Up for discussion: Watch the following CNN interview by clicking the link and take up a political economy vs market liberalist perspective. OR Why does CNN make use of individuals in its newscast? How does this enhance the realism?
http://cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2012/11/15/nr-life-in-gaza-strip-seshay-intv.cnn
Your Media Class 
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The CNN makes use of individuals in the newscast who are directly involved and live in the conflict zone. The negative story enhances the realism of what exactly is going on in the conflict as it offers emotional realism for audience’s to understand the threat they feel in such a situation, “I feel that my life is at risk”. Thus the news value of human interest is relevant as people’s lives are at risk and as a result it enables the audience to have an insight into the situation. Also as poor quality of the Skype call is used, it enhances the realistic approach of the environment and surroundings of the residents as it conceals any production process that could have been used otherwise. The unmediated narrative is also realistic as Abercrombie suggests and it further enhances the shock value, since the Skype call is interrupted by a blast that emphasizes the threat and the situation the resident is currently in.
CNN uses individuals to better report on the conflict by interviewing and asking people who have experienced the violence first-hand to describe the conflict in their own words. It is a very effective way as each of those individuals are from different sides of the conflict (Palestinians and Jews). They make it more authentic by using web-cam connections which makes it more personal and it makes it seem like regular people are telling their stories. They are more looking like regular people as they describe the experiences of their kids, families and businesses. It also shows how the conflict is unfolding in real-time as blasts interrupt the interview with Muhammad from the Gaza strip which is relevant to the story as it was Isralili bombs that were being brutally thrown on the Gaza strip.