Picturing terrorism through Arabic lenses: a comparative analysis of Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya

This study examines the coverage of terrorism in two leading Arab news websites, Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya from 11 September 2009 to 10 September 2010. It finds that the stereotype that ‘the terrorist is a Muslim’ continues in terrorism coverage, despite the fact that some terrorists are non-Muslims. However, the two sites manage to send out the message that ‘the majority of terrorism victims are Muslims.’ In addition, the findings reveal that too much media focus is placed on disseminating and supporting official positions and decisions, and humanitarian sufferings from terrorism are seldom brought to the attention of the public.     

The Alternative Platform: Kenya’s Television Stations Navigation During the Switch Off of Raila Odinga’s “Swearing-In”

ABSTRACT

The role of communication technologies in Kenyan newsrooms particularly from print media perspective has been investigated. However, how these technologies aid television journalism practice in Kenyan context is understudied. Using the government ban of selected television stations in Kenya during and after the symbolic “swearing-in” of opposition presidential candidate in the 2017 general election, this study investigated the influence of communication technologies by the affected television stations to circumvent government crackdown. Interview was used as the primary method for data collection. The findings of the study revealed that throughout the switch off period the newsrooms remained operational but forced to develop alternative strategies fundamentally buoyed by new media technologies to disseminate contents. Though the strategies produced unintended and unexpected effects as the findings indicated. The main challenge with technology, was news verification, since the stations were using guerrilla tactics to source news which was not easily forthcoming. In addition, there was economic implication, some advertisers demanded for a refund and potential advertisers refused to patronise the stations which according to one of the editors was hinged on fear of being targeted by government.     

The theatricality of sport and the issue of ideology

Through the study of Richard Gruneau and Gunter Gebauer’s respective works, this article examines the social significance and theoretical implications of sport’s capacity to represent social life in a theatrical manner. The drama-like images and representations sporting practices produce, institutions codify, and television programs enhance is considered in relation to ideology’s integrative, legitimating, and distorting functions (Ricoeur). Acknowledging the filiations of ‘theatre’ with ‘theory’ – both words stand for ‘to contemplate, to see, to observe’ – this study considers theatricality as a valuable theoretical notion that enables a synthetic and reflexive understanding of athletic practices’ bodily dimension, symbolic representations, and institutional determinants.     

How the dialectical imperative shapes network news content: The case of CNN vs. the entertainment networks

This essay compares an all news network's (the Cable News Network) response to a news story's dialectical imperative with that of the entertainment networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC). Using the 1988 nominating convention coverage as subject matter, the author applies narrative principles to interpret a content analysis of those telecasts. The results indicate significant distinctions in narrative structure as the entertainment networks aired a “talent‐based” production whereas CNN produced an “event‐based” interpretation of the two conventions.     

Teacher representation in news reporting on standardised testing: A case study from Western Australia

News media coverage on education plays a “uniquely important role in shaping public opinion”, can influence educational policy, and can affect and concern teachers. Yet, research examining how teachers have been represented in the news is scarce. What is particularly scarce are investigations with a historical dimension. The study reported in this paper is offered as a contribution towards rectifying the deficit and pointing the way towards one of a number of avenues of research that other scholars in the field could take for various contexts (including different countries) and time periods. It is part of a much larger study whose aim was to provide a historical analysis of The West Australian newspaper’s representation of teachers in its reporting of five major educational developments in the State of Western Australia that were the subject of sustained coverage at various times between 1987 and 2007. The specific topic which is the focus of the analysis presented in this paper is “standardized testing”.     

突发性灾难事件报道的一次突破——解读汶川大地震报道

5.12汶川大地震发生在《中华人民共和国政府信息公开条例》实施12天后,国内媒体突破了以往突发性灾难事件的报道模式,在第一时间报道灾难消息,报道新闻更为公开透明;媒体全面参与、深度介入事件的过程,充分发挥了传递信息、整合社会情绪的作用;媒体报道也较好的体现了专业精神与人文情怀。在此次地震报道中也有一些值得反思的地方,包括如何处理好报道的及时和全面的关系、职业要求与人文关怀的关系。     

经济报道如何"突出重围"

改进经济报道是加强新闻改革的关键之一。经济报道要在从宣传到服务的报道功能的转变中，在进一步拓展报道视野和领地的变革中，在报道形式的创新中，实施全面的“突围”，以周到的服务、丰富的信息和读者喜闻乐见的文风吸引受众。     

改进白骨顶鸡优化算法的WSN网络覆盖

为解决二维无线传感器网络随机部署产生的节点分布不均、覆盖率低的问题,提出一种融合元启发式算法的网络部署方案。该方案以节点部署空间作为约束条件、网络覆盖范围作为目标函数对二维网络覆盖模型进行数学建模。针对白骨顶鸡优化算法全局探索能力不强且在迭代后期容易陷入局部最优的缺点,该方案引入复合突变策略和随机反向策略对原算法进行改进。在二维网络覆盖模型进行的仿真测试结果表明:部署改进白骨顶鸡优化算法的二维无线传感器网络不仅网络覆盖率更高,节点也更加均匀,验证了改进白骨顶鸡优化算法解决节点部署问题的有效性和实用性。     

学科建设视野下的汉水文化研究

从学科建设的视野看待汉水文化研究,主要涉及其命名、学科定位和学科内容等涉及学科发展的大问题。所以提出“汉水文化”的命名,是因为更符合这一区域属于多种文化特征分布区的现实,更符合我国以水命名的传统,还可以以一个空间上的概念包容其时间上的历史发展。汉水文化的学科定位,首先,应将汉水文化的学科性质界定为以社会科学为主的人文社会科学;其次,在文化学、历史学和地理学这三个学科的互动中,确定汉水文化的学科的综合性、边缘性、应用性性质,而在这种互动中确定文化地理学的立场更为现实。汉水文化的研究内容应从汉水流域及其略略延伸的周边地区的移民迁徙活动和方言、居民的组织方式和风俗习惯、宗教巫术和祭祀、娱乐活动和文艺活动等方面,采用以田野调查为主、结合传统文献的综合研究路径,进而总结出汉水文化的基本模式。     

养老保险管理体制对扩大覆盖面的影响分析——基于全国31省份的实证研究

扩大养老保险覆盖面的过程就是把全体劳动者吸纳到养老保险体系中,并给他们带来持续增进的福利和退休生活保障的过程。在这一过程中,政府（管理者）扮演着重要的组织者角色,组织者的决策和组织的形式在某种程度上决定了扩大养老保险覆盖面的成效。基于此,本文从管理体制的纵向层次和横向模式两个维度,通过量化分析、比较养老保险管理体制对扩大覆盖面的影响,甄别了不同管理体制的有效性,从而明确了养老保险管理体制的改革取向和路径选择。