Date of Award
2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Fitzgerald, Keith
Keywords
Media, Media Bias, Press, Journalism, Ethics, Media Ethics, Credibility, Fox News, Partisanship
Area of Concentration
Social Sciences
Abstract
Since early in the 20th century, American media outlets have largely been shaped by what one might call the mainstream ideology of the press; a loosely defined, commonly understood set of journalistic practices, beliefs and ethics enacted in order to convey a sense of credibility to audiences. In recent years, the media has increasingly deviated from the mainstream ideology. Prime time is dominated by partisan pundits such as Bill O'Reilly and Keith Olbermann, while the Drudge Report and the Huffington Post push their ideologies online. A close analysis of such sources reveal that they convey credibility by advancing allegations of rampant media bias. They also blur lines between facts and opinions, journalistic analysis and commentary, all the while presenting information in an authoritative matter-of-fact way. To the casual audience member, these partisan media outlets are able to effectively convey credibility, while not having to adhere to the ethical commitments that guide conventional journalism. Such developments complicate the mainstream ideology, and raise questions regarding its relevance in our contemporary media environment.
Recommended Citation
Ozkan, Kerem, "Credibility in Contemporary American Media" (2010). Theses & ETDs. 4311.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4311