Croteau/Hoynes: Media/Society, 5th Edition
Chapter 4: Media Organizations and Professionals
Discussion Questions
1. How do media producers respond to economic and political constraints? In what ways do
these constraints shape media work? To what degree do media professionals have
autonomy in the face of these constraints? Use examples to illustrate your analysis.
2. What are “conventions” and how does this concept help us to understand the work of
media professionals? Why do media professionals make use of conventions? Use
examples to illustrate your discussion.
3. What is the relationship between news routines and the organization of newsgathering?
Why do reporters and news organizations develop such news routines?
a. What are the consequences of newsgathering conventions? Which of the effects of
newsgathering conventions most worries you?
4. How has the 24-hour news cycle changed journalism? In your opinion, what are the
benefits and drawbacks of the emergence of the 24-hour news cycle?
5. What does it mean to say that objectivity in journalism is a “set of practices”? How do
these practices shape the content of the news?
6. What are the differences in the roles of news photographer and ad photographer? What
are the sources of these differences? How do the role expectations of photographers shape
the definition of creativity?
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