Minimum 300 words Discuss the following questions 1. In what ways do media shape
ID: 1165763 • Letter: M
Question
Minimum 300 words Discuss the following questions1. In what ways do media shape public opinion? 2. Do media effects matter? 3. Does media objectivity greatly determine whether the media influence public opinion? a. What examples can you provide? Minimum 300 words Discuss the following questions
1. In what ways do media shape public opinion? 2. Do media effects matter? 3. Does media objectivity greatly determine whether the media influence public opinion? a. What examples can you provide? Minimum 300 words Discuss the following questions
1. In what ways do media shape public opinion? 2. Do media effects matter? 3. Does media objectivity greatly determine whether the media influence public opinion? a. What examples can you provide?
Explanation / Answer
1. In what ways do media shape public opinion?
The goal of the media is to provide accurate information to the masses. Mass media, first, draws attention to issues. Then, the media moves to shape this issue by providing facts, information, and expert opinions. Upon the presentation of information, the media desires the public to make an informed opinion or decision, influencing their public opinion. Finally, the media provides this information to public policy makers, so they can develop an informed decision and move forward with a proper solution to the issue.
2. Do media effects matter?
Agenda setting means the ability of the mass media to bring issues to the attention of the public and, related, of politicians. The basic claim is that as the media devote more attention to an issue, the public perceives the issue as important. When the media take up a specific topic - such as climate change, or manager bonuses - they make us think about it.
The available data on the relationship media reporting - public opinion - policy is not great, but there is good reason to assume that media coverage has an indirect, but nontrivial effect on policy making. Therefore the media should be considered a relevant player for policy and reform work - through the channel of public opinion the media can help shaping policies
3. Does media objectivity greatly determine whether the media influence public opinion?
a. What examples can you provide?
The most negative aspect of the media is that it controls what the public perceives and hears about. European and Asian exchange students in my area, for instance, often ask why Americans receive little or no real world news. There is a major network that has an evening program that is supposed to deal with world news, but little other than the mid-East is discussed. The magazine that is named for world news also gives only a select report on select parts of the world.
Major newspapers in the United States are owned by certain people who control the slant of the news, again. One need only look at the treatment of presidents such as Richard Nixon whose conduct was throughout his life constantly under the miscroscope and compare it to the investigations on other congressmen and presidents who have had less than ethical careers themselves. One such example is the senator from and Eastern state who undoubtedly committed murder as a young man, yet he was lauded throughout the media after his death.
Below is the example-
The presidential elections are perfect examples of the bias of the media. In fact, Time magazine's editors even admitted to having influence the past election because of their front covers that presented one particular candidate a multitude of times. In another example of news bias, when citizens went to Washington to protest the proposed health care bill, it was reported to the public that a few thousand attended when later it was revealed that actually millions of citizens had gone.