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Essays on Media Analysis

What makes a good media analysis essay topics.

When embarking on the quest to find the perfect topic for a media analysis essay, it is crucial to select one that not only captivates but also provides ample opportunities for analysis. Here are some innovative recommendations to fuel your brainstorming process and aid in the selection of an outstanding essay topic:

Brainstorm: Begin by jotting down all the media-related subjects that pique your interest. Explore various forms of media, including television, movies, social media, news articles, and advertising campaigns.

Research potential topics: Once you have a list of potential topics, conduct preliminary research to ensure that there is enough information available to support your analysis. Seek out recent and relevant sources that offer diverse perspectives.

Choose a specific angle: Narrow down your topic by selecting a specific aspect or angle to analyze. Instead of analyzing generic "television shows," for example, you could focus on the portrayal of gender roles in reality TV programs.

Consider significance: Evaluate the significance of your chosen topic. Does it address a current issue or prevalent challenge in society? Opt for subjects that have broader implications and can generate meaningful discussions.

Uniqueness: Strive for a topic that stands out from the ordinary. Avoid overdone subjects and aim for creativity and originality. Look for unique angles or lesser-known media artifacts to analyze.

Personal interest: Lastly, choose a topic that genuinely interests you. A personal interest in the subject matter will make the writing process more enjoyable and result in a more engaging essay.

Remember, a good media analysis essay topic should be specific, relevant, unique, and align with your personal interests. Now, let's embark on an exploration of the best media analysis essay topics that meet these criteria.

The Best Media Analysis Essay Topics

The Influential Role of Social Media in Shaping Body Image Perception Among Teenagers

Analyzing the Portrayal of Mental Health in Popular TV Shows

The Impact of Media on Political Opinion Formation during Election Campaigns

Examining the Representation of Race and Ethnicity in Hollywood Movies

The Power of Advertising: Its Influence on Consumer Behavior and Purchasing Decisions

The Effects of Video Game Content on Aggression and Behavior in Young Adults

The Role of Media in Shaping Public Perception of Climate Change

The Evolution of News Media: From Traditional Outlets to Digital Platforms

Gender Stereotypes in Commercials: Analyzing Their Persistence and Impact

The Influence of Celebrity Endorsements on Brand Loyalty and Consumer Trust

Provocative Questions to Guide Your Media Analysis

To delve deeper into these media analysis essay topics, ponder these ten thought-provoking questions:

How does social media contribute to the objectification of women?

In what ways does mainstream media perpetuate racial stereotypes?

How does the portrayal of violence in video games affect children's behavior?

To what extent do advertising campaigns exploit insecurities to sell products?

How does political bias influence news reporting in mainstream media?

How do reality TV shows shape viewers' perceptions of success and failure?

What role does media play in the normalization of drug and alcohol use?

How do different news outlets cover the same event differently, and why?

In what ways do children's cartoons reinforce gender roles and stereotypes?

How does the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in media affect societal attitudes?

Inspiring Prompts for Your Media Analysis Essay

Here are five imaginative essay prompts to ignite your creativity in the realm of media analysis:

Analyze the use of symbolism in a specific music video of your choice and examine its impact on the audience's interpretation.

Discuss how a particular news outlet's coverage of a recent event demonstrates media bias and explore its potential consequences.

Examine the marketing strategies employed in a successful viral advertising campaign and assess their effects on brand recognition and consumer behavior.

Compare and contrast the representation of technology and its impact on society in two science fiction films.

Critically analyze the portrayal of marginalized communities in a specific TV series and its influence on societal perceptions.

Frequently Asked Questions about Writing a Media Analysis Essay

• Q: How should I structure a media analysis essay?

A: A media analysis essay typically follows an introduction, body paragraphs analyzing different aspects, and a conclusion. Ensure that each paragraph focuses on a specific argument or analysis point.

• Q: Can I incorporate personal opinions in a media analysis essay?

A: While media analysis essays should strive for objectivity, you can include your interpretation and analysis of the media artifacts. However, always support your claims with evidence and examples.

• Q: How can I find relevant sources for my media analysis essay?

A: Utilize academic databases, reputable news outlets, scholarly articles, books, and credible online sources to gather relevant information and support your analysis.

• Q: Should I include a thesis statement in my media analysis essay?

A: Yes, a clear and concise thesis statement is essential in a media analysis essay. It should convey your main argument or analysis focus.

• Q: Can I analyze media artifacts from different time periods in one essay?

A: It is generally recommended to focus on a specific time period or media artifact in each essay. This approach allows for a more in-depth analysis and prevents the essay from becoming overly broad.

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Media analysis refers to the systematic examination and interpretation of media content, including various forms of media such as print, broadcast, and digital media. It involves critically analyzing and evaluating the messages, themes, and techniques employed in media to understand their impact on individuals, society, and culture.

Media analysis uncovers underlying meanings, implicit messages, and societal implications within media texts. It examines narrative structures, visual aesthetics, language use, cultural representations, and ideological biases. Researchers gain insights into meaning construction, power dynamics, and social influences in media. This analysis reveals patterns, trends, and dominant discourses, showing how media shapes public opinion and reflects societal values. By critically examining media content, media analysis deepens understanding of media's role in shaping narratives, public discourse, and socio-political dynamics.

• Media Texts: Analysis of news articles, television shows, films, advertisements, social media posts, and websites.
• Representation: Analysis of the representation of individuals, groups, events, and ideas in media. It examines how different social, cultural, and political identities are portrayed and the impact of these representations on shaping perceptions, stereotypes, and biases.
• Audience Reception: This involves examining audience responses, interpretations, and the influence of media on attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
• Media Institutions: It examines the ownership structures, industry practices, and policies that shape media content and its dissemination.
• Media Effects: This involves studying the influence of media on public opinion, social behavior, cultural values, and political processes.

Content Analysis, Semiotic Analysis, Discourse Analysis, Audience Research, Comparative Analysis, Historical Analysis, Critical Cultural Analysis.

The Media Analysis essay topics are crucial as they reveal how media shapes public opinion, reflects societal values, and influences cultural norms. By critically examining media content, we can uncover implicit messages, ideological biases, and power dynamics. This understanding helps to foster media literacy, enabling individuals to navigate and interpret media more effectively, and promotes informed and critical engagement with the information that shapes our world.

1. Anstead, N., & O'Loughlin, B. (2015). Social media analysis and public opinion: The 2010 UK general election. Journal of computer-mediated communication, 20(2), 204-220. (https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/20/2/204/4067564) 2. Ravaja, N. (2004). Contributions of psychophysiology to media research: Review and recommendations. Media Psychology, 6(2), 193-235. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s1532785xmep0602_4) 3. Stieglitz, S., & Dang-Xuan, L. (2013). Social media and political communication: a social media analytics framework. Social network analysis and mining, 3, 1277-1291. (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13278-012-0079-3) 4. Filo, K., Lock, D., & Karg, A. (2015). Sport and social media research: A review. Sport management review, 18(2), 166-181. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1441352314000904) 5. McQuail, D. (1985). Sociology of mass communication. Annual Review of Sociology, 11(1), 93-111. (https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.so.11.080185.000521) 6. Lockyer, S., & Pickering, M. (2008). You must be joking: The sociological critique of humour and comic media. Sociology Compass, 2(3), 808-820. (https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1751-9020.2008.00108.x) 7. Arsenault, A., & Castells, M. (2008). Switching power: Rupert Murdoch and the global business of media politics: A sociological analysis. International Sociology, 23(4), 488-513. (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0268580908090725 )

Relevant topics

• Social Media
• Effects of Social Media
• American Identity
• Cultural Appropriation
• Personal Identity
• Sex, Gender and Sexuality
• Discourse Community

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Media Analysis – An Explanation for Undergraduates

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Learn about our Editorial Process

Media analysis is a research methodology used in mass communication studies, media studies, cultural studies, and the social sciences. It is defined as the analysis and critique of media.

The aim of media analysis is to understand media’s potential to impact individuals and society. Media analysis has two main purposes:

• Critique of Media: It can identify how groups in society such as women and people of color are represented in the media to help us understand systemic racism and sexism, and can help expose media bias .
• Media Campaign Research: It can also help media companies identify gaps in the advertising landscape to better promote their own products.

What is Media Analysis?

Media analysis studies texts: books, letters, videos, television shows, blogs, movies, newspapers, etc. It looks directly at media texts (rather than interviewing media producers) and reflects on what they collectively say about an issue. Here are some useful scholarly definitions that you could use in an essay:

• Media analysis is the study of “what is said on a given subject in a given place at a given time” within the media (Lasswell, Lerner and Pool, 1952, p. 34) – this is one of the first ever definitions.
• “Content analysis is a research method that uses a set of procedures to make valid inferences from text” (Weber, 1990, p. 9)
• “Critical media analysis means thinking critically about the impact of the media on the distribution of power in society.” (Stocchetti & Kukkonen, 2011, p. 13)
• It “is a research technique that is based on measuring the amount of something (violence, negative portrayals of women, or whatever) in a representative sampling of some mass-mediated popular form of art” (Berger, 2005, p. 25)
• It is “a technique for gathering and analysing the content of text.” (Neuman, 1997, p. 272)

How to do Media Analysis

Media content analysis can be conducted in multiple ways. But, media analysis has two core elements that must always be looked at systematically: the text and its content.

The text is the thing you look at while conducting your analysis. Neuman (1997, p. 273) describes a text as: “anything written, visual, or spoken that serves as a medium for communication”. Usually, we try to look at a wide range of texts within a defined period of time (say, maybe all superhero movies in 2020; or, all newspaper articles published in national newspapers about Trump in July 2020). This helps increase the validity of the analysis. Texts can be:

• Newspaper articles
• Email chains
• Television shows
• Advertisements
• YouTube videos
• Etc. etc. etc.

The content is the ‘stuff’ that you analyze within the text. Neuman (1997, p. 273) defines content as “words, meanings, pictures, symbols, ideas, themes, or any message that can be communicated.” To analyze this content, we might count the amount of positive versus negative statements about someone, how a camera frames someone as powerful or weak, the amount of time someone is given to speak, and so forth. Generally, content can be broken down into four categories:

• Written: words, sentences, paragraphs, etc.
• Sonic / Audible: spoken words, music, sound effects, etc.
• Visual: Images, pictures, color schemes, camera angles, facial expressions, etc.
• Motive: The pace at which things move, the direction they move, etc.

Quantitative Techniques

‘Quantitative’ approaches to media analysis use measurable scientific approaches to analyze media texts. These approaches will involve counting exact numbers, ratios, percentages, etc. to get objective facts about media representation. Below are the two major quantitative approaches to media analysis.

1. Quantitative Content Analysis

Quantitative methods count the numbers of mentions, keywords, latent semantic keywords, etc. in order to create measurable comparisons. Comparisons can be made between media texts (e.g. “Which media are more inclusive of women?”, or between elements within a text (e.g. “What is the ratio between white and non-white representation within this text?”). Usually, software tools are employed during quantitative content analysis to create a reliable and objective overview of media representation.

2. Laswell’s Method

Laswell’s method is the oldest method of media analysis. For Laswell, you can do a simple critique of media representation by asking the following 5 questions:

• Who? Look at the media channel doing the communication. Are they respectable? Are they historically biased? Do they follow journalistic ethics? Who funds them?
• Says What? Look at what is being said. How does it frame the issue?
• In which Channel? Look at the means of communication. Is it television, blogs, podcasts, etc.? How does the channel / medium impact the message being communicated? Is it a medium that attracts millenials, or baby boomers?
• To Whom? Look at who the target audience is. What might this say about why the message is framed the way it is?
• With what Effect? Has the media had an impact on politics, public discourse, the growth of certain movements, or the increased sale of certain products?

3. Quantitative Approach – Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages of a quantitative approach:

• It can seem more reliable because it provides objective figures.
• It provides direct measurable comparisons.

Disadvantages of a quantitative approach:

• Lack of context. Often, only subjective human analysis can identify how media manipulates people.
• Media analysis is about looking at how media is manipulative; it’s hard to use machines to pick up on the nuances of media techniques.

Qualitative Techniques

Qualitative methods are much more common for media analysis these days. Many researchers have realized it’s very hard to provide a deep analysis of media texts using hard scientific methods .

There are a lot of little human nuances in meda that require deep explanations and a critical human eye critiquing texts. This is where qualitative approaches are very beneficial. Below are the two major qualitative approaches to media analysis.

1. Social Semiotics

‘Semiotics’ is the study of signs and symbols. It was invented by Ferdinand de Saussure who explored how ‘signs’ create ‘meaning’. ‘Social semiotics’ is a more contemporary approach, which not only looks at signs. It also looks at how signs get their meaning from culture. For example, a red octagon doesn’t naturally mean ‘Stop sign’. But, in our culture, we know that it nearly always means that because it’s the meaning our culture gave to the sign. To do a Social Semiotic Analysis, closely examine the texts you want to analyse. Watch / read / listen to them and take notes on the contents:

• Sounds: What sounds are present and how do they influence the message? For example, if there is classical music, it may mean a different audience is appealed to than rap music. We know this because we have a finger on the pulse of our culture – we know what social groups rap music would appeal to.
• Words: Are there words or phrases that jump out to you for the way they frame particular groups? Take note of these words and phrases and how frequently they’re used.
• Images: How do the images influence us? If the color scheme is mostly blue, perhaps the text is designed to soothe and calm us. If there are images of someone in a white doctor’s coat, is it an advertisement trying to tell us that the product is backed by science? If there are low camera angles looking up at someone, is it trying to make that person appear powerful? Etc.

A social semiotic analysis would then create a group of themes to discuss. A theme might be: “Women are represented as powerful in this text.” Another might be: “Most dental advertisements use scientific language to convince viewers.”

2. Discourse Analysis

Discourse analysis explores discourses (messages circulating in society). It was created by Michel Foucault in the 1970s. It has become a very popular way of examining media texts to figure out how power is reproduced through media bias . Discourse analysis is very similar to social semiotics. In fact, I would recommend combining the two. However, discourse analysis is unique in that its focus is on power. It wants to explore how media silences some people and empowers others. Here are some unique aspects of a discourse analysis to look out for when looking at media texts:

• Who is silenced by the text? When closely examining your texts, think about who is absent in the text. This means not just looking at what’s said and shown. You also need to look at what isn’t said. What’s not shown is just as important as what is shown.
• What do silences say about the message? Once you know what isn’t said and shown, what can you infer from this? Is the media conveniently excluding certain points because they don’t adhere to capitalist consumer society? Are marginalized groups and their views missing from mainstream media?
• What is presumed as ‘true’ and what is presumed as ‘untrue’ within media messages? According to discourse analysis, truth is produced by discourse (the messages that circulate in society). So, discourse analysis critiques what is presumed to be true and untrue within media and how this might change over time.

3. Qualitative Approach – Advantages & Disadvantages 

Advantages of a qualitative approach:

• Human communication is very hard to measure quantitatively. Quantitative methods can’t pick up the subtle cultural, social and political messages in media.
• Qualitative research gives deep, detailed explanations using ‘thick description’ of data. It can be very convincing, if done well.

Disadvantages of a qualitative approach:

• Validity and authority is hard to achieve because researcher interpretation is central to this style of research.
• It has been accused of bias and hyper-subjectivity. Many people see it as a psudo-science where any researcher can come up with any results they want so long as their arguments are convincing. See: the grievance studies hoax.

Example of Media Analysis

“How do Car Advertisements on Television Represent Women?”

You gather all car advertisements in the national archives of advertising from the past 3 years. It’s 250 advertisements. You decide to conduct a media discourse analysis. You watch all advertisements, and take notes on:

• How many advertisements depict women
• What roles women take in the advertisements
• How women are spoken about in the advertisements

You review your notes, and find three themes:

• Women are only shown in 25% of advertisements
• Women are driving trucks in only 5% of advertisements
• When women are depicted, they’re predominantly sexualized and shown as objects of men’s desire

Strengths & Weaknesses of Media Analysis

• It helps to show how media contributes to social and cultural biases which could marginalize some members of society.
• It helps us reflect on power relationships.
• It can create a case to media departments about how best to advertise a product in the marketplace.
• It is often accused of having very little real-life relevance . A descriptive overview of media’s biases may be a good academic exercise, but it’s not the most desirable skill to have for future employers.
• There is so much media these days that it’s hard to get a snapshot of the whole media landscape. You usually have to zoom-in on small market subsets which are case studies that cannot provide broad overgeneralizations .

Altheide, D. & Schneider, C. (2013). Qualitative Media Analysis. Los Angeles: SAGE.

Berger, A. (2005). Media research techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Fairclough, N. (2010). Critical analysis of media discourse. In: Thornham, S., Bassett, C., & Marris, P. (Eds.). Media studies: A reader . New York: NYU Press.

Kress, G. R., & Van Leeuwen, T. (2006). Reading images: The grammar of visual design . Sydney: Psychology Press.

Macnamara, J. (2005). Media content analysis: Its uses, benefits and Best Practice Methodology. Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal, 6 (1), 1– 34.

Neuman, W. L. (1997). Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon

Stocchetti, M. & Kukkonen, K. (2011). Critical Media Analysis: An Introduction for Media Professionals. Frankfurt: Peter Yang.

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3 thoughts on “Media Analysis – An Explanation for Undergraduates”

Dear Chris, Thank you for mentioning our books. However, you have misspelled our names. ‘Stocchetti’ is with two ‘c’ and it is ‘Kukkonen’, and not ‘Kukkonon’

Matteo Stocchetti

Apologies – that’s been fixed. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your useful book on Media Analysis!

Regards, Chris

I found this so interesting and useful as a media analyst in the making. Thanks to you Dr. Chris.

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Guide to Writing Media Analysis Essays

Mastering Media Analysis: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write a Media Analysis Essay

In the digital age, the capacity to critically examine media is essential, with the media analysis essay serving as a key academic instrument for students. Learning how to write a media analysis essay means dissecting media’s nuanced messages and its audience impact, focusing on language, imagery, and structure to uncover deeper meanings. This isn’t just an academic exercise but a deep dive into media’s influence on societal norms and perceptions.

The journey begins by choosing a piece that sparks your interest, setting the stage for an in-depth analysis of its broader societal roles. Best-Writing-Service.com offers essential support in this endeavor, providing guidance to overcome the challenges of such a complex analysis. With our help, students can channel their curiosity into a meaningful exploration, making writing this task a gateway to understanding the profound effects of media in shaping our world.

Decoding the Basics: What is a Media Analysis Essay?

The essay on media analysis stands as a crucial scholarly endeavor, exploring the intricate relationship between content and its audience. This task transcends simple critique to evaluate the messages, strategies, and goals of various productions. It prompts an in-depth review of themes, storytelling methods, and portrayals, enriching students’ comprehension of its impact across societal, economic, and political domains.

Mastering how to write a media analysis paper is pivotal, requiring deep thought and literacy skills, enabling learners to become adept at interpreting complex messages. Selecting a subject with substantial analytical depth is the first step, aimed at dissecting its elements to reveal broader societal meanings.

Developing a nuanced media analysis essay involves integrating observations with academic insights, offering a holistic perspective on its societal effects. This thorough examination not only broadens students’ insights but also sharpens their analytical capabilities, becoming essential in various fields of study. The capacity to critically assess narratives positions this type of essay as a vital tool in cultivating informed and discerning viewpoints on the landscape it examines.

Polishing Your Piece: Which Step Must You Complete Before Writing a Media Assessment Essay?

Embarking on how to do a media analysis requires foundational steps beyond just writing; thorough research and meticulous planning are paramount. This approach not only sets the stage for a critical exploration of media’s societal and cultural impact but also enriches your essay with depth and coherence. Here’s a streamlined process:

• Preliminary Research. Dive deep into the piece’s context, production, and reception, alongside the broader discourse it inspires. This enriches your perspective, providing a solid foundation for analysis.
• Analytical Framework Development. Identify key themes, messages, and techniques for analysis, choosing appropriate theoretical lenses to guide your exploration.
• Essay Outlining. Craft a detailed outline from introduction to conclusion, organizing main points and evidence to ensure logical progression and strong support for your thesis.

This preparatory work, from initial research to the construction of an analytical framework and a structured outline, is crucial for crafting an essay that’s both insightful and illuminating. It not only enhances the clarity and depth of your analysis but also ensures a coherent argument throughout your piece. Investing time in these steps before beginning your draft is indispensable for a high-quality paper, setting a solid foundation for your critique and insights.

Crafting Your Blueprint: Media Analysis Essay Structure and Outline

Creating the best media analysis hinges on a meticulously crafted structure and outline, acting as the foundation of your analytical process. This systematic approach ensures your arguments are logically presented, enhancing the persuasiveness of your insights. A well-prepared outline is your first step, organizing thoughts and setting a clear direction for your essay, from introducing the media piece to dissecting its content and impact.

Building a Strategic Framework

Begin by crafting a media analysis essay outline that maps out your essay, from an engaging introduction setting up your thesis to detailed body paragraphs exploring the piece’s themes, techniques, and societal impact. This blueprint ensures a coherent flow, guiding your analysis and supporting a structured critique.

Introduction and Analysis

Start with a concise introduction that presents the piece and outlines your main argument, establishing a clear thesis to guide your exploration. The body of your essay then breaks down the media’s components, each paragraph starting with a topic sentence that leads into evidence-based analysis, critically evaluating the media’s influence on societal norms and perceptions.

Synthesizing Insights in Conclusion

Conclude by weaving together your findings, underscoring the relevance of your analysis and its implications for understanding media’s societal role. This not only reinforces the depth of your critique but also encourages further scholarly inquiry.

By prioritizing a strategic outline, your essay is poised to deliver insightful, organized analysis, making a significant contribution to media studies. This preparation is key to navigating media’s complexities, ensuring your essay is both informative and impactful.

Setting the Stage: How to Start a Media Analysis Essay

Launching your analysis essay effectively grabs attention, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive critique. Here’s a streamlined approach to start:

• Craft an Engaging Hook. Use a provocative quote or surprising statistic to spark curiosity and set the context for the piece under examination.
• Introduce the Piece. Provide a brief overview, including its title, creator, and key themes, clarifying the focus and significance of your analysis.
• Present Your Thesis Statement. Clearly state your main argument and the direction of your analysis, outlining the scope of your investigation.
• Lay the Groundwork. Preview the structure and analytical perspective you’ll employ, preparing readers for the depth of examination to follow.

This introductory strategy not only captivates but also thoroughly prepares your audience for the analysis ahead. By succinctly presenting the piece and articulating your thesis, you emphasize the critical elements to explore, aligning with the query of what should you include in your analysis essay. A compelling introduction is crucial, drawing readers in while setting a solid foundation for your analytical discourse, underscoring the need for precision, innovation, and critical thought from the start.

Analyzing Like a Pro: Each Paragraph of Your Media Analysis Essay Explained

Understanding the structure of a media analysis essay is pivotal for crafting an insightful critique of media’s societal impact. In crafting your text, remember that each paragraph of your media analysis essay should meticulously contribute to unfolding your critical argument, starting from a thesis-supporting introduction, through evidence-backed body paragraphs, to a conclusion that synthesizes and extends your insights. This guide outlines what to include in each section, emphasizing the role of critical thinking and evidence-based analysis throughout.

Introduction: Begin with a hook and a thesis statement that frames your overall argument, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of the media piece.

Body Paragraphs:

• Thematic Analysis. Discuss the media’s themes, using evidence to illustrate how they reflect or critique societal norms.
• Narrative Techniques. Analyze the structure and storytelling methods, evaluating their effectiveness in conveying the piece’s message.
• Representation. Examine how groups or ideologies are portrayed, considering the implications for audience perception.

Integrating Scholarly Perspectives: Enhance your argument by incorporating academic research, contrasting viewpoints, and situating your analysis within broader media studies discourse.

Conclusion: Summarize your key findings, reiterate the thesis in light of the analysis, and suggest directions for future research or implications for media literacy.

This approach not only maps out the essential components of this particular type of assignment but also underscores the necessity of applying critical thinking and rigorous analysis. By methodically breaking down the media piece from introduction to conclusion, you engage deeply with the content, offering a nuanced perspective that contributes to the ongoing conversation about media’s influence on society.

Spotlight on Substance: Media Analysis Essay Topics

Choosing a compelling topic for your analysis is key, blending personal interest with societal relevance and scholarly depth. When delving into topics, reviewing a media analysis essay example can offer insight and motivation, guiding your essay’s focus and illuminating its societal impact. Potential subjects include:

• Current Events and News Coverage. Analyze how different outlets represent events, revealing biases and their effects on public views.
• Advertising and Consumer Culture. Investigate how marketing campaigns influence consumer choices and societal standards.
• Social Media Trends. Assess how online viral trends affect social norms and individual actions.
• Representation. Explore how different groups are depicted across various channels, evaluating strides toward inclusivity.

This crucial step lays the groundwork for a narrative that not only adheres to academic rigor but also advances the conversation on societal impacts. By selecting a topic that combines personal curiosity with wider implications, your essay becomes more than an academic task; it emerges as a significant contribution to the dialogue on how content shapes and reflects societal values and norms.

Elevate Your Essay: Analysis Essay Writing Help from Best-Writing-Service.com

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111 Media Analysis Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Media analysis is a crucial aspect of studying communication and society in today's digital age. From examining the portrayal of gender in advertisements to analyzing the impact of social media on political discourse, there are endless topics to explore in this field. If you're looking for inspiration for your next media analysis essay, look no further. Here are 111 topic ideas and examples to get you started:

• The representation of race in mainstream television shows
• How social media influencers shape consumer behavior
• The role of media in perpetuating stereotypes about mental illness
• A comparative analysis of news coverage in different media outlets
• The impact of reality TV on society's perception of beauty
• An analysis of gender roles in children's cartoons
• The portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in popular movies
• The influence of advertising on body image and self-esteem
• The use of propaganda in political campaigns
• The effects of digital media on interpersonal relationships
• A critical analysis of celebrity gossip magazines
• The representation of disability in the media
• The role of media in shaping public opinion on climate change
• A comparison of news coverage in print vs. online media
• The portrayal of women in video games
• The impact of social media on political activism
• The representation of violence in the media
• An analysis of memes as a form of cultural communication
• The influence of media on eating disorders
• The portrayal of race and ethnicity in superhero movies
• The role of media in perpetuating beauty standards
• A comparative analysis of news coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic
• The representation of aging in popular TV shows
• The effects of media consolidation on diversity of voices
• The portrayal of mental health in popular music
• The influence of media on body image and eating disorders
• A critical analysis of news coverage of police brutality
• The representation of women in advertising
• The impact of social media on political polarization
• The role of media in shaping public opinion on immigration
• A comparison of news coverage in conservative vs. liberal media outlets
• The portrayal of masculinity in action movies
• The effects of media violence on children
• The representation of poverty in the media
• The influence of media on perceptions of race and crime
• A critical analysis of news coverage of the Black Lives Matter movement
• The role of media in shaping public opinion on gun control
• The portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in popular TV shows
• The impact of social media on mental health
• The representation of women in sports media
• The influence of media on public perceptions of terrorism
• A comparative analysis of news coverage of war in different media outlets
• The portrayal of aging in advertising
• The effects of media consolidation on local news coverage
• The representation of disability in popular movies
• The role of media in perpetuating stereotypes about race and crime
• A critical analysis of news coverage of the opioid crisis
• The influence of media on public perceptions of poverty
• The portrayal of women in fashion magazines
• The impact of social media on political engagement
• The representation of masculinity in beer commercials
• The effects of media violence on attitudes towards gun control
• The influence of media on perceptions of immigration
• A comparative analysis of news coverage of climate change in different media outlets
• The portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in children's books
• The role of media in shaping public opinion on healthcare
• The representation of race and ethnicity in historical movies
• The impact of social media on body image and self-esteem
• The portrayal of women in music videos
• The influence of media on public perceptions of police brutality
• A critical analysis of news coverage of mass shootings
• The role of media in perpetuating stereotypes about gender and violence
• The representation of disability in fashion advertising
• The effects of media consolidation on access to diverse viewpoints
• The portrayal of aging in popular music
• The influence of media on perceptions of mental illness
• A comparative analysis of news coverage of the #MeToo movement
• The portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in sitcoms
• The impact of social media on public trust in the media
• The representation of masculinity in fashion magazines
• The role of media in shaping public opinion on reproductive rights
• The effects of media violence on attitudes towards sexual assault
• The influence of media on perceptions of race and intelligence
• A critical analysis of news coverage of school shootings
• The portrayal of women in superhero comics
• The impact of social media on political disinformation
• The representation of race and ethnicity in popular music
• The role of media in perpetuating stereotypes about poverty and welfare
• A comparative analysis of news coverage of the refugee crisis
• The portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in teen dramas
• The influence of media on public perceptions of drug addiction
• The effects of media consolidation on local news deserts
• The portrayal of aging in beauty commercials
• The impact of social media on public trust in science
• The representation of disability in reality TV shows
• The role of media in shaping public opinion on climate change denial
• A critical analysis of news coverage of police shootings
• The portrayal of masculinity in car commercials
• The influence of media on attitudes towards immigration policy
• A comparative analysis of news coverage of the 2020 election
• The portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in young adult novels
• The impact of social media on public trust in government institutions
• The representation of race and ethnicity in popular video games
• The role of media in perpetuating stereotypes about mental illness and violence
• A critical analysis of news coverage of the opioid epidemic
• The portrayal of women in horror movies
• The influence of media on public perceptions of police brutality and race
• The effects of media consolidation on access to information in rural communities
• The portrayal of aging in sitcoms
• The impact of social media on public trust in the medical profession
• The representation of disability in superhero movies
• The role of media in shaping public opinion on healthcare reform
• A comparative analysis of news coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in different media outlets
• The portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in animated films
• The influence of media on public perceptions of income inequality
• The effects of media consolidation on access to diverse cultural perspectives
• The portrayal of masculinity in action figures
• The impact of social media on public trust in the criminal justice system
• The representation of race and ethnicity in historical documentaries
• The role of media in perpetuating stereotypes about gender and leadership
• A critical analysis of news coverage of the Black Lives Matter protests

These topic ideas and examples are just a starting point for your media analysis essay. Feel free to explore and expand upon them to create a unique and insightful piece of analysis that contributes to the ongoing conversation about media and society. Happy writing!

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WHAT IS MEDIA ANALYSIS: Definitions, Techniques, and Personal Insights

• by Chinenye Gaberiel
• June 21, 2024

Table of Contents Hide

• What is Media Analysis?

Understanding the Techniques of Media Analysis

Why is media analysis important, types of media analysis , #1. collecting stories to analyze, #2. analyzing the stories, #3. structuring a media analysis essay, what is the goal of media analysis, related post.

Sometimes, I wonder why some advertisements or news stories stick with us while others fade away. It all comes down to my understanding of the intricate world of media analysis. You might be asking, “What is media analysis, and why is it so important?” Let’s uncover the secrets behind the screens, the definitions, techniques, and types, and how to write media analysis. Let’s get started!

• Media analysis is vital for businesses and organizations as it provides strategic insights into media coverage, helps understand the media landscape, evaluates media relationships, and assesses the impact of key messages on audiences.
• There are two main types of media analysis: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative analysis focuses on numerical data, like the frequency of mentions, while qualitative studies examine the context and connection between messages and their intended audiences.
• Media analysis involves collecting stories from various media outlets, categorizing them, and analyzing the content. This includes identifying buzzwords, biases, and the portrayal of stories.
• Writing a media analysis essay includes an executive summary, methodology description, evaluation of media coverage, spokesperson analysis, and framing analysis. It concludes with recommendations based on the study to guide the introduction and framing of new stories in the media.

What is Media Analysis ?

Media analysis plays a critical role in developing a solid marketing strategy. To fully comprehend its importance. Let’s define it and discuss its significance to business success.

Media analysis has a long history, and Harold Lasswell introduced the term “media content analysis” in 1927. Initially, it was a methodical approach to studying mass media, primarily the press, television, and radio. Over time, media monitoring has become a complex strategy that includes an extensive analysis of digital content, such as websites, social media, and visual content.

Marketers have been conducting media analysis for years. However, in the past, they had to manually search for brand mentions, which took up a significant amount of their time. In today’s world, where information overload and millions of websites exist, it would be impossible to manually search and analyze the media each company mentions. That’s why automation of media analysis has become an essential part of the process.

Social media analysis involves collecting and analyzing information from social networks to help make better business choices. It also allows organizations to check their performance based on those decisions by looking at social media outcomes. This process will help you understand what people say and feel about your brand or products. You can use this insight to improve your strategies and engage your audience more effectively.

Let me share some personal insights on the definitions and techniques of media analysis. Media analysis involves studying how media content affects our perceptions and behaviors. It includes looking at everything from news articles to social media posts, focusing on the words, images, and symbols used.

One essential technique is quantitative analysis , where we measure the number of times a brand is mentioned or how often a specific topic appears. This helps us see trends and patterns. For example, by counting how many times a product is mentioned in different media outlets , we can understand its popularity and reach.

Another essential technique is qualitative analysis , where we interpret the deeper meaning behind the media content. This involves examining the context and the subtle messages that might not be immediately obvious. For instance, analyzing a commercial’s underlying messages about gender roles or societal values can reveal much about its impact and intentions.

Combining these techniques provides a well-rounded understanding of media content. For instance, I once analyzed a famous commercial that seemed straightforward but had hidden messages about gender roles and consumer culture. This deeper understanding changed how I viewed that commercial and all media content.

Media analysis is a powerful tool that helps us see beyond the surface and understand the actual influence of media. It’s like having a magnifying glass that reveals the hidden layers of meaning in everything we watch, read, and hear.

Credit: rawpixel

Media analysis is incredibly valuable for businesses and other types of organizations. It plays a crucial role in offering strategic insights not only into your own media coverage but also into that of your competitors. Doing so helps you better understand the landscape you’re operating in. Additionally, it evaluates the effectiveness of your relationships with the media. This is key to ensuring that your communications strategy works as intended and that your intended audience receives and understands your messages. 

Furthermore, media analysis can assess how to impact your key messages. This means it checks whether the messages you’re sending out resonate with your audience and achieve the desired effect. Overall, media analysis provides a comprehensive view of your position in the media landscape, enabling you to make informed decisions and strategic adjustments to your communication plans.

If you’re curious about the media’s influence and want to understand it better, stick with me.

Understanding the types used for analyzing media is crucial. It’s not something to be done randomly. First, examine how news about your products or services has been covered. What’s being said about your industry? This information is important for your analysis.

The key methods are:

• Quantitative analysis
• Qualitative analysis

Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Quantitative analysis is all about numbers. It involves tracking how often something of interest is mentioned. This method includes looking at:

• The number of times something is mentioned
• How widespread the coverage is
• How the media is divided
• The proportion of the conversation your topic holds

Qualitative analysis, however, focuses on the connection between the message and its intended audience. It tries to understand the context of the message. This approach interprets what the media, across different platforms, is trying to communicate to the public. A thorough media analysis should use both methods to be reliable.

Media analysis is detailed and vital for any business looking to stand out. While market research has been the focus for many years, the value of media analytics is becoming more recognized. So, it’s important not to fall behind your competitors in this area.

How To Write a Media Analysis

Let me share with you the 3 parts of how you can write a media analysis:

Credit:rawpixel

List all of the media outlets in your area. Include newspapers, news websites, radio stations, television news shows, and any other media outlets you want to include. Depending on the story you hope to share and its scope, you may extend your search to include statewide and national media outlets.

• For example, include the local newspaper, radio station, web news sources, and any primary news sources in the nearest big city if you’re in a rural area or suburb.
• Alternatively, you could focus on national or worldwide news sources to analyze a larger company or subject.

Make a list of search terms based on your topic. Identify the key terms that will help you gather articles about pic. This will help streamline your research by giving you terms to plug into each media channel you investigate.

• For example, suppose you’re conducting a media analysis of the controversy over a major highway construction project in your city. In that case, you might include terms like “highway construction,” “highway controversy,” “construction budget concerns,” etc.

Collect News Stories from Research Databases from the Last six M onths

Use the key terms to find articles on your topic in databases, such as subscription resources like Lexis Nexis and Ebsco Host or free resources like Google Scholar. Plan to go back about six months and collect between 100-200 articles if you’re doing a professional media analysis.

• Include various media sources unless you want to examine a specific medium, such as T.V., radio, or print news.
• Tip : If desired, you may expand your search to cover a more extended period, such as 12 months. This may result in a more thorough study of the topic.

Separate the stories into categories and eliminate irrelevant data. You’ll likely collect three main categories: opinion, news, and feature stories. Eliminate obituaries, calendar items, and any other extraneous items from the data you collect.

• Separating the data into categories can help you know what to expect when reading a story.

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Read the articles and underline or take notes. This will make it easier for you to write about your findings. Use a pen or highlighter to note important information in print articles, or note this information if you’re reading digital media or examining T.V. or radio sources. Some things to watch for as you review the media you’ve collected include:

• Buzzwords are terms that come up again and again across different media channels.
• Bias uses emotional appeals to convince readers of something, even if the evidence is lacking.
• Similar portrayals of a story, such as portraying it positively or negatively across different media channels.
• Positioning of the story, such as whether it’s a front-page or prime-time news story.

Tip : The length of the story helps you determine its importance. For example, if a short story appears on one page, the news outlet may deem it less necessary than something that takes up multiple pages.

Answer Questions About the Articles you read

A significant part of the analysis is asking questions and answering them based on the evidence you find in your sources. Some questions you might consider as you review the sources you’ve gathered include:

• How does the media frame this topic?
• Who are the spokespeople for the topic, and how are they represented?
• Are any voices noticeably absent from the articles on this subject?
• What topics are getting the most coverage within the category?
• What media outlets are covering this topic?
• Does coverage seem to peak or drop at certain times of the year?

Summarize what you have learned. After completing your media analysis, summarize what you have learned about how the media covers your subject. Include your answers to all your questions about the data you collected. Note anything of particular importance or that you’re still unsure about.

• For example, if you have noted that most news outlets portray your subject using a set of buzzwords and a similar level of bias, then you may describe and discuss these.

Identify ways this may help you introduce your own story. A media analysis is a helpful way to determine how best to introduce a story into the media. Consider what you’ve learned and decide if any strategies may help to get your story out to a broader audience or make it more appealing to readers.

• For example, if the sources you consulted all portray a public concern in a similar light, you may not adopt this method of framing your topic.

Compose the executive summary to introduce your analysis. The executive summary is where you introduce your topic, state your purpose, and give an overview of your findings. It’s essentially a preview of your media analysis. Provide any background information about your topic that readers may need to know, then identify why you chose to investigate this topic and briefly explain what you discovered from your research.

• For example, you might begin by saying that your topic is an upcoming election in your community and that you wanted to do a media analysis to determine how to introduce your story. Then, you might conclude by saying what media channels discuss this topic in common.

Describe your M ethodology

This is the section where you describe your research process, such as the search terms you used, your sample size, the media outlets you sourced articles from, the time frame, and the databases you consulted. Be as detailed as possible when you describe your methodology.

Tip : In this section, clarify any special terms or details your readers might not understand.

Evaluate the topic to determine how the issue is being covered. Consider what your findings have revealed about how media outlets cover your topic. This is an excellent place to respond to some of the questions you’ve asked and answered about your topic, such as:

• What aspects of the topic are being covered?
• What buzzwords do the media channels use?
• Do the media channels tend to show bias on the subject, and if so, how?

Provide the spokesperson analysis. Spokespeople include business leaders, professionals, advocates, public and government officials, members of the general public, and academics. Tally up the frequency with which each type of spokesperson appears in the articles you review and mention these numbers in this section of the media analysis. You may even consider making a chart to show which spokespeople are being quoted most and least often.

• This can help you determine what spokespeople to include in your article.

Transition to the framing analysis to identify archetypes

Reporters may rely on one or more archetypes to frame a story, which can help you determine what might work best for your story. Identify any archetypes used in your reviewed stories and see what ones come up most and least often.

• For example, you might notice that the “hero takes a fall” archetype is frequently used for the articles in your topic area. Choosing this frame for your story could be beneficial.

Give readers your conclusions and recommendations. At the end of the media analysis, explain the study’s significant findings and how this may benefit your reader or organization. This may include detailed suggestions for how to frame a story, where to place it in a media channel, and who to quote in the story. Be as detailed as possible, and cite specific examples from your study to support your recommendations.

• For example, if you recommend including a business professional, professor, and community member in the coverage of a story, cite the data you have collected that shows these spokespeople as the picks for stories on your topic.

Media analysis is all about understanding and evaluating what we see, hear, and read in the media. Let’s break down the main goals of media analysis in simple terms:

• Understanding Media Content: Media analysis helps us understand what the media is trying to say. We can understand the messages and their meanings by examining the words, pictures, and symbols used.
• Spotting Patterns and Trends: Examining a lot of media content can reveal common themes and trends. This helps us understand what topics are often discussed and what stories are popular in the media.
• Assessing Media Influence: Media analysis examines how the media affects people’s opinions and behaviors. It helps us understand how what we see in the media can shape our thoughts and actions.
• Finding Bias and Ideology: One key goal is to identify bias and hidden messages in the media. This means examining how different groups or issues are presented and determining whether an agenda or certain viewpoints are being pushed.
• Improving Media Literacy: Media analysis improves our understanding and questioning of media. By learning how media messages are made and their effects, we become smarter and more critical media consumers.
• Guiding Media Production: Media analysis insights can help media creators create better content and show where more balanced or diverse representation is needed.
• Supporting Research: Media analysis is helpful in research. It provides a method to study media in a structured way, helping researchers learn more about communication and society.

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Everything You Should Know About Media Analysis (+ Template)

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Chinenye Gaberiel

Chinenye Gabriel is a certified public administrator with years of experience in PR Firms. She is also an SEO content writer and has honed her skills in crafting practical and insightful business, social media, and tech content. She provides services to organizations, including Business Yield Consult. Proficient in data analysis, leveraging analytical skills to derive insights and enhance content strategy.

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How to Write a Media Essay

Table of Contents

Introduction

Definition and Purpose of a Media Essay

A media essay is a written analysis that offers a personal perspective on the significance of a particular piece of media. The purpose is to examine and interpret media, considering various elements like context, message, audience, and impact. It’s a tool to understand the role media plays in shaping perceptions and conveying information in contemporary society.

Importance of Media Analysis in Contemporary Society

Analyzing media is crucial in a world where information is omnipresent. It helps in discerning the underlying messages, identifying bias, and understanding the influence of media on public opinion. It fosters critical thinking and media literacy, empowering individuals to navigate through the digital age’s complex information landscape.

Understanding the Assignment

Deciphering essay prompts and instructions.

Begin by carefully reading the assignment prompt. Identify key terms, the scope of the analysis, and any specific requirements. Clarify any doubts with your instructor to ensure you’re on the right track.

Setting Objectives and Expectations for the Essay

Define what you aim to achieve with your essay. Set clear, measurable objectives that align with the essay prompt. Ensure your goals are realistic and that you have a plan for achieving them within the given timeframe.

Research and Analysis

Conducting media research effectively.

Start with a thorough literature review to understand the existing discourse on the media topic. Use reliable sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable news outlets. Organize your research systematically for easy reference during writing.

Critical Analysis of Media Content (With Examples)

Analyze the chosen media piece by looking at various elements:

• Content : What is being shown or told?
• Context : When and where is the media produced, and how does it affect the message?
• Audience : Who is the intended audience, and how might different audiences interpret the message?
• Purpose : What is the media’s goal? To inform, persuade, entertain, or sell?
• Techniques : What techniques are used to convey the message? Consider language, visuals, sound, narrative structure, etc.
• Impact : Assess the media’s influence. Has it changed opinions, incited action, or conveyed a significant message?

Provide specific examples to support your analysis. Use direct quotes, screenshots, or descriptions to illustrate your points effectively.

Remember to maintain a logical flow throughout your essay, transitioning smoothly from one section to another. Each part of your essay should build upon the previous, culminating in a comprehensive analysis that demonstrates a deep understanding of the media’s role in society.

Structuring the Essay

Outline of a standard media essay structure.

• Hook: Start with an engaging opening to draw the reader in.
• Background: Provide context for the media piece you’re analyzing.
• Thesis Statement: Present your main argument or perspective on the media’s impact or meaning.
• Paragraph 1 : Discuss the content and context.
• Paragraph 2 : Examine the intended audience and potential interpretations.
• Paragraph 3 : Analyze the purpose and techniques used in the media.
• Paragraph 4 : Evaluate the media’s overall impact.
• Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence that states the main idea, followed by evidence and analysis.
• Summarize the key points made in the body.
• Restate the thesis in light of the discussion.
• Conclude with final thoughts on the media’s role or its broader implications.

How to Craft a Thesis Statement Specific to Media Essays

Your thesis should:

• Clearly state your position or argument regarding the media piece.
• Be specific and direct, avoiding vague language.
• Reflect the analytical nature of the essay, indicating the aspects of the media you will explore.

Writing the Essay

Paragraph structure and development of arguments.

• Topic Sentence : Start with a clear statement of what the paragraph will discuss.
• Evidence : Include specific examples from the media, such as quotes, scenes, or techniques.
• Analysis : Explain how the evidence supports your thesis and the paragraph’s topic.
• Conclusion : End with a sentence that ties the paragraph back to the thesis and provides a transition to the next point.

Incorporating Evidence and Citations

• Use evidence to back up each point you make.
• Cite sources properly using the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).
• Include in-text citations whenever you reference a source directly or indirectly.
• Provide a bibliography or works cited page at the end.

Stylistic Considerations

Writing styles and tones appropriate for media essays.

• Maintain an academic tone, using formal language and avoiding slang or colloquialisms.
• Write in the third person unless personal reflection is specifically allowed or encouraged.

The Balance between Formal Analysis and Personal Reflection

• The essay should predominantly focus on formal analysis, dissecting the media piece with objective scrutiny.
• Personal reflections can be included but should be framed within the context of the analysis, linking personal viewpoints to academic arguments.

Editing and Proofreading

Strategies for revising drafts.

• Take a Break : Step away from your essay before you begin revising to approach it with fresh eyes.
• Read Aloud : Reading your draft out loud can help you catch errors and assess the flow of your writing.
• Peer Review : Have someone else read your essay. They may catch mistakes you’ve missed and provide valuable feedback.
• Check Structure : Ensure each paragraph supports your thesis and that the essay flows logically.
• Focus on Clarity : Simplify complex sentences and clarify any ambiguous language.
• Refine Your Thesis : Make sure your thesis is clear and that the evidence throughout your essay supports it.

Grammar and Stylistic Errors to Avoid

• Passive Voice : Use active voice to make sentences clearer and more engaging.
• Run-On Sentences and Fragments : Ensure each sentence is complete and concise.
• Overuse of Jargon : Use technical terms appropriately, but don’t overload your essay with them.
• Comma Splices : Use conjunctions or semicolons to join clauses correctly.
• Consistency : Maintain tense and point of view throughout your essay.
• Overgeneralization : Support your statements with specific evidence.

Effectively Summarizing Arguments and Findings

• Restate your thesis in the light of the evidence you’ve presented.
• Summarize the main points of your analysis without introducing new information.
• Show how your findings contribute to the understanding of the media piece.

Providing Insightful Closing Remarks

• Offer thoughts on the implications of your analysis.
• Suggest areas for further research or questions raised by your essay.
• End with a strong, memorable final sentence that encapsulates the essence of your argument.

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Media Analysis Essay, Writing Guide

How to write a media analysis essay, introduction example, thesis statement, organising body paragraphs, how to conclude.

Media analysis essay requires one to understand the landscape of the media that guides them in the presentation of certain critical issues. The media analysis essay can work to identify messages, framing of messages, and also improving an existing issue. The essay should take into consideration pieces of media coverage over a certain period of time. These pieces of coverage are often in major daily newspapers, broadcasting outlets, and magazines. There are various steps to write a good media analysis essay. The first stage of writing a media analysis essay is to develop certain search terms. One identifies a list of search terms that help to zero in only articles that discussed a certain topic. The irrelevant topics are therefore excluded from the essay. For instance, if the media coverage was about the Government not concerned with Low-Wage Workers, the first search term would be ‘Low-Wage Workers.’ This will direct one to various news outlets that have the information about Low-Wage Workers in the country. During the search process, the media coverage on the topic might be varied. The writer, therefore, samples out the most suitable and relevant information to use for the analysis. The student then establishes the top sources of news which have credible information for use in the essay writing. It is important to have an introduction of an essay that lets the reader understand the main discussion covered in the essay. This includes giving detailed and background information about the topic of discussion. In the analysis of coverage on Low-wage workers, the essay can have the following introduction.

“The media broadcast has largely failed to cover the information on Low-Wage Workers even when the government of the day is not concerned. Consequently, most people who access news via television and newspapers are not aware of challenges facing the low-paid workers in the economy. In addition, most organisations that are ready to help the employees do not have sufficient information on certain specific things to offer. This essay will analyse media broadcast of information about employees who receive the lowest income.”

Still under introduction is the thesis statement. The student should have a complete thesis statement at the end of introduction for the media analysis essay. The statement guides any reader on the information covered in main body of the piece of writing. For instance, the thesis statement can be:

“Close analysis of media coverage on Low-Wage Workers is necessary to supply information to various organisations and individuals of concern for the benefit of all employees.”

There are different ways of structuring the paragraphs depending on genre and size of analysis document. However, the main objective of the information in the paragraphs is to present sections of the essay, analysis of the functioning of the sections and how the various parts constitute the thesis statement. One way is by the chronological structure which is the most straightforward technique. This technique should be used with reason to make the essay more effective. For instance, in the analysis of a photo in a newspaper, the chronological approach enables the writer to give insights in an order similar to the viewer of the image. The author should be careful in dealing with a document having a narrative by use of the chronological technique. This is because the writer can easily make a plot summary which is not the main objective of the analysis essay. Another way of structuring body paragraphs is by the use of the spatial technique. This approach covers sections of the essay in an easy way the eye can scan through. The guidelines to spatial approach include left to right and top to down structuring which is the natural way of reading and scanning in countries that use English as a language of communication. Another guideline is by the use of lines which give directions of the eye to follow in the process of scanning. In addition to the above techniques, another approach is by use of persuasive appeals in structuring the essay such as logos, ethos, and others. This technique enables the essay writer to persuade readers through logic and emotions. The student should only use persuasive appeals approach if they understand how it functions since there is a challenge of deviating from the main objective of the essay.

The conclusion of media analysis essay should restate the main ideas and issues covered in the body paragraphs and their importance, restate the thesis statement and also highlight further research necessary in completing efforts given in the analysis. For example in the analysis of low-wage workers, the conclusion can be as follows:

“It is a challenge when lowly-paid employees do not get full coverage in daily media broadcast because this is a platform where most people access news. Individuals and organisations wishing to assist the employees should make more efforts in ensuring the stories receive full media attention. There will be more motivation among the people to take action and change some factors if the media changes the style of covering the topic under discussion.”

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What Should You Include In Your Media Analysis Essay?

If you’re tasked with writing a media analysis essay, it’s important to include the right elements in your essay for a cohesive and well-written piece. What makes an essay good are its elements and structure.

So, whether you’re new to the concept of media analysis or just need a refresher, keep reading for some helpful tips on what you should include in your media analysis essay.  Another option for writing your essay is hiring a professional essay writer to assist you.

What Is Media Analysis?

Media analysis is the process of critiquing and interpreting information from the media in the context of a particular topic. This can be done with any type of media, including but not limited to:

• Social media posts

Essentially, when you engage in media analysis, you’re looking at the content in the media and critically evaluating it. Now that we’ve discussed what media analysis is, let’s move on to what should be included in a media analysis essay.

What Are the Elements of a Media Analysis Essay?

A clear thesis statement.

When writing any type of essay, it’s important to start with a clear thesis statement. This is especially true for a media analysis essay, as your thesis statement will serve as the foundation for the rest of your paper. 

When crafting your thesis statement, be sure to make it concise and clear. It should also be specific and arguable. An example of a good thesis statement for a media analysis essay might be: “Despite its claim to be an objective news source, The New York Times is biased in its coverage of political issues.”

Evidence to Support Your Thesis Statement

Once you have a clear thesis statement, the next step is to provide evidence to support it. When looking for such evidence, be sure to consider the content of the media along with the context in which it was created. 

For example, if you’re evaluating a news article, you might look at the language used by the author and how it might reflect their personal biases. If you’re analyzing a social media post, you might consider the creator’s history and any previous posts they’ve made on the same topic.

A Discussion of the Implications of Your Analysis

In addition to providing evidence to support your thesis statement, it’s also important to discuss the implications of your analysis. What does your analysis mean for the media piece that you’re critiquing? 

For example, if you’re arguing that a news article is biased, what implications does this have for the readers of that article? Are they getting an accurate portrayal of the events that are taking place?

A Conclusion

Last but not least, don’t forget to include a conclusion in your media analysis essay. Your conclusion should briefly summarize the main points of your essay and reinforce your thesis statement. It’s also a good idea to end with a call to action, or some food for thought, encouraging your readers to further engage with the topic you’ve discussed.

What Are the Steps in Writing a Media Analysis Essay?

Now that we’ve gone over what should be included in a media analysis essay, let’s discuss the steps involved in writing one.

Choose Your Topic

The first step is to choose a topic for your essay. You can write a media analysis essay on any topic. However, it’s important to choose a topic that you’re interested in and familiar with. This will make the research and writing process much easier.

Find Media Sources to Analyze

Once you’ve chosen your topic, it’s time to find some media sources to analyze. If you’re writing about a specific event, you might look for articles from different news outlets. If you’re critiquing a particular advertisement, you might look for similar ads from other companies. It’s important to try to find a variety of sources so that you can get a well-rounded view of the issue at hand.

Evaluate the Sources

After you’ve gathered your sources, it’s time to start evaluating them. This involves reading and evaluating the content of your sources, as well as looking at the context in which they were created. Be sure to take detailed notes during this process so that you can easily refer back to them later.

Craft Your Thesis Statement

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to start working on your thesis statement. This is the main argument of your essay, so it’s important that it be clear and well-developed.

Write Your Essay

This is the final step of writing the essay and is often the trickiest. This is especially true if you’re new to writing, as you might struggle to put your thoughts into words coherently. This is where an experienced freelance essay writer, like those available for hire on Guru, might come in handy.

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How to Do a Media Analysis

Last Updated: February 9, 2024

This article was co-authored by Noah Taxis . Noah Taxis is an English Teacher based in San Francisco, California. He has taught as a credentialed teacher for over four years: first at Mountain View High School as a 9th- and 11th-grade English Teacher, then at UISA (Ukiah Independent Study Academy) as a Middle School Independent Study Teacher. He is now a high school English teacher at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School in San Francisco. He received an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education. He also received an MA in Comparative and World Literature from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a BA in International Literary & Visual Studies and English from Tufts University. This article has been viewed 40,633 times.

A media analysis reviews a broad swath of news stories on a given subject. Media professionals may use media analysis to decide how to frame a story that they want to publish, such as by helping them choose specific terms and rhetorical appeals to use. This is also a common assignment in communications and journalism courses, so you might also do this as a student. Start by collecting news stories and then analyze them by asking and answering questions about them.

Collecting Stories to Analyze

• For example, you may include the local newspaper, radio station, web news sources, and possibly any major news sources in the nearest big city if you’re in a rural area or suburb.
• Alternatively, you might want to focus on national or worldwide news sources to analyze a larger company or subject.

• For example, if you’re conducting a media analysis of the controversy over a major highway construction project in your city, then you might include terms like, “highway construction,” “highway controversy,” “construction budget concerns,” etc.

• Make sure to include a variety of different types of media sources unless you’re hoping to examine a specific medium, such as TV, radio, or print news.

Tip : If desired, you may expand your search to cover a longer period of time, such as 12 months. This may result in a more thorough study of the topic.

• Separating the data into categories can help you know what to expect when you start reading a story.

Analyzing the Stories

• Buzzwords, which are terms that come up again and again across different media channels.
• Bias, which is using emotional appeals to convince readers of something even if the evidence is lacking.
• Similar portrayals of a story, such as portraying it in a positive or negative light across different media channels.
• Positioning of the story, such as whether it’s a front-page or prime-time news story.

Tip : The length of the story may also help you to determine its importance. For example, if it's a short story that appears on one page, the news outlet may deem it less important than something that takes up multiple pages.

• How does the media frame this topic?
• Who are the spokespeople for the topic and how are they being represented?
• Are any voices noticeably absent from the articles on this subject?
• What topics are getting the most coverage within the category?
• What media outlets are covering this topic?
• Does coverage seem to peak or drop at certain times of the year?

• For example, if you have noted that most news outlets portray your subject using a set of buzzwords and a similar level of bias, then you may describe and discuss these.

• For example, if the sources you consulted all portray a public concern in a similar light, then you might want to adopt this method of framing your topic as well.

Structuring a Media Analysis Essay

• For example, you might begin by saying that your topic is an upcoming election in your community and that you wanted to do a media analysis to determine how to introduce your own story on the topic. Then, you might conclude by saying what media channels have in common in their presentation of this topic.

Tip : Make sure to clarify any special terms or details that your readers might not understand in this section as well.

• What aspects of the topic are being covered?
• What buzzwords do the media channels use?
• Do the media channels tend to show bias on the subject, and if so, how?

• This can help you to determine what types of spokespeople to include in your own article.

• For example, you might notice that the “hero takes a fall” archetype is used frequently for the articles in your topic area. This might mean that choosing this frame for your story could be beneficial.

• For example, if you recommend including a business professional, professor, and a member of the community in coverage of a story, cite the data you have collected that shows these spokespeople as the picks for stories on your topic.

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• ↑ http://www.pointk.org/resources/files/gould_media.pdf
• ↑ https://ecu.au.libguides.com/research-methodologies-creative-arts-humanities/media-analysis

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• How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples

How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on February 4, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay . It sets up your argument and tells the reader what to expect.

The main goals of an introduction are to:

• Catch your reader’s attention.
• Give background on your topic.
• Present your thesis statement —the central point of your essay.

This introduction example is taken from our interactive essay example on the history of Braille.

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

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Table of contents

Step 1: hook your reader, step 2: give background information, step 3: present your thesis statement, step 4: map your essay’s structure, step 5: check and revise, more examples of essay introductions, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.

Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing an effective hook.

Avoid long, dense sentences—start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

The hook should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of the topic you’re writing about and why it’s interesting. Avoid overly broad claims or plain statements of fact.

Examples: Writing a good hook

Take a look at these examples of weak hooks and learn how to improve them.

• Braille was an extremely important invention.
• The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold claim about exactly  why the topic is important.

• The internet is defined as “a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities.”
• The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education.

Avoid using a dictionary definition as your hook, especially if it’s an obvious term that everyone knows. The improved example here is still broad, but it gives us a much clearer sense of what the essay will be about.

• Mary Shelley’s  Frankenstein is a famous book from the nineteenth century.
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement.

Instead of just stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here tells us about the mainstream interpretation of the book, implying that this essay will offer a different interpretation.

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Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:

• Historical, geographical, or social context
• An outline of the debate you’re addressing
• A summary of relevant theories or research about the topic
• Definitions of key terms

The information here should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your argument. Don’t give too much detail—you can mention points that you will return to later, but save your evidence and interpretation for the main body of the essay.

How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay. In our Braille example, we take a few sentences to introduce the topic and sketch the social context that the essay will address:

Now it’s time to narrow your focus and show exactly what you want to say about the topic. This is your thesis statement —a sentence or two that sums up your overall argument.

This is the most important part of your introduction. A  good thesis isn’t just a statement of fact, but a claim that requires evidence and explanation.

The goal is to clearly convey your own position in a debate or your central point about a topic.

Particularly in longer essays, it’s helpful to end the introduction by signposting what will be covered in each part. Keep it concise and give your reader a clear sense of the direction your argument will take.

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As you research and write, your argument might change focus or direction as you learn more.

For this reason, it’s often a good idea to wait until later in the writing process before you write the introduction paragraph—it can even be the very last thing you write.

When you’ve finished writing the essay body and conclusion , you should return to the introduction and check that it matches the content of the essay.

It’s especially important to make sure your thesis statement accurately represents what you do in the essay. If your argument has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say.

To polish your writing, you can use something like a paraphrasing tool .

You can use the checklist below to make sure your introduction does everything it’s supposed to.

Checklist: Essay introduction

My first sentence is engaging and relevant.

I have introduced the topic with necessary background information.

I have defined any important terms.

My thesis statement clearly presents my main point or argument.

Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay.

You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good.

• Argumentative
• Literary analysis

This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic (the invention of the printing press) and states the main point the essay will explain (the effect of this invention on European society).

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

This introduction to a literary analysis essay , about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein , starts by describing a simplistic popular view of the story, and then states how the author will give a more complex analysis of the text’s literary devices.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale. Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, and in popular culture representations of the character as a “mad scientist”, Victor Frankenstein represents the callous, arrogant ambition of modern science. However, far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our impression of Frankenstein, portraying him in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

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Covering a Pandemic: Critical Media Analysis Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
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An Overview of Media Analysis History and its Relevance

Modern technologies that spawned the culture of virtual spaces, remote communication, and social media also form a new type of world perception. In this new manner of seeing, the medium of communication or the media intermediary determines the meaning and direction of the transmitted information (Alvermann and Hagood, 2000). A lot of work over the past decades has been devoted to the study of media analysis, which has led to the formation of a new area of knowledge, concepts, and categories. The domain of media analysis may be considered a relatively new repercussion of the processes mentioned above, which makes the impulse to investigate this field inevitable (Alvermann and Hagood, 2000). As information is often associated with power and media is a contemporary quintessence of information or its absence, deconstructing media content has become a battlefield for the right to know. The essay strives to analyse the overarching significance of media analysis and its particular role in investigating how the pandemic is covered in news outlets.

In the occidental culture, the affirmation of postmodernist interpretation of truth has activated a new era for media. This interpretation on the surface allows each individual to have their realities and denies the existence of the universal one (Sim, 2019). Common nowadays perception of life as a game, the call to abandon the search for meaning, and put own opinions above evidence contributed to the modern state of media and the acute need for media analysis (Sim, 2019). Some researchers view this field as a branch of Critical Theory, an area of knowledge aimed at identifying the methods in which media content is used to affect the power balance in society (Deutscher and Lafont, 2017). Even though the extensive development of the field began rather recently, its first manifestations can be traced to the middle of the nineteenth century, when the first media monitoring canter was founded in London by a newsagent named Romeike (Kaulback, 2016). The further growth of media analysis manifested itself in the transition from individual analysts to agencies, corporations, and governments who also perform the media analysis nowadays (Kaulback, 2016).

Defying media analysis is crucial to ensure the unity of understanding of the issue. General opinions regarding the interpretation of what media analysis means seem somewhat equivalent and conforming. From this perspective, media analysis may be defined as a critical examination of the content, form, and context of a piece of media (Berger, 2017, p 311). Another definition states that critical media analysis means thinking critically about the impact of media on the distribution of power in society, nature and agendas of media powers and social knowledge (Stocchetti and Kukkonen, 2011). “Media” in these definitions refers to both the form and content which it communicates. After overviewing several definitions, the key elements present in them all are inspection, content, and effects produced. The main difference found between the definitions is their precision and the number of components included in them. In this way, it may be stated that certain unanimity is present in the way in which media analysis is defined.

The importance of media analysis may appear evident as it is somewhat understandable that it is aimed at revealing the strategies and tools intended to manipulate public opinion and, thus influence the socio-political situation in a country. According to Hua et al., (2018), media analysis is one of the constituents of the broader notion of media literacy, which in the contemporary world, is an essential competency for content consumers. It appears common for researchers to underline the value of media literacy which is partially sustained by media analysis not only for the professionals in the sphere but also for the general audience (Van Deursen, 2017). Hua et al. (2018, p. 371) state that “as an audience, it is not complete acceptance of information, but a process of “processing” information, from selective acceptance to information judgment to information adoption and information dissemination”. Hence, media analysis and media literacy are two interrelated processes, where the first one leads to the acquisition of the second. The practice of critical evaluation of media by the general public is an outcome that showcases the importance of media analysis.

The media’s toolkit that it uses to form public opinions is not overwhelmingly extensive and consists mainly of strategies that emerged in ancient rhetoric – framing is one of these techniques (Potapenko, 2016). It strives to stimulate specific interpretations and dim others through the usage of “frames”, which consist of rhetoric elements and specific vocabulary choices (Berger, 2017, p. 211). Recognising framing is an essential skill since the technique is often used to influence the public’s policy priorities. Fridkin et al. demonstrate the value of media analysis by investigating how the method is applied in depicting race and police brutality. The researchers (2017, p. 3399) emphasise that “two‑thirds of Facebook users (66%) and almost six of 10 Twitter users (59%) get some news from these cites”. In this way, media shapes the public’s attitude, who tend to receive information from social networks, towards a variety of issues making its analysis for a number of researchers a way to uncover and thus challenge social injustice.

The power that media professionals possess in the social construction of reality leads to a responsibility that could potentially be overlooked. The perceived authority of a media outlet in a society reflects the value of knowledge and the importance of its representation in a specific piece of media (Stocchetti and Kukkonen, 2011). Thus, it is argued that media in this age of information becomes a form of human existence, a moderator of perception, and thinking (Berger, 2017, p. 17). The importance of media analysis stems from the position it occupies in contemporary cultures.

Social media have become new agents of influence for the modern audience, with significant potential. The informative content of social media appears to be a unique form of unregulated, spontaneous and, in some way, amateur (moderated by the activity of Internet users themselves) information flow, and therefore examining this activity is a diagnostic of public opinion on significant aspects of public reality (Berger, 2017, p. 106). In this way, the stance among researchers investigating this area on the level and nature of the importance of media analysis is unanimous in underlining the role that it carries in assisting in reality construction and enhancing media literacy, and conscientiousness.

The role of social media in society, what degree of neutrality it should strive to obtain, and what political and societal systems should be supported by it are the questions that preoccupy media researchers. Stocchetti and Kukkonen (2011, p. 122) argue that “the critical enquiry into this deeper dimension of media power – that of constructing reality – is difficult because conceptual tools for this analysis, for example, the concept of power itself, are part of this construction”. Critical media analysis can create the conditions for the formation of a safe cultural space in which the general information order will be determined concerning the balance of interests of the individuals and society. Media analysis professionals should be able to exercise their information rights and freedoms.

“We were so close”: Three potential COVID-19 vaccines had funding cut)” Critical Analysis

“We were so close”: Three potential COVID-19 vaccines had funding cut)” by Liam Mannix is an example of how media shapes our perception of global politics, which can be demonstrated by the application of discourse analysis and framing. The approach aims to analyse mainly the statements made within the institutional framework and endowed with a historical, social, intellectual connotation, for instance, texts are studied taking into account the conditions of their formation and extralinguistic factors (Berger, 2017, p. 295). The general methodological principle of the approach lies in its interdisciplinarity (Berger, 2017, p. 296). Discourse analysis represents a critical attitude to knowledge about the world, examining the relationship between learning, social processes, and social behaviour. The method may help to determine the conditionality of how the issue of vaccine funding is presented in the article within the current socio‑political context. Taking into consideration the heated debates that unravelled around the topic, and the political implications that taking a stance entails, the delivery of ideas in the article could reveal a specific media bias.

The presenting bias in “We were so close”: Three potential COVID-19 vaccines had funding cut)” is somewhat noticeable, as the coverage in the article is slanted in favour of Professor Petrovsky, a scientist involved in vaccine development. The report covers an accident that took place in 2010 since the vaccine that was developed at that time could potentially serve as a basis for a new vaccine that could help in the prevention of COVID-19 spreading. The story is almost entirely presented from the point of view of the medical personnel, who testifies against a US government agency that reduced Australian laboratory funding (Mannix, 2020). The lack of commentaries from the opposing side of the clash is reasoned by the agency not responding to requests for comments. The incorporation of multiple sides of a conflict or varying and even opposing views on a problem is an integral factor that contributes to comprehensive and sophisticated media coverage. The article revolves mainly around one perspective, and it is understandable as the author chooses the perspective with which it is easier for the audience to empathise.

The presenting bias can be linked to mainstream bias, which is expressed by the tendency to adhere to the general direction in media coverage and avoid the inclusion of controversial topics or opinions into the news corpus. Elejalde, Ferres, and Herder (2018, p. 28) highlight that “for individuals as well as for society as a whole it is important to recognise and understand media bias that is shaped through underlying general political or socio-economic orientations”. Thus, uncovering biases in media, especially in times of a pandemic, which became an unavoidable topic for media outlets, may be not straightforward. “We were so close”: Three potential COVID-19 vaccines had funding cut)” covers a question that seems omnipresent and to state that the article suffers from mainstream bias solely on this ground is unfair. It may be noted that the text suffers from mainstream bias, because of the angle from which it covers the topic. The author seems to take a widely accepted stance, and points of view that could be considered out of favour are absent from the report.

Certain parts of “We were so close”: Three potential COVID-19 vaccines had funding cut)” focus on what could happen rather than on what is happening. For instance, Professor Petrovsky (2020, para. 10) claims that “if these vaccine trials had gone ahead – and they looked good – we would have felt in much better shape now”. This proneness to concentrate on what might occur given certain conditions signals the presence of speculative content bias. It should be noted that the source of the bias is not the author, but the interviewees. However, the author (2020, para. 2) introduces his article by stating, that “had those trials gone ahead in 2010, a vaccine for the deadly pandemic might be available right now “. Vigorous discussions around the pandemic make specific speculative topics look tempting – these circumstances enhance the value of journalistic integrity and standards.

The author of the article, Liam Mannix, is The Age and Sydney Morning Herald’s science reporter, who has been following the deployment of the pandemic since its beginning and concentrated thematically on the field before that. The author’s experience in covering similar issues renders him an adequate candidate to report on vaccine development. Even though the situation presented by Mannix is displeasing, the general COVID-19 vaccine development landscape seems extensive and spread across and funded by numerous courtiers (Lurie et al., 2020). It is claimed that the effort in response to the pandemic is unprecedented in terms of scale and speed (Tung et al., 2020). Presenting ideas transparently and straightforwardly is one of the principal characteristics of unbiased media and is a competence that professionals gain through practice. Despite the desired objectiveness and perceived professionalism, it is not uncommon for an article to concentrate exclusively on specific ideas, trying to sell them. As the article under consideration seems to revolve around one point of view, its message could be considered by some political one; the opinion on the topic is pre-made rather than evolved in the process.

The way the story in “We were so close”: Three potential COVID-19 vaccines had funding cut)” is told drives the reader to identify with the professionals interviewed, since the reader’s interest is directly engaged. The problem the article undertakes to cover enhances the sense of complicity and emotional involvement between the audience, the journalist, and the interviewee forming a sort of coalition against a distinct third party. The perspective of the people attached to the fund cutting seems to be excluded not deliberately but as a result of their unwillingness to comment. The viewpoint of the US National Institutes of Health, who provided Professor Petrovsky with funding in 2004, is indispensable to form an overarching vision (Mannix, 2020). As a result of the absence of multiple perspectives, the depiction of the events in the article may be considered fragmentary. The objectiveness of the report could be enhanced by the inclusion of alternate points of view.

The use of emotive language in news coverage, particularly, in regards to sensitive and heated topics, the category to which the COVID-19 pandemic belongs, is a method aimed to make readers react emotionally. The vocabulary choices present in “We were so close”: Three potential COVID-19 vaccines had funding cut)” are principally neutral with a few exceptions that can be found in the speech of the interviewees. The text is constructed on the testimonies given by several researchers who underwent funding cuts and the author’s remarks that provide context and direct the flow of information. Moreover, Mannix abstains from the usage of symbolic literary devices, such as metaphors, the absence of which warrants the text a higher degree of neutrality and appeal to logic.

The avoidance of emotive language ensures the degree of balance and objectivity present in the text. Even though the arguments are mainly provided by one side which results in a lack of broader context, the author manages to render the article convincing, by including data-driven reasoning and professional opinions. The memorability of the article lies in the tone of despair and impression of lost opportunities that it creates – even with minimal usage of emotive language the author manages to involve readers’ sentiments. The sense of reality is achieved through the incorporation of factual information and the acuteness of the issue covered. In this way, the message transmitted by the text appears to be clear enough to prevent the emergence of utterly dissimilar interpretations, despite the different ways the audience perceives information and cultural backgrounds.

The critical value of the media era is communication, the constant transfer of emotions, ideas, images that fill the modern human experience. In the process of virtual communication, media acts not only as an intermediary but also as a full participant in the communication process. The current socio‑political state of the world heightens the need for media analysis and criticism, as it is capable of defusing the manipulation and bias directed at constructing alternative visions of the situation.

Reference List

• Alvermann, D. E., & Hagood, M. C. (2000) “Critical media literacy: Research, theory, and practice in “New Times”. The Journal of Educational Research , 93 (3), 193–205.
• Berger, A. A. (2017) Media analysis techniques, 6th edn. SAGE Publications.
• Deutscher, P. and Lafont, C. (2017) Critical theory in critical times: Transforming the global political and economic order . Columbia University Press.
• Elejalde, E., Ferres, L., & Herder, E. (2018) “On the nature of real and perceived bias in the mainstream media”, PLOS ONE , 13 (3), pp. 1–28.
• Fridkin, K., Wintersieck, A., Courey, J., & Thompson, J. (2017) “Race and police brutality: The importance of media framing”, International Journal of Communication , 11, pp. 3394–3414.
• Hua, X., Li, K., Tan, Z., & Zhou, J. (2018) “Analysis of importance of new media literacy”, Proceedings of the 2018 8th International Conference on Social science and Education Research , pp. 370-373.
• Kaulback, M. A brief history of media monitoring (and analysis) (2016)
• Lurie, N., Saville, M., Hatchett, R., & Halton, J. (2020) “Developing Covid-19 Vaccines at Pandemic Speed”, The New England Journal of Medicine , pp. 1–5.
• Mannix, L. “We were so close”: Three potential COVID-19 vaccines had funding cut) (2020)
• Potapenko, S. (2016) “Rethinking Pathos: Media Rhetoric of Needs”, Vytauto Didžiojo Universitetas , 66, pp. 155-166.
• Sim S. (2019) “Postmodern relativism: Jean-François Lyotard versus Jacques Derrida”. Post‑Truth, Scepticism & Power , pp. 97-123.
• Stocchetti, M. and Kukkonen, K. (2011) Critical media analysis: An introduction for media professionals . Peter Lang.
• Tung, L., Andreadakis, Z., Román, R., Tollefsen, S., Saville, M. & Mayhew, S. (2020) “The COVID-19 vaccine development landscape “, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery , 19, pp. 305–306.
• Van Deursen, A. J. A. M. (2017) “Digital divide: Impact of media literacy”, The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects , pp. 1–8.
• Celebrity Culture Is Harmful to Society
• Hypodermic Syringe Model and Media Literacy
• 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine in Global Media Coverage
• American Evening News Programs Comparison
• Illegal Immigration: Difference in Covering the Matter
• The Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Relationship
• Content Creation: Reconstructing the World, Reimagining the Self
• Agenda-Setting and Framing around Charlottesville
• What Is the Power of Big Media?
• The Anti-Siphoning Laws
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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As the use of social media has been increasing day by day, a large amount of user content is freely available on social media sites. Nowadays companies need to monitor and analyze customer content on their social media sites to increase their competitive advantage and growth of their businesses. We...

As the use of social media has been increasing day by day, a large amount of user content is freely available on social media sites. Nowadays companies need to monitor and analyze customer content on their social media sites to increase their competitive advantage and growth of their businesses. We conduct a detailed case study for the analysis and comparison of the content available on social media. We picked the top 5 games (GTA 5, Red Redemption 2, Assassin’s Creed, Battlefield, and Fortnite ) and conduct an analysis of social media content on their Facebook official pages. We found comparisons and differences in social media use among these game franchises and discuss our findings and recommendations to help companies in improving their social media competitive analysis strategies.

Nowadays, people use social media sites to present their feelings, opinions e.t.c but social media sites are also used by customers to express their reviews on the product they have purchased. Their reviews and concern on social media sites help us to learn about their purchasing experience and provide important knowledge to improve their market service and their quality. We analyze that the textual data on social network sites plays very important for the growth of any business. The rapid growth of social media content requires the ease of using new social media techniques. Competitive intelligence is important for companies to use in managing risks and making decisions.[1] . Not only do they need to monitor their own social media sites but they also have to monitor their competitor’s social media sites. To make their business successful companies need to process all available information (customers’ opinions, reviews of services, quality ) to predict what happened and what’s gonna happen. With the increasing use of social media, the tremendous amount of customer-generated content available on social media sites has now become a new source of mining competitive intelligence. [2].

Helping gaming businesses to understand how to perform actionable social media analytics and how social media content can be transformed into strategically actionable knowledge by conducting an in-depth case study using frameworks and tools to analyze and compare unstructured text content on the Facebook sites of the top 5 best selling games franchises (GTA, Red Redemption, Fortnite, Assassin Creed, BattleField). We focused on comparing posts on their official Facebook pages to understand the issues and problems with customers’ reviews of these games. As the gaming industry is a billion-dollar industry and games are available on many platforms including consoles, PC, Portable consoles, mobile, etc.

Social media sites provide the facility for users to create and share content like photos, videos, sharing, etc. Facebook is the most popular in terms of its use, and network traffic and is widely used by many business companies to interact with customers and to track customers’ feedback and reports. [3][6].Many business companies use social media to track their product feedback among customers and to communicate with customers.

Social media plays an instrumental role in promoting consumer awareness and providing access to vast amounts of information that impact decision-making processes. [7].As social media reach a large audience at a low cost.[8][9].On social media, platform businesses are able to develop new techniques to rapidly learn customer perceptions of new product offerings and maximize opportunities to attract and collaborate with loyal customers [10][11].

It is very important for business companies to constantly collect and check information about their competitor’s products and services and plans. [3][2].As social media is used as a medium for companies to interact with their customers, companies need to monitor their own social media sites.

To conduct social media competitive analytics we use a combination of traditional statistical analysis, text mining, content analysis, and sentiment analysis techniques to examine social media content collected by comparing customers’ experiences from social media sites.

Text mining aims to extract meaningful information from unstructured textual data [3][4]. The main purpose of text mining is to automatically extract knowledge, insights, and useful trend from a given set of text documents.[5]. This technique has been used to analyze a large amount of social media data. Text mining identifies trends in posts or comments from social media sites.

Sentimental analysis is the computational detection and study of opinions, sentiments, emotions, and subjectivities in the text [12][16][17]. Sentiment Analysis is concerned with the automatic extraction of positive or negative opinions from the text [12].

The video game industry has grown from a focused market to mainstream. The annual earnings from the games industry are higher than the film industry. According to the latest global games market reports from intelligence firm Newzoo projected that a base of 2.3 billion gamers worldwide spent a total of $ 137.9 billion on games this year.[13]. The industry-wide figure is up 13.3% year-over-year, driven largely by a 25.5% jump in mobile revenues to reach $70.3 billion. Breaking it down a little further, smartphones will account for about 80% of the mobile number, with tablets making up the remaining 20%. According to Newzoo, this will be the first year where mobile revenues make up a majority of the games industry.[13].As for the rest of gaming, it’s split nearly evenly between consoles and PCs. Newzoo expects console revenues to reach $34.6 billion for the year, or just over 25% of the total gaming spend, while PCs will contribute $32.9 billion to the total, or nearly 24% of all gaming revenues. In all, 91% of all industry revenues will be generated from digital sources.[13]

Data from social media can be collected from many software tools. The easy way is to use web-crawling software to access the web interface of the site. Many social media (like Facebook and Twitter) provides API services for data tracking. However, blogs and online forums typically do not provide API for data tracking but there are many forums that offer RSS feeds that can be tracked easily [15]. The framework can be used to facilitate the construction of a social media repository for managing heterogenous longitudinal social media data from competitors.[14] The framework collects, stores, and analyzes data by conducting continuous longitudinal monitoring and analysis from social media sites. The data can be generated on a daily, monthly, or weekly basis to facilitate social media analysis for example by comparing customers’ comments and sentiments about a particular competing product.

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There is no one perfect way to organize a rhetorical analysis essay. In fact, writers should always be a bit leery of plug-in formulas that offer a perfect essay format. Remember, organization itself is not the enemy, only organization without considering the specific demands of your particular writing task. That said, here are some general tips for plotting out the overall form of your essay.

Introduction

Like any rhetorical analysis essay, an essay analyzing a visual document should quickly set the stage for what you’re doing. Try to cover the following concerns in the initial paragraphs:

• Make sure to let the reader know you’re performing a rhetorical analysis. Otherwise, they may expect you to take positions or make an evaluative argument that may not be coming.
• Clearly state what the document under consideration is and possibly give some pertinent background information about its history or development. The intro can be a good place for a quick, narrative summary of the document. The key word here is “quick, for you may be dealing with something large (for example, an entire episode of a cartoon like the Simpsons). Save more in-depth descriptions for your body paragraph analysis.
• If you’re dealing with a smaller document (like a photograph or an advertisement), and copyright allows, the introduction or first page is a good place to integrate it into your page.
• Give a basic run down of the rhetorical situation surrounding the document: the author, the audience, the purpose, the context, etc.

Thesis Statements and Focus

Many authors struggle with thesis statements or controlling ideas in regards to rhetorical analysis essays. There may be a temptation to think that merely announcing the text as a rhetorical analysis is purpose enough. However, especially depending on your essay’s length, your reader may need a more direct and clear statement of your intentions. Below are a few examples.

1. Clearly narrow the focus of what your essay will cover. Ask yourself if one or two design aspects of the document is interesting and complex enough to warrant a full analytical treatment.

The website for Amazon.com provides an excellent example of alignment and proximity to assist its visitors in navigating a potentially large and confusing amount of information.

2. Since visual documents often seek to move people towards a certain action (buying a product, attending an event, expressing a sentiment), an essay may analyze the rhetorical techniques used to accomplish this purpose. The thesis statement should reflect this goal.

The call-out flyer for the Purdue Rowing Team uses a mixture of dynamic imagery and tantalizing promises to create interest in potential, new members.

3. Rhetorical analysis can also easily lead to making original arguments. Performing the analysis may lead you to an argument; or vice versa, you may start with an argument and search for proof that supports it.

A close analysis of the female body images in the July 2007 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine reveals contradictions between the articles’ calls for self-esteem and the advertisements’ unrealistic, beauty demands.

These are merely suggestions. The best measure for what your focus and thesis statement should be the document itself and the demands of your writing situation. Remember that the main thrust of your thesis statement should be on how the document creates meaning and accomplishes its purposes. The OWl has additional information on writing thesis statements.

Analysis Order (Body Paragraphs)

Depending on the genre and size of the document under analysis, there are a number of logical ways to organize your body paragraphs. Below are a few possible options. Which ever you choose, the goal of your body paragraphs is to present parts of the document, give an extended analysis of how that part functions, and suggest how the part ties into a larger point (your thesis statement or goal).

Chronological

This is the most straight-forward approach, but it can also be effective if done for a reason (as opposed to not being able to think of another way). For example, if you are analyzing a photo essay on the web or in a booklet, a chronological treatment allows you to present your insights in the same order that a viewer of the document experiences those images. It is likely that the images have been put in that order and juxtaposed for a reason, so this line of analysis can be easily integrated into the essay.

Be careful using chronological ordering when dealing with a document that contains a narrative (i.e. a television show or music video). Focusing on the chronological could easily lead you to plot summary which is not the point of a rhetorical analysis.

A spatial ordering covers the parts of a document in the order the eye is likely to scan them. This is different than chronological order, for that is dictated by pages or screens where spatial order concerns order amongst a single page or plane. There are no unwavering guidelines for this, but you can use the following general guidelines.

• Left to right and top to down is still the normal reading and scanning pattern for English-speaking countries.
• The eye will naturally look for centers. This may be the technical center of the page or the center of the largest item on the page.
• Lines are often used to provide directions and paths for the eye to follow.
• Research has shown that on web pages, the eye tends to linger in the top left quadrant before moving left to right. Only after spending a considerable amount of time on the top, visible portion of the page will they then scroll down.

Persuasive Appeals

The classic, rhetorical appeals are logos, pathos, and ethos. These concepts roughly correspond to the logic, emotion, and character of the document’s attempt to persuade. You can find more information on these concepts elsewhere on the OWL. Once you understand these devices, you could potentially order your essay by analyzing the document’s use of logos, ethos, and pathos in different sections.

The conclusion of a rhetorical analysis essay may not operate too differently from the conclusion of any other kind of essay. Still, many writers struggle with what a conclusion should or should not do. You can find tips elsewhere on the OWL on writing conclusions. In short, however, you should restate your main ideas and explain why they are important; restate your thesis; and outline further research or work you believe should be completed to further your efforts.

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In Media Analysis assignments, you need to identify fact from opinion and recognise various forms of media bias. You may need to give examples of what has been said or shown in the media about a particular group or issue.  To do this, you may be given specific resources to analyse, or you might be asked to  look at a wide range of media, including television, radio transcripts, newspapers, films, blogs, and social media. 

In addition to providing examples of how a group or issue is shown in the media, you need to critically analyse this representation.  Some questions to help you with this are:

• Is the group/issue accurately portrayed? 
• Does the group like the way it is portrayed?
• Is the group/isssue portrayed in a positive way, a negative way, or a mixture?
• How do people feel about the way the group/issue is portrayed?
• Are there different perspectives or opinions presented about this group/issue in the media, or just one?
• Who talks about this group/issue in the media?  Are they part of the group/issue or outside it?
• Are there positive outcomes from the way this group/issue is represented in the media?
• Who benefits from these positive outcomes?
• Are there negative outcomes from the way this group/issue is represented in the media?
• Who suffers from these negative outcomes?
• Are there outcomes that are negative for some people but positive for others?

Find out more about writing a media analysis in the guide below.

Useful links

Introductory essay

Written by the educators who created Covering World News, a brief look at the key facts, tough questions and big ideas in their field. Begin this TED Study with a fascinating read that gives context and clarity to the material.

At the newsstand, on our smartphones and while watching the evening news, we learn about faraway people and places from the journalists, stringers and correspondents who work for news agencies and other media outlets around the globe. Global news is everywhere — from the front page news read by a New Yorker on Madison Avenue to the government radio station broadcasting in Pyongyang.

However, it would be a mistake to consider this a completely new phenomenon or to overstate its pervasiveness. Many people tend to think that global news is both a recent phenomenon and one that we can credit to advances in technology. If we think of 'news' in terms of newspaper articles or television reporting, then news is only as old as the technologies of press and video, and dates back to the first newsletters that circulated in Europe in the 17th century.

But in reality, humans have shared information about current affairs within and across borders for thousands of years, starting with the news networks of the ancient Phoenicians. The historical record also describes merchants sharing political news along ancient trade routes, minstrels and other traveling artists whose fictional performances also carried information about social change, and criers in medieval town squares.

If news is not a product of modern technologies, it's nevertheless true that technological change has had a dramatic impact on how news is made and consumed: where once we had printed newsletters distributed twice a day, now we have Twitter feeds refreshed twice a minute, and carrying information from an ever-widening array of sources. We live, as media critics like Marshall McLuhan have argued, in a global village.

The trouble with this vision of 'global news' is that it's not nearly as complete as we imagine it to be. According to the World Bank, of the world's seven billion people, only 80% have access to electricity (or the gadgets like computer and televisions that depend on it), 75% have access to mobile phones, and a meager 35% to the Internet. Most people on the planet aren't connected to what we think of as the 'global media' at all. As Global Voices founder Ethan Zuckerman points out in his TED Talk, "There are parts of the world that are very, very well connected, [but] the world isn't even close to flat. It's extremely lumpy."

Just as critically, the content that makes up the 'global media' is still heavily focused on a few key centers of power. In her TED Talk, Public Radio International's Alisa Miller shares a powerful map of the news consumed by American audiences in 2008: most of it focused on the U.S., and to a lesser extent, on countries with which the U.S. has military ties. Ethan Zuckerman points out that this lack of global coverage is pervasive, whether it's at elite news outlets like The New York Times or on crowdsourced digital information platforms like Wikipedia.

Moreover, Zuckerman argues, it's not just about the stories that get made — it's about what stories we choose to listen to. Thirty years ago, Benedict Anderson made waves when he argued that political structures (like states) depend upon a set of shared values, the 'imagined community,' and that the media plays a key role in creating those values. Zuckerman, however, argues that in today's world the disconnect between what we imagine to be our community, and the community we actually live in, is a major source of global media inequality. We connect to the Internet, with its technological capacity to link up the whole world, and imagine that we live in a global village. But in practice, we spend most of our time reading news shared by our Facebook friends, whose lives and interests are close to our own. Zuckerman calls this 'imagined cosmopolitanism.'

Compounding the problem, the stories we do attend to can be heavily distorted, reducing whole countries or societies to a single stereotype or image. As author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explains in her TED Talk about the 'single story,' when all the tales we hear about a country follow the same pattern, we begin to imagine that this pattern is all there is know. The 'single story' can affect all of us, rich and poor: Adichie talks of her own misconceptions about Nigeria's rural poor, of her surprise at encountering the diversity of life in Mexico, and of her college roommate's reductive vision of Africa as poor and underdeveloped. The difference, she argues, is that there are simply more stories out there about powerful countries than about less powerful ones, and that makes it harder for us to reduce those societies to 'single stories' in our minds.

What can we do?

First, we can tell different stories about the places that are prone to reduction. In her TED Talk, Yemeni newspaper editor Nadia Al-Sakkaf takes us to the Yemen she lives in — where terrorism and political upheaval are real problems, but far from the whole picture. Moreover, in her account, each image can tell many stories. A woman with a veiled face can represent the role of fundamentalist Islam in Yemeni society, but she argues that a look behind the veil shows us that many of these women are holding down jobs and earning income, and in so doing, changing their role within their own families and in Yemeni society more broadly.

Second, we can find ways to invest in journalism. As Alisa Miller argues, a major obstacle to a truly global news media is the cost of production, of keeping bureaus in every country and paying for journalists to produce deep, investigative stories. The great paradox of media economics in the digital age is that the Internet makes it possible for us to consume more content, but falling advertising revenues means that each piece of content must cost a little less to produce. That pushes news outlets, even wealthy ones, in the direction of gossip and regurgitated press releases that can be produced by a reporter who hasn't left her desk.

One way to break this cycle, Ethan Zuckerman argues, is to make small and targeted investments in local journalists in the developing world. He describes a blogger training program in Madagascar that became a newsroom overnight when world media outlets needed verified content from a country undergoing revolution. He highlights the critical work of professional curators like Amira Al Hussaini at Global Voices or Andy Carvin at the Associated Press.

At the heart of these recommendations is a shift in the way we understand the mission of journalists — or rather, a return to an old way of thinking about news.

Right up until the early 20th century, all journalists were assumed to be opinion writers. Reporters went places to report, made up their own minds about a topic, and wrote an account that included not only facts, but an argument for what position readers at home should take and what political actions might follow. George Orwell's colorful and opinionated essays from South East Asia, for example, were published as reportage.

Then the Cold War started, and in the democratic West, journalists began to strive for objective impartiality, to distinguish their work from the obvious, state-sponsored propaganda of the Soviet bloc. Many critics at the time questioned whether 'true' objectivity was possible, but no major western news organization disputed that it was the ideal.

Today, we're seeing a return to the older understanding of journalism, towards an acceptance that even independent reporting carries a viewpoint, shaped by the people who produce it. Moreover, contemporary journalists are increasingly coming to see this viewpoint as a strength rather than as a weakness, and using social media to be more transparent to readers about the values they bring to stories. New York University's Jay Rosen, for example, has argued powerfully that the 'view from nowhere' advocated by 20th century western reporters is dangerous because it can lead journalists to treat 'both sides' of a story equally even when one side is telling objective falsehoods or committing crimes.

Many of the speakers in Covering World News describe their journalism — whether it is Global Voices or the Yemen Times — as having an explicit moral and political mission to change our perceptions of under-covered regions of the world.

But no speaker is more passionate on this subject than TED speaker and photojournalist James Nachtwey, who credits the activist context of the 1960s for inspiring him to enter journalism, using photography to "channel anger" into a force for social change. Nachtwey's work has brought him, at times, into partnership with non-profit aid organizations, an alliance that is increasingly common in today's media world but would surely not have fit within the 'objective' media of a half-century ago. Nachtwey sees himself as a 'witness' whose place in the story is not to be invisible, but to channel his own humane outrage at war or social deprivation in order to drive social and political change: in one case, a story he produced prompted the creation of a non-profit organization to collect donations from readers.

This kind of work is a form of 'bridge building,' a theme that emerges in many of our talks. For while there may not be one 'global media' that includes all communities equally and reaches all parts of the globe, there are many individuals whose skills and backgrounds enable them to go between the connected and less connected pockets of the world, bridging gaps and contributing to mutual understanding. That, perhaps, is the way forward for international journalism.

Let's begin our study with Public Radio International CEO Alisa Miller, an ardent advocate for a global perspective in news programming. In her TEDTalk "The news about the news," Miller shares some eye-opening statistics about the quantity and quality of recent foreign reporting by American mainstream media organizations.

Alisa Miller

How the news distorts our worldview, relevant talks.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The danger of a single story.

Ethan Zuckerman

Listening to global voices.

James Nachtwey

My wish: let my photographs bear witness.

Nadia Al-Sakkaf

See yemen through my eyes.

How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)   

The introduction of an essay plays a critical role in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay, establishes the tone and style, and motivates the reader to continue reading. 

Table of Contents

What is an essay introduction , what to include in an essay introduction, how to create an essay structure , step-by-step process for writing an essay introduction , how to write an introduction paragraph , how to write a hook for your essay , how to include background information , how to write a thesis statement .

• Argumentative Essay Introduction Example: 
• Expository Essay Introduction Example 

Literary Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Check and revise – checklist for essay introduction , key takeaways , frequently asked questions .

An introduction is the opening section of an essay, paper, or other written work. It introduces the topic and provides background information, context, and an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the work. 1 The key is to be concise and to the point, providing enough information to engage the reader without delving into excessive detail. 

The essay introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire piece and provides the reader with a roadmap of what to expect. Here are key elements to include in your essay introduction: 

• Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement or question to engage the reader. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a compelling anecdote. 
• Background information : Provide context and background information to help the reader understand the topic. This can include historical information, definitions of key terms, or an overview of the current state of affairs related to your topic. 
• Thesis statement : Clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. Your thesis should be concise and specific, providing a clear direction for your essay. 

Before we get into how to write an essay introduction, we need to know how it is structured. The structure of an essay is crucial for organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly and logically. It is divided as follows: 2  

• Introduction:  The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.  
• Body:  The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should concentrate on a single central idea or argument and provide evidence, examples, or analysis to back it up.  
• Conclusion:  The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis differently. End with a final statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Avoid new information or arguments. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction: 

• Start with a Hook : Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading. 
• Provide Background Information : This helps the reader understand the relevance and importance of the topic. 
• State Your Thesis Statement : The last sentence is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and directly address the topic of your essay. 
• Preview the Main Points : This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and how you will support your thesis. 
• Keep it Concise and Clear : Avoid going into too much detail or including information not directly relevant to your topic. 
• Revise : Revise your introduction after you’ve written the rest of your essay to ensure it aligns with your final argument. 

Here’s an example of an essay introduction paragraph about the importance of education: 

Education is often viewed as a fundamental human right and a key social and economic development driver. As Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is the key to unlocking a wide range of opportunities and benefits for individuals, societies, and nations. In today’s constantly evolving world, education has become even more critical. It has expanded beyond traditional classroom learning to include digital and remote learning, making education more accessible and convenient. This essay will delve into the importance of education in empowering individuals to achieve their dreams, improving societies by promoting social justice and equality, and driving economic growth by developing a skilled workforce and promoting innovation. 

This introduction paragraph example includes a hook (the quote by Nelson Mandela), provides some background information on education, and states the thesis statement (the importance of education). 

This is one of the key steps in how to write an essay introduction. Crafting a compelling hook is vital because it sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will stay interested. A good hook draws the reader in and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.  

• Avoid Dry Fact : Instead of simply stating a bland fact, try to make it engaging and relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of exercise, you could start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that regular exercise can increase your lifespan by up to seven years?” 
• Avoid Using a Dictionary Definition : While definitions can be informative, they’re not always the most captivating way to start an essay. Instead, try to use a quote, anecdote, or provocative question to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, if you’re writing about freedom, you could begin with a quote from a famous freedom fighter or philosopher. 
• Do Not Just State a Fact That the Reader Already Knows : This ties back to the first point—your hook should surprise or intrigue the reader. For Here’s an introduction paragraph example, if you’re writing about climate change, you could start with a thought-provoking statement like, “Despite overwhelming evidence, many people still refuse to believe in the reality of climate change.” 

Including background information in the introduction section of your essay is important to provide context and establish the relevance of your topic. When writing the background information, you can follow these steps: 

• Start with a General Statement:  Begin with a general statement about the topic and gradually narrow it down to your specific focus. For example, when discussing the impact of social media, you can begin by making a broad statement about social media and its widespread use in today’s society, as follows: “Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of users worldwide.” 
• Define Key Terms : Define any key terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers but are essential for understanding your argument. 
• Provide Relevant Statistics:  Use statistics or facts to highlight the significance of the issue you’re discussing. For instance, “According to a report by Statista, the number of social media users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.” 
• Discuss the Evolution:  Mention previous research or studies that have been conducted on the topic, especially those that are relevant to your argument. Mention key milestones or developments that have shaped its current impact. You can also outline some of the major effects of social media. For example, you can briefly describe how social media has evolved, including positives such as increased connectivity and issues like cyberbullying and privacy concerns. 
• Transition to Your Thesis:  Use the background information to lead into your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay. For example, “Given its pervasive influence, it is crucial to examine the impact of social media on mental health.” 

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, or other type of academic writing. It appears near the end of the introduction. Here’s how to write a thesis statement: 

• Identify the topic:  Start by identifying the topic of your essay. For example, if your essay is about the importance of exercise for overall health, your topic is “exercise.” 
• State your position:  Next, state your position or claim about the topic. This is the main argument or point you want to make. For example, if you believe that regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, your position could be: “Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health.” 
• Support your position:  Provide a brief overview of the reasons or evidence that support your position. These will be the main points of your essay. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of exercise, you could mention the physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and the role of exercise in disease prevention. 
• Make it specific:  Ensure your thesis statement clearly states what you will discuss in your essay. For example, instead of saying, “Exercise is good for you,” you could say, “Regular exercise, including cardiovascular and strength training, can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.” 

Examples of essay introduction 

Here are examples of essay introductions for different types of essays: 

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:  

Topic: Should the voting age be lowered to 16? 

“The question of whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 has sparked nationwide debate. While some argue that 16-year-olds lack the requisite maturity and knowledge to make informed decisions, others argue that doing so would imbue young people with agency and give them a voice in shaping their future.” 

Expository Essay Introduction Example  

Topic: The benefits of regular exercise 

“In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. From improving physical health to boosting mental well-being, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. This essay will examine the various advantages of regular exercise and provide tips on incorporating it into your daily routine.” 

Text: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee 

“Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces characters to confront their prejudices. This essay will analyze the novel’s use of symbolism, character development, and narrative structure to uncover its deeper meaning and relevance to contemporary society.” 

• Engaging and Relevant First Sentence : The opening sentence captures the reader’s attention and relates directly to the topic. 
• Background Information : Enough background information is introduced to provide context for the thesis statement. 
• Definition of Important Terms : Key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to the audience or are central to the argument are defined. 
• Clear Thesis Statement : The thesis statement presents the main point or argument of the essay. 
• Relevance to Main Body : Everything in the introduction directly relates to and sets up the discussion in the main body of the essay. 

Writing a strong introduction is crucial for setting the tone and context of your essay. Here are the key takeaways for how to write essay introduction: 3  

• Hook the Reader : Start with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a compelling question, a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or an anecdote. 
• Provide Background : Give a brief overview of the topic, setting the context and stage for the discussion. 
• Thesis Statement : State your thesis, which is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be concise, clear, and specific. 
• Preview the Structure : Outline the main points or arguments to help the reader understand the organization of your essay. 
• Keep it Concise : Avoid including unnecessary details or information not directly related to your thesis. 
• Revise and Edit : Revise your introduction to ensure clarity, coherence, and relevance. Check for grammar and spelling errors. 
• Seek Feedback : Get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your introduction further. 

The purpose of an essay introduction is to give an overview of the topic, context, and main ideas of the essay. It is meant to engage the reader, establish the tone for the rest of the essay, and introduce the thesis statement or central argument.  

An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.

An essay introduction is critical in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. To ensure its effectiveness, consider incorporating these key elements: a compelling hook, background information, a clear thesis statement, an outline of the essay’s scope, a smooth transition to the body, and optional signposting sentences.  

The process of writing an essay introduction is not necessarily straightforward, but there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this end. When experiencing difficulty initiating the process, consider the following techniques: begin with an anecdote, a quotation, an image, a question, or a startling fact to pique the reader’s interest. It may also be helpful to consider the five W’s of journalism: who, what, when, where, why, and how.   For instance, an anecdotal opening could be structured as follows: “As I ascended the stage, momentarily blinded by the intense lights, I could sense the weight of a hundred eyes upon me, anticipating my next move. The topic of discussion was climate change, a subject I was passionate about, and it was my first public speaking event. Little did I know , that pivotal moment would not only alter my perspective but also chart my life’s course.” 

Crafting a compelling thesis statement for your introduction paragraph is crucial to grab your reader’s attention. To achieve this, avoid using overused phrases such as “In this paper, I will write about” or “I will focus on” as they lack originality. Instead, strive to engage your reader by substantiating your stance or proposition with a “so what” clause. While writing your thesis statement, aim to be precise, succinct, and clear in conveying your main argument.  

To create an effective essay introduction, ensure it is clear, engaging, relevant, and contains a concise thesis statement. It should transition smoothly into the essay and be long enough to cover necessary points but not become overwhelming. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to assess its effectiveness. 

References  

• Cui, L. (2022). Unit 6 Essay Introduction.  Building Academic Writing Skills . 
• West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay.  Journal of Geography in Higher Education ,  43 (4), 609-617. 
• Beavers, M. E., Thoune, D. L., & McBeth, M. (2023). Bibliographic Essay: Reading, Researching, Teaching, and Writing with Hooks: A Queer Literacy Sponsorship. College English, 85(3), 230-242. 

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• What is an Argumentative Essay? How to Write It (With Examples)
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• How to Cite Social Media Sources in Academic Writing? 
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