What is Calculability?

Ritzer defines calculability as involving "an emphasis on things that can be calculated, counted, quantified. Quantification refers to a tendancy to emphasize quantity rather than quality. This leads to a sense that quality is equal to certain, usually (but not always) large quantities of things" (Ritzer 1994, 142 ) The title The Hour suggests to viewers that out of the 24 hours in a day, this is the hour of television to be watching. The name of this show has the viewer convinced from the start that if you want up-to-date national and international news, this is the hour to watch. Within this hour of television, George Stroumboulopoulos portrays the image that he is packing in as much information as he can into this hour; after all, quantity is equal to quality in the McDonaldization model. "A lot of something, or the quick delivery of it means it must be good" (Ritzer 2000, 16). In truth, Stroumboulopoulos is tricking the viewer into thinking they are getting a large quantity of news during the show through the use of: multiple graphics that quickly flash on the screen between segments accompanied by music that has a fast beat, segment titles such as "Mile-A-Minute" to emphasize how much information is condensed into a short period of time, and Stroumboulopoulos speaks quickly and uses body language to suggest that he is always on the move and is cramming in as much information as he possibly can into this hour, in order to fully inform the viewer.
Is the viewer being fully informed? Is quality present? No, Stroumboulopoulos touches on various issues (including politics, pop-culture, the environment, and current issues), but does not delve into any real detail. The Hour does, however, try to convince the viewer that they are getting to the bottom of issues and presenting the news in a detailed fashion with their claim "while news shows cover the issues of the day, The Hour dissects the issues within the issues." Stroumboulopoulos does not support this claim in his actions, as his news reports are short, un-analytical segments, knitted together with flashy graphics and fast paced music to delude the viewer, whispering "more is better!"
(show Mile-A-Minute segment)

sources:
Ritzer, George, "An Introduction to McDonaldization," pp.1-19 in The
McDonalidization of Society, 3rd ed, Pine Forge Press, 2000
Ritzer, George, Sociological Beginnings: On the Origins of Key Ideas in
Sociology, McGraw Hill, 1994