ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Golan, G. (2006). Inter-media agenda setting and global news coverage. Journalism Studies, 7(2), 323 – 333. doi: 10.1080/14616700500533643

This article is a study by Guy Golan on inter-media agenda setting. Golan discusses that the newsworthiness of international news can be determined by inter-media agenda setting. This study was done because Golan felt that not much research has been conducted regarding this topic. Golan advises that scholars should consider inter-media agenda setting more in future research. He also advises that there should be raised concerns with regards to the notion that elite news agencies can be highly successful in determining another’s news agenda. Lastly, he concludes that there is an imbalance in international news coverage of nations and stresses the importance of studying how news coverage affects public perceptions of nations.

This journal article is short and concise with ample background information to understand the topic better. However, it is too brief. Golan could have done more when explaining his results. Also, this study was too focused on proving that inter-media agenda setting does exist. As a result, the other part of the research, which was to identify how international news’ newsworthiness is affected by inter-media agenda setting, was neglected.

Connell, T. (Presenter). (2012, May 17). Great granny prepared to face arrest. [Video podcast]. Retrieved from 

http://video.news.com.au/2236332539/Great-granny-prepared-to-face-arrest.

In this news broadcast, Connell presents the news in a clear and straightforward manner. This broadcast is with regards to the recent international custody dispute between an Italian father and an Australian mother for their four daughters. For this podcast, the issue is that the great-grandmother of the four sisters involved in the international custody dispute is alleged to be in hiding with the four girls. It is reported that police searched the grandmother’s house and found no trace of the girls. Also, the grandmother and aunt of the girls are due to testify in court. On top of that, the broadcast covers the different stories from the father and mother of the girls, and there is also a little background information into the case.

The good thing about this broadcast is that it remains objective about the issue. No mechanism to influence the audience’s view was implemented. The language use was neutral and there was no emphasis on either side of the family. Compared with the other two media sources, this is the most impartial piece of news. In terms of language and tone, it is also the most professional one. Also, it was the most concise among all of them. However this might be because it is a broadcast instead of a written piece.

Thompson, T., & Donaghey, K. (2012, May 18). Matriach defiant over girls in hiding. The Courier-Mail, p. 5.

With regards to the current international custody dispute, Thompson and Donaghey reports in this newspaper article that the great-grandmother of the four sisters involved has taken them into hiding, and is expected to remain hidden. As a result, she faces charges of contempt of the court and a possible jail term. The article also covers some background information their relationship. On top of these, this article includes quotes from the father of the four girls. It also takes into account the disparity between the father’s and the mother’s side of the story. According to the father, he is saying that he only allowed the girls to travel under the assumption that they were only going for a holiday. However, the mother claims that he understood that the four girls were moving to Australia permanently, and that he changed his mind after granting permission.

In a way, this article is impartial to a certain extent as it reports about both sides of the story. However, it does have a certain tabloid impression to it due to the language and tone used. For example, the tone in the article is more informal as compared to the other two news reports. Like the video, this article provides more background information about the issue as a whole as compared to the online news report.

Jabour,B. (2012, May 17). Family unaware if great-gran in hiding will front court. Brisbane Times. Retrieved from

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/family-unaware-if-greatgran-in-hiding-will-front-court-20120517-1ys41.html

This article is with regards to the recent international custody battle. Jabour covers it from the maternal side of the family. The story here is that the family of the four girls are unsure whether the great-grandmother will be testifying in court as she is alleged to be in hiding with her great-granddaughters. In the article, the grandmother of the four girls commented that her mother was not going to give up the children and no attempt will be made by the rest of the family to try and locate them. The mother of the four girls also mentioned in the article that an overseas benefactor is helping them hide.

As this article only presented one side of the story, it is slightly biased. Also, no background about the case was given, which would make it hard for people who make sense of this issue if it is their first time reading it. However, this is an online news source and there are hyperlinks at the side of the article to direct people to related articles. Thus, not much background information has to be provided as readers can click on the other links to find out more. Compared to the other two reports, this article is the most heavily involved with the sources themselves, with plenty of quotes from the people involved. Also, unlike the other two, it tries to direct the audience train of thought subtly by portraying certain images.