Framing

Framing is a technique used by the media to tell us how we should think about a certain topic through the use of specific tones, words, and facts.  

Framing is all about the interpretation of given information.  For any given topic or story, there are many different perspectives one can take to look at it.  Framing is the media's way of using certain facts and the way they state certain facts to steer a person's interpretation of said facts.  Since the media decides what to put in a story and what to leave out, the viewer or reader will see the story from that point of view.  The media can also sway a person's view through the use of persuasive language or imagery concerning the topic.   

In order to show how influential framing can be, one can look to what is often times thought to be completely factual, the news.  This morning, two different articles were posted on the websites of two different news vendors, CNN and Fox News, about what one would think is the same story: tax cuts. Both articles cite the same plan in the works for tax cuts and many of the same people are quoted.  However, upon further speculation, one would see that the story is told from two very different angles.  CNN gives the story a more liberal spin by stating how the plan for tax cuts is "gaining traction"while Fox News takes the conservative approach by focusing on the fact that these tax cuts would leave out those earning $250,000 a year and more.  Same story, different facts highlighted, different interpretations taken away by the readers. 

A few specific examples from the articles:


The titles of the two articles alone immediately tell the reader how they're supposed to feel about the tax cuts.
CNN: Obama's plan to extend some tax cuts may be gaining traction
Fox News: Obama Economic Adviser: U.S. Can't Afford Tax Cuts for High-End Earners


From CNN news: "If the only option I have is to vote for those at $250,000 and below, of course I'm going to do that," Boehner said. "But I'm going to do everything I can to fight to make sure that we extend the current tax rates for all Americans."


and his quote left off there. However, look at how the same quote was used in Fox News.


From Fox News: "If the only option I have is to vote for those at 250 and below, of course I'm going to do that. But I'm going to do everything I can to fight to make sure that we extend the current tax rates for all Americans," Boehner told CBS' "Face the Nation." But Boehner called that bad policy, and that the people who would be denied a tax cut make up about half of small business income.