above. The polarization of the European media signifies that the audience needs comprehensive news coverage of sectors that matter most to the people such as health and crime.

Further, the liberals are said to control the European media. Political analysts observe that, despite the dominance of conservatives in the European countries, the region’s media reports on politics in favor of the “right wing” (Dahlgreen 2016, n.p.). Fundamentally, the favored lot trusts multiple sources of information. Such preferred media outlets include the Sun, the Mail, and the Telegraph. Scholars argue that the print media platform publishes biased reports on political entities (Chiang and Knight 2011, p. 803).

Consequently, the audience is swayed by the unbalanced news reports thus denying some political aspirants the chance to lead. In essence, the polarization of the European media determines the people’s choices of political leaders. Unfortunately, most liberals are too trusting of the news sources that they do not consider the opposing viewpoints of other broadcasters.

The Australian Media and Polarization

The Australian media has similar characteristics to the European media. Scholars observe that the continent’s news sources do not paint a picture of fair reporting. According to Breen et al. (2017, p. 243), Australian broadcasters have recently shown bias in reporting on a rape case.  The researchers refer to a 2015 rape case where the perpetrator was tried and convicted of assaulting a female in Sydney. The journalists are depicted as unprofessional for highlighting the woes of the accused rather than incorporating the experience of the victim.

The region’s reporting on violence against women appear to be unbalanced thus raising the question of professionalism in international journalism practices. In the context of polarization, the Australian media thus weaken the level of trust among its audience. The continents’ media audience, therefore, tend to lean on the right wing which comprises of conservatives. Fundamentally, the incredibility of media reports and unfair reporting compromises the trust of the citizens.

Media Polarization in Africa

Most third world countries in the African continent have significant measures of polarization in media. In Malawi, for example, there are limited media institutions with a countable number of TV and radio stations (Kalam 2014, n.p.). Worse yet, media freedom in the country is compromised. Reports indicate that journalists in Malawi are restricted from discussing issues touching on high profile individuals involved in criminal activities.

Besides, foreign journalists are required to acquire permission from the country’s authorities before conducting any form of reporting. The implication of the media state in Malawi is that the journalists do not have an opportunity to report objectively. The lack of objectivity in news broadcast creates a social divide among the diverse audience thus raising conflict of interests (Hawkins 2011, p. 64).

On the contrary, other countries such as Namibia, Ghana, and Cape Verde rank among the top African countries which embrace press freedom. According to the 2017 World Press Freedom index, the other African States with high scores on press freedom include South Africa, Botswana, and Senegal (Reporters Without Borders 2017, n.p.). The report further ranks African media third among the top free continents after America and Europe.

However, some countries such as Uganda have been reported to limit media freedom during elections by cutting off internet connectivity (Gumede 2016, p. 412).Such a phenomenon widens the gap of polarization in media between countries with significant press freedom and those whose journalistic democracy is limited.

Media Polarization in Regions Affiliated to Antarctica

Research shows that, despite the lack of specific countries and permanent residents in Antarctica, the continent embraces polarization of digital media. Scholars associate certain countries such as New Zealand to the continent. In the recent years, New Zealand people have recorded significant consumption of the internet. Unlike other continents such as America and Europe where TV, radio, and newspapers dominate, the region mainly relies on online sources especially Facebook (Kristensen 2013, p. 172).

One similarity across the continents reviewed so far is that social media platforms are mainly used by the younger generation who are below 30 years. The implication is that the older generation still leans more towards traditional media. The research, therefore, shows that digital media defines the belief systems of the social media news consumers.

The social media platform also influences the decision of online buyers. According to Lambrecht et al. (2014, p. 339),more people are marketing their products via the internet. In New Zealand, 72% of the web users admit to purchasing items online. Others access their bank accounts by logging into their online banking accounts. The polarization of the digital media distinguishes the modern generation from older generations. In essence, people can now trade online across the world and even pay for goods via services such as PayPal.

International media houses also make revenue via news content sold online (Lambrecht et al. 2014, p. 337). People subscribe to news sources such as CNN YouTube channel. The media platform generates revenue from advertisers who pay for advertisements (ads) viewed by the channel’s subscribers.

Besides, digital content producers publish news on their website. Advertisers then place ads on the sites. A single click by an online visitor earns the publisher some money. Scholars note that the internet is a primary source of information for millions of people (Jackson et al. 2010, p. 327). The commercialization of media content, therefore, narrows the gap of media polarization while boosting the financial status of news outlets.

Polarization in Asian Media

The 2017 World Press Freedom Index ranks Asian countries as among the lowest in securing the journalistic democracy. For instance, China and Vietnam have the highest number of incarcerated media practitioners (Reporters Without Borders 2017, n.p.). The limitation of press freedom in the Asian countries implies that the legislators force the journalists to report subjectively. The World Press Freedom report describes China and North Korea as “information black holes.” The dictatorship in these Asian countries compromises broadcast media democracy thus denying the citizens the right to truthful information.

Consequently, the audience lacks trust in the media outlets as the news sources are biased. According to Mitchell et al. (2014, n.p.),such an audience tends to seek alternative media such as international online news sources which are relatively impartial. Besides limited press freedom, Asian journalists face significant insecurities in countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh.

A combination of limited press freedom and insecurity of Asian journalists paint a picture of the challenges of journalistic practices. The Asian continent represents a fraction of other continents worldwide where media freedom is a rare luxury. The arising question is what would be a lasting solution to the press limitations.

Fundamentally, the legal forces and respective policymakers seem to be doing little to save the situation. Authoritarian leadership in such nations overpowers any movements against journalists’ oppression. This study, therefore, challenges future researchers to seek counter solutions to the problem of limited press freedom and the adverse effects of polarization of media.

Democracy and Polarization

The democratic state of countries around the world reinforces the roots of polarization. Individuals have misused social media to express their opinions about particular topics without reliable facts. Bloggers are said to be the main perpetrators of falsehoods. The digital era creates a platform for the bloggers to discuss varied subjects of human interest.

However, publication of information that is not factual or credible misguides the audience (Gentzkow and Shapiro 2011, p. 1805). Worse yet, a post attacking a particular personality or group of people creates social adversaries. The current study, therefore, appeals to policy makers and media regulators to intervene in the rising use of social media platforms. More so, media institutions have a role to play in instilling values of objective journalism practice among the media students.

Conclusion

The research has identified the diversity of journalism practices across the seven continents. It is evident that polarization in media significantly influences the media consumers’ choices of leaders and decision-making processes. Also, press freedom enhances objective journalism and consequent trust from the audience. On the contrary, limited democracy in the media creates distrust among citizens thus widening the polarization gap in media consumption. Therefore, media regulators and advocates have a role to play in pursuing freedom for journalists and ensuring fair and credible reporting.

References

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