Broadcast News – Case Studies
Velcro petals help bees hang on
Certain flowers on plants have evolved to help bees hang onto them to allow for pollination. The flowers contain velcro like properties which allow hooks on the bees to attach to them. Bee’s can realise different flower cell types through their feet.
This story is a new development, a new discovery by the University of Cambridge.
The news story was released on 15/5/09 after the experimental results and discoveries were published by the University and the journal ‘Current Biology’.
The story is news worthy as it shows new information about a process which is important for large ecosystems, especially within agricultural lands. News values – prefabrication, unexpectedness.
Agenda – To inform scientists and also the public about wildlife interactions. Could help with gaining knowledge about new areas of unknown.
Biased reporting is not obvious, although may be present in the fact that no repeats by any other ‘teams’ have been taken, and although the research looks as if this observation is true, it may still not be. However no bias from news organization itself.
This news has been gathered by local correspondents within Cambridge University. Also experts who have picked up the story from the journal.
There are images present, to show the experiment taking place and of bees and flowers which give the story a light hearted view and encourage people to read, with the use of bright colours.
Social groups – Scientists/ environmentalists.
There is no interaction with the organisation and audience apart from links to the journal and cambridge websites.
Also picked up by the telegraph, which tell the story in a similar manner, apart from use more facts than quotes.
Deal on 90m UK swine flu vaccines
The UK government has signed a deal to secure up to 90m doses of H1N1 flu (swine flu) vaccine by December.
News story is a continuous story, with Swine Flue being a major story present at the moment, this is a development from the other stories which were present.
Story released on 15/5/09 after journalists discovered the government had signed a deal.
The story is news worthy as it appeals to everyone in the UK, as there is a potential Flu pandemic set to occur. The vaccines could be the difference between the lives of thousands of people.
Agenda – To inform the general public and health organisations that the potential to die or become seriously ill from swine flu will not be as possible, due to the amounts of vaccines being produced.
The news story is not biased, however it is an informative article and no opinion is present.
News story was gathered by national correspondents, as it is a national story and effects all in the UK.
One image present of antiviral drugs to show what the drugs will look like. To early for pictures of the disease to be published.
Continuity, frequency,
Social groups – All UK population and potentially other countries. Groups featured = health organisations/government.
No audience interaction, apart from e-mail section.
Covered by many other news organisations/agencies. Such as the mirror, nursing times. Nursing times tells a similar story, but in a more medial worded way.
Obama ‘to revive military trials’
US President Barack Obama is expected to announce on Friday that he is reviving military trials for some of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Is a continuation of an older story, but hasn’t occurred in the news for some time.
Story broke out on the 15/5/09.
This news story is news worthy as it is relevant to the US and as they are a major elite nation, it is also relevant to out country as it could have consequences/benefits to the allied nations. Also has some levels of negativity and frequency.
Agenda – To inform the public of the revival of the military trials which have come under much criticism from the public.
To an extent the article may be biased as the criticism from the public have had an effect on the way the article has been written. Only takes the opinion, quotes from Barrack Obama’s point of view.
The information has been gathered by an international news correspondents or by a news agency as it is not a national/local story.
An image of Guantanamo bay prisoners and another of barrack obama are seen. Shows the harsh conditions that prisoners are kept in, as well as an important decision the president is to make.
The relevant social groups are the american government and the american military. Although the military have come under some criticisms, in this article they are shown to be doing ‘the right thing’ possibly due to them being ally troops.
Interactions from text and opinions taken on live tv show, however none on website.
Other sources of the story, that of american broadcasters show the story in a different light. Showing the American troops in a better way, and suggesting that they are doing the right thing, more national bias then shown in the UK.
Thousands flee Pakistan fighting
Displaced people from the Swat valley in one of the refugee camps.Thousands of people are streaming into camps seeking refuge from the conflict between Pakistan’s army and Taleban rebels in the country’s north-west.
Story was released on the 15//5/09, possibly by a news agency, as the areas of taleban fighting is in quite remote, dangerous areas.
Worthy of news as Pakistan are fighting the taleban who have threatened Western culture and lives in the past, with such things as bombings. If the taleban succeed they may gain control of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. Western authorities are contemplating helping the Pakistan military. The story is a continuation of previous stories and contains frequency, continuation and relevance to elite nations.
Agenda – To inform not only the public of many international countries but also the governments, which will allow them to take action regarding the matter.
The report is biased in the sense that the taleban are a threat to Western societies and so voicing them an opinion would be against our nations.
Images are of Pakistan soldiers, showing bias towards the Pakistan and against the taleban.
The social groups featured are the Pakistan military who are seen in a good light, and doing ‘the right thing’, however the taleban are seen oppositely and are seen as ‘evil’ almost.
Opinions can be given, however most likely not to be in favour to the taleban.
All western news articles on this topic, highlight the stories in similar ways, however arcticles published by organisations and agencies within countries nearer to the ‘action’ do not press the pakistani military as much as others.
