News with an Edge

Merging the ideas of the Iyengar and Gamson readings, it can be stated that some media sources as of late have been encouraging citizen participation and expression. Typically it has been the case that the media would prefer passive viewers who tune in every night and avoid getting too involved. Recently though, media outlets on both the left and the right have shown their ability to get citizens involved. Maybe the media is now beginning to empower citizens to act on their interests.

As Iyengar points out, there are clearly right leaning and left leaning news networks. There shouldn't be any doubt that Fox reports conservatively and MSNBC with anchors like Keith Olbermann, reporting liberally. Iyengar states, "Republicans gravitated to talk radio, radio news, and television advertising, whereas Democrats avoided talk radio and tuned in to television news magazines and late-night entertainment television." Viewers are already polarized and the content offered up by Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck or John Stewart and Stephen Colbert are readily received by their perspective audiences.

Going back to the question that Gamson asks, does the media encourage collective identity or expression? I would say in some cases, yes. Viewers recognize their political leanings and thus gravitate to Fox News or MSNBC. They view themselves collectively as conservatives or liberals. The media is now responding by catering to their collective identity. Fox News supports many "grassroots" organizations and encourages their viewers to join those organizations and protest against the government. Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally did in fact get a lot of people to come out. While I do not agree with Glenn Beck's views or the so called, "grassroots" organizations, it can be said that the media is doing something. On the left side, the "Rally to Restore Sanity" gathered large amounts of people, who may collectively view themselves as sane, rational citizens.

Due to the competitive news market there will be niches created and "news with an edge" will sell. On top of that, these shows that have carved out a niche might actually be trying to reach out to their audience more than news networks/shows in the past. The next problem that will have to be tackled is for viewer participation and non-quiescence to be centered around causes with more substance.