Political Photography, Journalism, and Framing in the Digital Age

Abstract

In the digital age, journalists are becoming more susceptible to the packaged visuals of politicians that image handlers are pushing electronically in an attempt to circumvent and influence the mainstream media. These managed photos and videos communicate officialdom, voyeurism, and pseudo-events, ranging from routine government business to a personal side of political leaders. They are designed to frame the subject in a positive light and to promote a strategic image. This article submits that demand for digital handouts of visuals, or “image bytes,” is stimulated by economics and institutional accommodation, including the constant need for Web content and journalists’ eroding access to government officials. A profile of the image management of Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper illustrates the jockeying between politicians, PR staff, and journalists over news selection, pseudo-events, framing and gatekeeping. Insights from 32 interviews with Canadian journalists and Conservative party insiders suggests that a two-tier media system is emerging between the small news operations that welcome digital handouts and the mainstream journalists who are opposed. Theoretical themes for international research include examining the implications of political image bytes such as the possible priming effect on journalists who are exposed to constant visual e-communication pushed by political offices.

Instagram y la espectacularización de las crisis políticas. Las 5W de la imagen digital en el proceso independentista de Cataluña

“…Esta utilidad profesional ha hecho aumentar el interés investigador sobre los efectos de la imagen política en redes como Twitter o Facebook. En concreto, trabajos recientes demuestran una influencia significativa sobre la percepción de atributos de los líderes en campaña (Goodnow, 2013), en las rutinas de los medios (Marland, 2012) y de forma más amplia en el encuadre de temas políticos (Powell et al, 2015). En España, los primeros trabajos sobre la imagen en Twitter muestran una notable personalización sobre el líder en campañas (Quevedo-Redondo; Portalés-Oliva; Berrocal-Gonzalo, 2016), pero sin un patrón claro respecto a la representación de atributos ni un uso relevante de la vida privada.…”

The agenda-building function of political tweets

“…Information subsidies are an important element in first- and second-level agenda building. Some of the information subsidies political leaders send journalists include press releases and digital handouts, such as photos and videos of pseudo-events (Marland, 2012). Information subsidies also come in the form of YouTube videos and Facebook posts (Ragas and Kiousis, 2010; Wigley and Fontenot, 2009).…”

“…During the agenda-building process, those who wish to shape journalists’ stories and public perception often disseminate information subsidies, which include speeches, videos, and press releases. Many studies have shown that information subsidies are successful in affecting news media coverage and public opinion (Kiousis et al, 2011; Kiousis and Strömbäck, 2010; Marland, 2012; Turk, 1986).…”

Estilos de gestión de los perfiles políticos en Twitter: imagen y texto en las cuentas de los partidos en la campaña del 26J

“…La imagen del político es, obviamente, la tarjeta de presentación del partido (Castells 2008;Marland 2012). La conversión del líder político en "marca" (Neddham 2005) es un fenómeno que, desde el punto de vista teórico, se vincula a muchos rasgos de la comunicación política del siglo XX, como la narrativización espectacularizante de los medios de comunicación ( Johnson-Cartee 2004), por ejemplo, o la campaña permanente (Blumenthal 1980).…”