title: Investigating the Journalistic Field:The Influence of Objectivity as a Journalistic Norm on the Public Debate on Genetic Engineering in New Zealand

authors: Rupar, Verica

subjects: Journalism

abstract: This thesis explores the relationship between journalism as a specific type of socio-cultural practice and the production of meaning in public discussion. Through a case study of newspaper coverage of the issue of genetic engineering in New Zealand (2001-2002), it specifically examines journalists' newsgathering methods, their use of sources and their story-telling frames, and analyses how the news media uses the norm of objectivity to shape public debate on contentious issues. 

The study argues that elements and structures of journalistic practice both determine a newspaper's ability to address events and issues in a meaningful way and define a newspaper's potential to create a space for public debate. Drawing on field theory, discourse studies and the sociology of journalism, the thesis develops a new operational framework for investigation of journalistic practice by looking at the ideal of objectivity as a method of news gathering, an account of representing reality, and an attitude towards the reality so constructed. This framework is applied in the case study of newspaper coverage of the GE issue where four components of journalistic practice are analysed: journalistic form, transparency of newsgathering, sources and frame. Using content analysis, discourse analysis, interviews and a survey, the thesis explores the relationship between journalistic norms around these elements of the practice and the discursive potential of the news text to represent, interpret and construct reality.

The findings of this study highlight the tension between outmoded forms of practice and the complexity of issues in the public domain. The analysis reveals how the norm of objectivity, originally developed as a shield for the defence of the autonomy of the profession to mediate reality, became, in the case of media coverage of genetic engineering, an obstacle in extending journalism's potential to contribute to public debate. As a method, objectivity failed to provide a set of transparent protocols for the representation of the issue in the public arena; as an account, it reflected the impossibility of separating 'facts' from 'views' and positions of detachment from those of partisanship; and as an attitude, objectivity was endangered by the increasing power of economic imperatives in the production of news.  Following this analysis, the thesis explores the influence of journalistic norms on public debate by looking at journalism as a text, as a discursive practice and as a field of cultural production.  The GE issue, constructed in the New Zealand press as a key component of the 'knowledge economy', drew attention to the dynamics between the economic imperatives
and professional standards of the journalistic field.  The objectivity norm was reduced in news reports to reporting 'what people say' rather than what the issue or argument meant, which led to a simplification of the genetic engineering issue in the public domain. The study concludes with the call for a re-examination of the journalistic field in light of the press's incapacity to challenge the status quo and map the social world for its readers.

text: Investigating the Journalistic Field:The Influence of Objectivity as a Journalistic Norm on the Public Debate on Genetic Engineering in New Zealand This thesis explores the relationship between journalism as a specific type of socio-cultural practice and the production of meaning in public discussion. Through a case study of newspaper coverage of the issue of genetic engineering in New Zealand (2001-2002), it specifically examines journalists' newsgathering methods, their use of sources and their story-telling frames, and analyses how the news media uses the norm of objectivity to shape public debate on contentious issues. 

The study argues that elements and structures of journalistic practice both determine a newspaper's ability to address events and issues in a meaningful way and define a newspaper's potential to create a space for public debate. Drawing on field theory, discourse studies and the sociology of journalism, the thesis develops a new operational framework for investigation of journalistic practice by looking at the ideal of objectivity as a method of news gathering, an account of representing reality, and an attitude towards the reality so constructed. This framework is applied in the case study of newspaper coverage of the GE issue where four components of journalistic practice are analysed: journalistic form, transparency of newsgathering, sources and frame. Using content analysis, discourse analysis, interviews and a survey, the thesis explores the relationship between journalistic norms around these elements of the practice and the discursive potential of the news text to represent, interpret and construct reality.

The findings of this study highlight the tension between outmoded forms of practice and the complexity of issues in the public domain. The analysis reveals how the norm of objectivity, originally developed as a shield for the defence of the autonomy of the profession to mediate reality, became, in the case of media coverage of genetic engineering, an obstacle in extending journalism's potential to contribute to public debate. As a method, objectivity failed to provide a set of transparent protocols for the representation of the issue in the public arena; as an account, it reflected the impossibility of separating 'facts' from 'views' and positions of detachment from those of partisanship; and as an attitude, objectivity was endangered by the increasing power of economic imperatives in the production of news.  Following this analysis, the thesis explores the influence of journalistic norms on public debate by looking at journalism as a text, as a discursive practice and as a field of cultural production.  The GE issue, constructed in the New Zealand press as a key component of the 'knowledge economy', drew attention to the dynamics between the economic imperatives
and professional standards of the journalistic field.  The objectivity norm was reduced in news reports to reporting 'what people say' rather than what the issue or argument meant, which led to a simplification of the genetic engineering issue in the public domain. The study concludes with the call for a re-examination of the journalistic field in light of the press's incapacity to challenge the status quo and map the social world for its readers.

year: 2007

title: Constellations and their relationship with categories

authors: Gould, Victoria

subjects: mathematics

abstract: Constellations are partial algebras that are one-sided generalisations of categories. Indeed, we show that a category is exactly a constellation that also satisfies the left-right dual axioms. Constellations have previously appeared in the context of inductive constellations: the category of inductive constellations is known to be isomorphic to the category of left restriction semigroups. Here we consider constellations in full generality, giving many examples. We characterise those small constellations that are isomorphic to constellations of partial functions. We examine in detail the relationship between constellations and categories. In particular, we characterise those constellations that arise as (sub-)reducts of categories. We demonstrate that the notion of substructure can be captured within constellations but not within categories. We show that every constellation P gives rise to a category (Formula presented.), its canonical extension, in a simplest possible way, and that P is a quotient of (Formula presented.) in a natural sense. We also show that many of the most common concrete categories may be constructed from simpler quotient constellations using this construction. We characterise the canonical congruences (Formula presented.) on a given category (Formula presented.) (those for which (Formula presented.), and show that the category of constellations is equivalent to the category of (Formula presented.)-categories, that is, categories equipped with distinguished canonical congruence (Formula presented.). The main observation of this paper is that category theory as it applies to the familiar concrete categories of modern mathematics (which come equipped with natural notions of substructures and indeed are (Formula presented.)-categories) may be subsumed by constellation theory.

text: Constellations and their relationship with categories Constellations are partial algebras that are one-sided generalisations of categories. Indeed, we show that a category is exactly a constellation that also satisfies the left-right dual axioms. Constellations have previously appeared in the context of inductive constellations: the category of inductive constellations is known to be isomorphic to the category of left restriction semigroups. Here we consider constellations in full generality, giving many examples. We characterise those small constellations that are isomorphic to constellations of partial functions. We examine in detail the relationship between constellations and categories. In particular, we characterise those constellations that arise as (sub-)reducts of categories. We demonstrate that the notion of substructure can be captured within constellations but not within categories. We show that every constellation P gives rise to a category (Formula presented.), its canonical extension, in a simplest possible way, and that P is a quotient of (Formula presented.) in a natural sense. We also show that many of the most common concrete categories may be constructed from simpler quotient constellations using this construction. We characterise the canonical congruences (Formula presented.) on a given category (Formula presented.) (those for which (Formula presented.), and show that the category of constellations is equivalent to the category of (Formula presented.)-categories, that is, categories equipped with distinguished canonical congruence (Formula presented.). The main observation of this paper is that category theory as it applies to the familiar concrete categories of modern mathematics (which come equipped with natural notions of substructures and indeed are (Formula presented.)-categories) may be subsumed by constellation theory.

year: 2017

title: Māori and medications: What happens when the pills go home?

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Māori

abstract: Chronic illnesses are a feature of many Māori homescapes. These illnesses are often managed at home through the use of health technologies, particularly medications. This article explores the meanings given to medications and the use of this health technology in four Māori households. We use a range of qualitative methods to engage with householders and to document how medications are acculturated into Māori homescapes and everyday lives. From our discussions with householders about the procurement, storage, emplacement and administration of medications emerged five culturally patterned orientations to treating with medications. They are: 1) storage and administration practices that corresponded with the Māori hygiene practices of tapu (prohibited) and noa (permitted); 2) reminder strategies, or ngā pūrere whakamāharahara; 3) the enactment of the value of manaakitanga (kindness) in care relationships; 4) pōharatanga, or attitudes towards medication procurement and administration in households textured by low socio-economic status; and 5) rangatiratanga, the right of people to manage and make decisions about their own lives and health status. This study presents a view of how medications are acculturated into Māori homescapes, relationships and daily routines. The use of health technologies by health professionals to interrupt illness and improve quality of life must be cognisant of the cultural contexts into which medications are prescribed.

text: Māori and medications: What happens when the pills go home? Chronic illnesses are a feature of many Māori homescapes. These illnesses are often managed at home through the use of health technologies, particularly medications. This article explores the meanings given to medications and the use of this health technology in four Māori households. We use a range of qualitative methods to engage with householders and to document how medications are acculturated into Māori homescapes and everyday lives. From our discussions with householders about the procurement, storage, emplacement and administration of medications emerged five culturally patterned orientations to treating with medications. They are: 1) storage and administration practices that corresponded with the Māori hygiene practices of tapu (prohibited) and noa (permitted); 2) reminder strategies, or ngā pūrere whakamāharahara; 3) the enactment of the value of manaakitanga (kindness) in care relationships; 4) pōharatanga, or attitudes towards medication procurement and administration in households textured by low socio-economic status; and 5) rangatiratanga, the right of people to manage and make decisions about their own lives and health status. This study presents a view of how medications are acculturated into Māori homescapes, relationships and daily routines. The use of health technologies by health professionals to interrupt illness and improve quality of life must be cognisant of the cultural contexts into which medications are prescribed.

year: 2011