Resounding News: The Acoustic Conventions of Israeli Newscasts

Abstract

This article takes sound as its analytical point of departure in asking the following question: What does sound do in television news? Exploring the conventions of sound used by producers of Israeli television news, from the signature tune to the various news items, this study reveals the role of sound as part of journalistic framing practices but also as an insidious element challenging the visual as well as the construction of framing. We suggest that inquiring into the acoustic features of television news may offer new insights into the news genre and its practices. We propose the term soundscape as a complementary conceptual metaphor to framing with the aim of counteracting the visual bias dominating the academic discourse of political communication and journalism studies.