skey_exceptional events - CT sep 2020.pdf (320.78 kB)
W(h)ither media events? Building a typology for theorizing exceptional events that break with the norm in a complex media landscape
This paper proposes a new typology for understanding events or programs that represent
exceptions to the norm in that they interrupt media schedules and/or monopolize coverage
across numerous platforms and capture public attention for short periods of time. First the
master category of mediated event is introduced and four main categories identified, media
events, media disasters, news events and pseudo events. Then, a primary distinction is drawn
between those that interrupt mainstream programming and those that interrupt specialist news
channels or are staged for publicity purposes by media producers. This typology builds on
recent responses to Dayan & Katz’s (1992) classic study of Media Events but argues that
rather than expanding conceptual categories, specific analytical tools - that focus on
temporality, organization, scale, liveness and genre - are required to make sense of an
increasingly complex, and competitive, media landscape
History
School
- Social Sciences and Humanities
Department
- Communication and Media
Published in
Communication TheoryPublisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)Version
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Rights holder
© The authorsPublisher statement
This article has been accepted for publication in Communication Theory Published by Oxford University Press.Acceptance date
2020-11-12Publication date
2020-12-30ISSN
1050-3293eISSN
1468-2885Publisher version
Language
- en
Depositor
Dr Michael Skey Deposit date: 12 November 2020Usage metrics
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