Democracy Today
“The Media provides a good means for the general public to get involved with social issues. From elections to the weather, the media provides a common ground for the general public. Through blogging with the Internet and writing to news papers, people have had more of a chance to make their opinion known to the public. However, with counterfeit or bogus new stories it is hard to discern what is true and false from the media.”- Unknown
The media influences just about every system within the U.S. They influence politics, the government and more importantly, our thoughts. They can sugar coat certain situations and they can overdramatize when it works for them.
The media, from sitcoms to epidemics help shape and form public opinion for this country. News stations and papers can use trained cunning to evoke fear or joy or even anger from our gullible American minds. Advertisement companies depict ideas and images to help sell their latest and greatest products. It’s all about the money. And, most Americans know this and yet, we still fall prey to this gross cycle of consumerism and advertising over and over and over again. In my opinion, the problem is that we AMericans are never satisfied. We always have to have the newest things, the most things, and look better than everyone else. According to a study done by the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, advertisement is designed to make an individual look at themselves and want change.
“If you are not like those beautiful, handsome and successful people, advertising tells you it's time to buy the goods necessary to look like they look.”- UNCP
This comes from that basic human need to be seen as normal, but, the best. It’s hilarious to see people strive to be normal and the best. How can this be possible? You’ll only end up in the grey area between the two. And that’s where the buying comes into play... again.
The media loves to put a spin and a twist on governmental, political, and world issues. News reporters will spice up their language or use double ended terms to grasp an audience. Let’s take a crime for example, now, before we get into this, a crime is a crime and in no way justifiable given the circumstances. However, reporters will evoke fear with their aforementioned wordplay. And depending on who or what is going on, bam! You’ve got a story to cling onto. And to keep things in an uproar the media will constantly dwell on crime or any other scary thing to keep you watching. In terms of audience effects, fear of victimization will depend on who is viewing the crime stories. Research indicates that residents in high crime urban areas who watch a large amount of television are more likely to be afraid of crime.
The media is biased. Yes, we know this. But, on another level, this bias is strong enough to srtip an individual from his/her unbiased views. These days, it is impossible to look at something and have nothing to say on the subject ever again. That’s not how the mind works. This is where the media goes from influential to full on psychological. Big companies now how to make a person squirm in their skin. They will make you cry, smile, dance and laugh to get their point across and money into their pocket.
The media will never spit out facts that are one hundred percent true. There will always be misinformation or even a lie sprinkled in. However, by then, they’ve caught your intention. The media focuses on how people look and how they present themselves versus what they stand for and what they know.
“The most respected newspapers are now inclined to present analysis and opinion about how politicians are presenting themselves, instead of about what they are actually implementing. Moreover, not only has political reporting become a topic for interpretation but journalists are obsessed with personalities.”
With all of this being said, according to the countless commercials you see a day, be it print or video, you are supposed to be a fit, white, blonde who loves to snack and eat Mcdonalds but never has acne or bad hair. You have the best clothes, but they’re somehow still affordable, and you are absolutely hopeless when it comes to manning a household so you need to buy countless items to make your life easier. What a life you have there you American!