Framing Theory

Definition

Framing theory suggests that how an issue is characterized in news reports can have an influence on how it is understood by the audience. Framing refers to the way media and other communicators present information in a way that influences perceptions and interpretations of that information.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Framing theory suggests that how an issue is presented in the media can influence how the public understands and responds to that issue.
2. Frames are often used by social movements to garner support and mobilize action around their causes.
3. Framing can be used to highlight certain aspects of an issue while downplaying or omitting others, shaping public perception.
4. The way an issue is framed can influence policy decisions and public opinion, as well as individual-level attitudes and behaviors.
5. Effective framing can be a powerful tool for social movements, as it allows them to shape the narrative and influence public discourse.

Review Questions

• Explain how framing theory relates to the study of social movements.
  • Framing theory is particularly relevant to the study of social movements because social movements often rely on effective framing to garner support and mobilize action around their causes. Framing allows social movements to highlight certain aspects of an issue while downplaying or omitting others, shaping public perception and discourse. By framing issues in a way that resonates with the target audience, social movements can influence policy decisions, public opinion, and individual-level attitudes and behaviors. Effective framing can be a powerful tool for social movements, as it allows them to shape the narrative and influence the way their issues are understood and perceived.
• Describe how media framing can impact the public's understanding and response to social issues.
  • Media framing can have a significant impact on the public's understanding and response to social issues. By focusing on certain aspects of an issue while omitting others, the media can shape the way the audience perceives and interprets that information. This, in turn, can influence the importance the public assigns to the issue, as well as their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards it. For example, the media's framing of a social issue as a matter of individual responsibility rather than a systemic problem can lead the public to view the issue through a different lens and support different policy solutions. Effective framing by the media can be a powerful tool in shaping public discourse and mobilizing support or opposition to social issues.
• Analyze how social movements can utilize framing theory to advance their goals and influence public opinion.
  • Social movements can strategically employ framing theory to advance their goals and influence public opinion. By framing issues in a way that resonates with their target audience, social movements can shape the narrative and garner support for their causes. This may involve highlighting certain aspects of an issue while downplaying or omitting others, or presenting the issue in a way that aligns with the audience's values and beliefs. Effective framing can help social movements define the problem, assign blame, and propose solutions that are more likely to resonate with the public. Additionally, framing can be used to mobilize action by presenting the issue as urgent and requiring immediate attention. By understanding and leveraging the power of framing, social movements can increase their influence and drive meaningful change in society.

Related terms

Media Framing: The process by which the media present certain aspects of a topic while omitting others, thereby shaping the way the audience understands and perceives that issue.

Cognitive Frames: The mental structures that individuals use to organize and interpret information, which can be influenced by media framing.

Agenda-Setting Theory: The idea that the media, by focusing on certain issues, can influence the importance the public assigns to those issues.