Current Affairs Essay

A current affairs news programmes are designed to inform us about certain events or people. However, through the use of selection of detail, structure and the reporter’s and presenter’s language, tone and attitude the audience’s interpretation of the events or people can be altered. In a story that appeared on Today Tonight these techniques were used to influence the viewer’s opinion. In the story, Rose Porteous held a charity event for a hospital and a Member of Parliament made accusations that the hospital had received none of the money and that Rose had used it to cover costs. Mrs Porteous is depicted negatively in the story. The audience views her as guilty and uneducated.

The audience’s interpretation of the people or events depicted in a current affair news story can be altered through the use of the reporter’s and the presenter’s tone, language and attitude. At the start of a news story the presenter delivers a short introduction to the story. In this case the...