Reading Questions
1) Which are the four phases of mediatization as Strömbäck describes them? (Lecture)
1st phase of = mediation = when the media become the main communication
mediatization channel between politics and the public
2nd phase of ● Media become more independent
mediatization ● Higher journalistic professionalism
● The political system still has the upper hand
● Media do not mediate messages unconditionally anymore
3rd phase of ● Media become so independent that other actors have to adapt to
mediatization them
● Media have the upper hand, but are still external to the political
system
● Politicians have to further increase skills to do this adoration of
the media logic (= following the format, content, grammar and
rhythm of the media) → especially in campaigns
4th phase of ● Politics does not adapt, they adopt the media logic
mediatization ● Standards of media logic / newsworthiness become part of
governing processes (evaluation of issues and policies)
● Media are no longer external
● Politicians who need to answer to people are most affected
2) What were the two most striking results from the Baltimore “news ecosystem” study
by Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism (as cited in Bennett’s introduction)? Why
was this a worrying result?
The two most striking results from the Baltimore "news ecosystem" study were, firstly, that
despite the apparent diversity with 53 different news outlets, 95 percent of stories with
original information came from traditional media, mainly newspapers. Secondly, the
surviving newspaper, the Baltimore Sun, reported significantly fewer stories over the years,
with a 32 percent drop between 1999 and 2009 and a staggering 73 percent decrease
compared to 1991. This is worrying because it suggests a decline in diverse sources of news
and a potential impact on public awareness. The reduction in reporting raises concerns about
growing citizen ignorance and reduced public accountability for officials, possibly leading to
increased public corruption.
, 3) Name five ways in which a government can support journalism in order to increase
pluralism (Plessing). Which one(s) do you think work best, and argue why?
Tax Alleviation and ● "The most common indirect type of support is a
Support for Distribution reduction or full exemption of VAT for newspapers."
● Mechanism involves adapting tax concessions or
reductions for smaller independent local newspapers in
South Africa, minimizing threats of patronage or state
control of content.
Cooperative Schemes for ● In Norway and Sweden, the cost of distribution was
Distribution and Printing lowered for those publishing houses that entered into
co-operation schemes for the distribution of their
newspapers."
● Exploration of co-operation schemes for printing or
distribution in South Africa, addressing the dominance
of large media houses, and potentially reducing
production costs for smaller publishers.
Government Advertising ● Government advertising, even though not a media
Channelling subsidy in the strict sense, can be regarded as a type of
general support.
● South Africa's commitment to channel government
advertising into smaller grassroots publications to
increase economic viability and media diversity
Subsidies for Weaker ● One large scale subsidy scheme in Norway and Sweden
Papers and Market has supported papers of high periodicity that are the
Entrants second largest in a specific region."
● Caution needed in implementing subsidies for weaker
papers; experiences in South Africa with the MDDA
highlighting concerns about sustainability and potential
dependency.
Support for Innovation in ● The Dutch government has abandoned traditional
Media Content: large-scale subsidies as a response to this and is turning
to more flexible support structures."
● Denmark's shift of focus from distribution to the
production of content, supporting technology-neutral
initiatives for creativity and innovation in the media
market.
Week 2
Collect five different concrete examples (from five different students in this tutorial!) of
how you engaged in political participation in the last month.
Online Petitions ● Individuals participated in political activism by signing and
and Campaigns sharing online petitions addressing various social and political
1) Which are the four phases of mediatization as Strömbäck describes them? (Lecture)
1st phase of = mediation = when the media become the main communication
mediatization channel between politics and the public
2nd phase of ● Media become more independent
mediatization ● Higher journalistic professionalism
● The political system still has the upper hand
● Media do not mediate messages unconditionally anymore
3rd phase of ● Media become so independent that other actors have to adapt to
mediatization them
● Media have the upper hand, but are still external to the political
system
● Politicians have to further increase skills to do this adoration of
the media logic (= following the format, content, grammar and
rhythm of the media) → especially in campaigns
4th phase of ● Politics does not adapt, they adopt the media logic
mediatization ● Standards of media logic / newsworthiness become part of
governing processes (evaluation of issues and policies)
● Media are no longer external
● Politicians who need to answer to people are most affected
2) What were the two most striking results from the Baltimore “news ecosystem” study
by Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism (as cited in Bennett’s introduction)? Why
was this a worrying result?
The two most striking results from the Baltimore "news ecosystem" study were, firstly, that
despite the apparent diversity with 53 different news outlets, 95 percent of stories with
original information came from traditional media, mainly newspapers. Secondly, the
surviving newspaper, the Baltimore Sun, reported significantly fewer stories over the years,
with a 32 percent drop between 1999 and 2009 and a staggering 73 percent decrease
compared to 1991. This is worrying because it suggests a decline in diverse sources of news
and a potential impact on public awareness. The reduction in reporting raises concerns about
growing citizen ignorance and reduced public accountability for officials, possibly leading to
increased public corruption.
, 3) Name five ways in which a government can support journalism in order to increase
pluralism (Plessing). Which one(s) do you think work best, and argue why?
Tax Alleviation and ● "The most common indirect type of support is a
Support for Distribution reduction or full exemption of VAT for newspapers."
● Mechanism involves adapting tax concessions or
reductions for smaller independent local newspapers in
South Africa, minimizing threats of patronage or state
control of content.
Cooperative Schemes for ● In Norway and Sweden, the cost of distribution was
Distribution and Printing lowered for those publishing houses that entered into
co-operation schemes for the distribution of their
newspapers."
● Exploration of co-operation schemes for printing or
distribution in South Africa, addressing the dominance
of large media houses, and potentially reducing
production costs for smaller publishers.
Government Advertising ● Government advertising, even though not a media
Channelling subsidy in the strict sense, can be regarded as a type of
general support.
● South Africa's commitment to channel government
advertising into smaller grassroots publications to
increase economic viability and media diversity
Subsidies for Weaker ● One large scale subsidy scheme in Norway and Sweden
Papers and Market has supported papers of high periodicity that are the
Entrants second largest in a specific region."
● Caution needed in implementing subsidies for weaker
papers; experiences in South Africa with the MDDA
highlighting concerns about sustainability and potential
dependency.
Support for Innovation in ● The Dutch government has abandoned traditional
Media Content: large-scale subsidies as a response to this and is turning
to more flexible support structures."
● Denmark's shift of focus from distribution to the
production of content, supporting technology-neutral
initiatives for creativity and innovation in the media
market.
Week 2
Collect five different concrete examples (from five different students in this tutorial!) of
how you engaged in political participation in the last month.
Online Petitions ● Individuals participated in political activism by signing and
and Campaigns sharing online petitions addressing various social and political
