The Sociology of News

Paper Summary:

This essay attempts to focus on the sociology of news in regard to the conflicts of Northern Ireland. By "sociology of news," this paper refers to the comprehensive account of the origins, structures, operating practices, codes, and cultures of the contemporary news media. It endeavors to analyze the questions brought on by the consequences of news on the conflict and the overall affect on society and local politics. It functions on the basic assumption that, throughout the northern region, many forms of the media's influence are used to organize major and minor cartels of strength; once created, the cartels utilize that power to maintain an identity among the various factions.

From the Paper:

"Often in situations like the Northern Ireland conflicts, government is a key media power and has therefore become a mechanism that allows the various cartels to operate or in many scenarios may even be a part of a cartel itself. This in itself produces a "national identity" or "community." How the media's influence is wielded by government or managed by anti governmental establishment can be shown to have helped create a wide collection of myths, ideals, or narrative anecdotes that are later employed by whoever the dominant groups or coalitions are at unique times throughout history. These stories and myths are used to help maintain their power base and even help in the recruitment of new soldiers in the fight. "Spokespersons for each group rationalize its militant stance as "protection" from the other group. The British army, no less than the other militants, explains its aggressions as "defending the community." "

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