Open Access Link to Full Book
Link to Video Abstract
Abstract: Why do some events catch fire in the news, producing a media storm, while many similar events go all but unnoticed? This Element uses a fire triangle analogy to explain the necessary conditions of media storms. The “heat” is the spark: a dramatic event or discovery. The “fuel” is the political and cultural landscape, including similar items in recent news, and current debates that allow the event to be framed in a resonant way. The “Oxygen” is the available news agenda space, plus attention the event receives beyond the news (by activists, politicians, people on social media, etc.). Media storms are not easily predictable; it takes the right event, at the right time, with the right momentum of attention. But when the political stars align, and a media storm erupts, it can be a window of opportunity for change. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Figures and Tables:
Sidebar: News values as presented by Harcup and O'Neill
Table 1: News Generation
Figure 1: Fire Triangle
Case Comparisons (including Figures 2-5 and more)
Figure 7: Policice Use of For Timeline
Flint Water Crisis Timeline
Appendix (including resources for instructors)
Link to Video Abstract
Abstract: Why do some events catch fire in the news, producing a media storm, while many similar events go all but unnoticed? This Element uses a fire triangle analogy to explain the necessary conditions of media storms. The “heat” is the spark: a dramatic event or discovery. The “fuel” is the political and cultural landscape, including similar items in recent news, and current debates that allow the event to be framed in a resonant way. The “Oxygen” is the available news agenda space, plus attention the event receives beyond the news (by activists, politicians, people on social media, etc.). Media storms are not easily predictable; it takes the right event, at the right time, with the right momentum of attention. But when the political stars align, and a media storm erupts, it can be a window of opportunity for change. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Figures and Tables:
Sidebar: News values as presented by Harcup and O'Neill
Table 1: News Generation
Figure 1: Fire Triangle
Case Comparisons (including Figures 2-5 and more)
Figure 7: Policice Use of For Timeline
Flint Water Crisis Timeline
Appendix (including resources for instructors)