[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’The media’s purpose’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ANGELICA LOUISE PFLEIDER
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
DURING our class in Public Opinion, we discussed how there are two ways as to how people view the media’s purpose in society.
One is that it is the Fourth Estate or the “watchdog” that calls out the bad guys and exposes the evils of the government to the people. The other one is that the media tends to be biased in reporting and is better off just being a narrator of daily life.
Our teacher then asked us which of the two perceptions do we believe are true. It started out with an awkward silence, then everyone unanimously agreeing with the first point. However, as we thought about it, we realized that the second point also speaks true about how the media can be.
As a student of Communication, there is one very important thing I have learned about the mass media. The belief that is it “fair for all” and “non-biased” is a myth. Being in the media is a business and each business has its loyalties. The media can choose which stories or which parts of a story to include and which ones not to include. For every “big” story that gets covered for a whole week there are several smaller stories that don’t even get to see the light of day.
So what do I think the answer to our teacher’s question is?
I think the media is a combination of both viewpoints. The first viewpoint is the ideal the media tries to live up to while the second viewpoint is the reality of how media establishments tend to be.
They can’t be blamed though, each person has different perceptions and interpretations of a story. I think the way the masses can allow the media to live up to that ideal of being the Fourth Estate is by thinking for themselves. Don’t just be spoon-fed by tabloid news and try to ponder on a story.
Watch TV, go online, listen to the radio, and read newspapers. Hear all the different sides and develop your own reasoning and opinions. That way the media will be able to serve its purpose of educating, entertaining, inspiring, and informing the general public./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
