"Pseudo Newsgathering: Analyzing Journalists’ Use of Pseudo-events on '" by Patrick Ferrucci and Chad Painter
 

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 2013

Publication Source

The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture Journal

Abstract

This textual analysis examines the role of pseudo-events in the newsgathering process depicted on season five of The Wire. The researchers found that the press and sources construct “reality”; sources present “masks” to conceal “reality”' and journalists acknowledge the absurdity of pseudo-events but cover staged events as genuine news. The overriding conclusion is that journalists fail citizens by constructing a false reality through a negotiation with powerful sources who are media- savvy enough to control depictions. These findings are then interpreted through the lens of cultivation theory.

Inclusive pages

135-169

ISBN/ISSN

1932-8036

Document Version

Published Version

Comments

This document is provided for download in compliance with the publisher's policy on self-archiving. Permission documentation is on file.

Publisher

University of Southern California

Volume

5

Peer Reviewed

yes


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