Article(print)1995

Two Theories of the Press: Instrumental and Social Construction Themes in Recent Canadian News Analysis

In: Studies in political economy: SPE ; a socialist review, Issue 46, p. 175-190

Silva, Edward T

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Abstract

Reviews a recent proliferation of Canadian social science works on communications analysis & their implications for future research directions, juxtaposing instrumentalist & social constructionist points of view. The latter appears more dominant, treating the news as part of a larger analysis of all Canadian content. The approach is critiqued, however, for lacking empirical proof of how normative values are autonomously created in the newsroom (as claimed), & for an air of unreality around the social construction of news work. Conversely, a resurgent instrumentalism sees rules of journalistic method as structurally vulnerable, especially to the power of publishers, their political-economic allies. Though neither perspective is inclined to incorporate elements of the other, a merger of the strengths of both is recommended. C. Mariani

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