MaSS MeDiA
...sion news networks such as KABC, KNBC, and KCBS. (Dye, 158) The following channels were watched on three different dates: CBS on 4/24/2003 at 11:00pm, NBC on 4/25/2003 at 6:00pm and ABC on 4/26/2003 at 5:00pm. Competition has become increasingly intense in the area of the mass media as they keep fighting for the attention of the readers, listeners, and TV-viewers and because of this we find many differences and similarities. As some stations alter the story a bit to attract more viewers others try and keep up with these alterations and this is where you find similarities. As I watched the news, I noticed that all three networks aired the same types of stories with the same topics such as the SARS epidemic, as CBS assured it’s viewers that SARS was coming to the United States, NBC claimed there was no real chance of SARS becoming a problem in the United States and that it was not something to worry about. NBC also informed the public that a vaccine would be available for the public in approximately one year and ABC claimed that it would take three years until a vaccine would be introduced to the public. Another huge story was the capture of Hajazi, while NBC announced he was not in the most wanted deck of cards of Iraqi leaders, CBS proudly celebrated his capture stating he was a “big catch” for the United States. These examples are not enormous differences yet it shows the small changes made to stories to dramatize and create interest to viewers. The need to capture the audiences’ attention creates a bias toward “hype” in the selection of news. The media focuses on stories that shift toward sex, violence, conflict, scandal, corruption and scares. (Dye, 166) ABC aired a story of an FBI agent having an affair with a Chinese woman who was a spy for the United States, yet this woman used the agent to obtain classified information and she ended up being a spy for the Chinese. This story is one that involves conflict, sex, corruption and scandal and is a good example of sensationalism. “Bad news attracts larger audiences than good news.” (Dye, 166) A good story such as the awards ceremony held in Los Angeles for people who have completed heroic tasks shown on ABC only received sixty seconds of coverage while a murder of an eighteen year old girl received approximately three to five minutes of coverage. This type of negativism stories outnumber good news stories by at least three to one. (Dye...