Sunday, October 11, 2015
Analyzing the Media's Role in the Political Process
The media acts as an effective check on government power and influence
over its citizens. In the last few decades, there has been an
unprecedented growth in mass media accompanied by the falling costs of
radio, TV, satellite and Internet services. This has enable politics to be presented to a wider audience. However, a common charge against the media is that it increasingly seems to lack the principles of objective and impartial reporting. Follow the link below and comment. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-lynch-edd/analyzing-the-medias-role_b_1083914.html
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I couldn't figure out how to comment on the link's website
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you say about the media being seen as a check on government but given that the majority of media that reaches a wider audience is privately owned by larger corporations who use it to push their own agendas. Having to compensate for the decreasing audience by allocating its resources only towards stories that they know will get views. This is also mentioned in our book where "soft news" is on the rise because it does not require trained reporters. Leading to a rise in "yellow" journalism where little information is used and the information that is used is given an emotional spin to evoke a response from the audience. Believe it or not this is actually a problem in developing countries for example in Kenya when Boko Haram was in the media constantly was being blamed for various acts of terrorism but with further investigation had no connection to many of the acts it was allegedly in charge of. There was also an issue in Indian news where they reported things like ghost in the news room and their satellite finding evidence of whales on Mars. These media sources too are owned by companies and often sensationalize news just the same as you'll find on my blog where i discuss issues with the portrayal of Americans in international media.
Good Post Sherida
Hi Sherdida,
ReplyDeleteI liked that you called out the media for how it lacks the principles of objective and partial reporting. It seems like now days, since the birth of new media and its ever growing list of uses and capabilities, it seems like new media is becoming more and more like "soft news" as Kandia mentioned above. The problem that I see with new media is that it is all so easily and readily user generated, meaning anybody can write an article at any time they please. Most people writing articles are either ill-equipped with the skills/principles to report and publish information, or they are choosing to simply state their own thoughts and opinions for the world to see, then call it a day. All this being said, yes it is great how new media is able to be distributed to a wider audience, however it doesn't seem so great that any/all members of such a huge audience can present information that may or may not be politically accurate or resourceful.