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Introduction

Framing is a concept which is commonly used to understand the media effects. It is regarded as the extension of agenda setting theory which prioritize an issue and makes the audience think about its effects. The framing is based on the idea of how media base an event or an issue within a particular field of meaning which plays an important role in people’s decision making procedure.

framing in media

Source: Doreen Salcher/Adobe Stock

Framing

Framing is used to represent the communication aspect which leads to the people’s preference by consenting one meaning to another. Framing stimulates the decision making process by highlighting particular aspects by eliminating the others.

For e.g. the newspaper frames the news within a particular viewpoint. This can change the perception of the issue among the readers.

Framing is an important aspect where an issue can be highlighted to make sense of the events. It can regulate the audience’s perception and also the acceptance of a particular meaning.

As media plays an important role in the people’s perceptions, the negative framing can create a huge impact upon the people.

For e.g. the sensitive issues that are coming in the media have been framed diplomatically by not supporting any principles and thus the people can make their own decisions.

But a biased media can frame an issue negatively and can influence the mass. Intuition and careful interpretation of the audience are inevitable when it comes to framing. Media is a powerful tool and so the content must be framed with values as it influences and controls the audience.

The journalists select the news stories influenced by many factors such as news values, editorial policies, and interaction with the creamy layer of the society. These factors build the frame. With the interaction between the media and the preconceptions of the people, Framing plays an important role in how the particular issue is been presented before the people and how they perceive it.

Applications

Framing can be used for effective communication in all fields of media and other organizations. It is mainly applied in understanding media effects. Effective communication among a mass can be done with well-organized framing of meanings and issues. Politicians can frame their vision effectively so that the public can understand its significance and accept it.

Example

Newspapers prioritize the news items and highlight according to policies of the agency. The journalists decide the frame in which the information is presented accordingly.

If a journalist reports on a pollution problem from a local river, it can be reported in the native’s perceptive; where the problems faced by the people living nearby the river is highlighted, the perspective of the company causing the pollution; highlighting the advantages of how the company can help In development and employment opportunities, and from an outsiders perspective; highlighting the pros and cons of the industry and also taking into account the problems faced by the people. Each report can influence the mass in a huge manner and mostly the media stands diplomatically.

{ 9 comments… add one }
  • A November 8, 2013, 3:36 am

    If media framing has such a large effect on how audiences perceive issues/events, should the media be more upfront about their biases, or will that not have any effect? What is the value in stating a bias?
    Ex. Should Fox News acknowledge its conservative bias?

  • Ismail Mostafa November 22, 2015, 8:35 pm

    Please give me more updating about your work. Thank you in advance

  • John April 13, 2016, 5:31 am

    Yes, A. I am in agreement with you. Agenda-Setting theory states that the media is stunningly successful in telling us what to think about. I think it doesn’t take much reason nor time to determine that the press, to a large degree, controls what SOME people think. Therefore, I believe that, for the consumer, news gaencies should be upfront about who funds them and what their purposes are. That way people can use that knowledge for their own independent studies. Therefore, there is great value in stating a bias.

  • Md Saiful Islam January 18, 2019, 9:37 pm

    Thanks a lot.we are also trying to learn communication theory .

  • panashe mashabidze October 16, 2019, 1:29 pm

    Thank you so much. you just helped me in my presentation on framing.

  • Quaim Ali kazmi October 20, 2019, 3:07 pm

    if framing is very good and the news is not good so what is the effect from this?

  • Khaled Alyami December 28, 2019, 6:51 pm

    Thank you for sharing this knowledge.

  • Elikem April 30, 2020, 7:31 pm

    This was helpful.
    Please how do I relate the framing theory to any neway story?

  • Mercy May 15, 2022, 7:00 am

    Thank you

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