Constructing Meaning in the Information Age: Communications Theory as a Critical Tool.
In this paper, the role of communications theory is discussed in relation to news coverage of war. Specifically, the ways that news is constructed is analyzed, and theories of "framing" and "cognitive dissonance" are discussed in relation to the media's production of news, and the effects that certain perspectives can have on the audience. It is argued here that in this age of increased information, communications theory is a critical tool for understanding contradictory information and is essential for cultivating an informed opinion on current and historical events.
