Mass media are channels which current news can be made known to the public and it includes the Internet, TV, radio etc. We often learn of entertainment, sports or even political news via the mass media. Thus it is clear that the mass media is influential in our lives. It affects our beliefs such that we seldom question the stand of the mass media. Do the mass media take sides while reporting news and do they simply make news to attract attention?
I am skeptical to how the mass media relates the news as I believe that news that come to us have somehow being edited a umpteen times to the extent that it becomes a fiction report. So I have to agree that they make news instead of reporting them.
Recently, Britney Spears, an American pop singer has attracted worldwide attention with her stunning actions. On Feb 19 2007, Britney has been reported on shaving her head and checking in another rehab the next day.
It is also reported that her hair is being auctioned for at least 1 million by the hair salon. New York-based psychiatrist Gail Saltz has appealed for the media to limit the publications of Britney’ s shocking actions. She is suspected to be suffering from postpartum depression. Has her mismatched marriage with Kevin Federline led her to today’s state? Britney signs of self-destruction as certainly not improved with the mass publication of her fateful tragic. The mass media should be more sensitive and show empathy our fellow being. I understand that today’s mass media has become more profit oriented but aggravating Britney’s mental health for more profits to roll in is not an unethical move to start with.
Another example will be the sand ban of Indonesia to Singapore. Initially, the news reported that the Indonesians were concerned with the protection of their coastline that they have to stop supplying sand to us. Singapore was initially willing to work out a plan to conserve the natural environment of Indonesia, but when it was found out that the sand ban has got nothing to do with the conservation issue, the situation became tensed. The media repeatedly broadcast and follow on the news that Indonesia might have evil motives behind the sand ban. The media may have exaggerated the motives behind Indonesia’s sand ban that stirred up strong feelings among Singaporeans. I believe that the mass media is partly responsible for tension unless it had taken a more neutral stand.
China Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Japan has also made in to the headlines in the news. Articles have shown balanced views on how the Japanese and Chinese can improve their bilateral relations to corporate on projects. I feel that the successful visit to Japan means that the relationships between to two ministers have developed but the Chinese and Japanese may not still like one another. It takes a much more effort to build up the friendship so a mere visit to Japan is not enough to cause a drastic change in perspective of Japanese among the Chinese. Thus it may be a half-truth while reports say the Chinese and the Japanese have improved on their relationship. But I certainly understand the efforts by the media to instill a sense of togetherness between Japan and China. However, what said on the reports may not necessary reflect the whole truth.
I think that the events I have chosen are recent as they occur within this year.
In conclusion, readers or listeners to news today are expected to differentiate between the useful information and the least credible ones. News has evolved over the years and readers just have to be more intelligent to find out the whole truth.
Whoever controls the media - the images - controls the culture. Author: Allen Ginsberg
Britney
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17243855/
Sand ban
http://www.straitstimes.com/portal/site/STI/menuitem.5184b9e5238fb92293c89138e3a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=00f88490f045e010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=vgnartid:c7fd6da190161110VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD
Japan and China ties
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/04/12/japan.wenjiabao.reut/index.html
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1 comment:
You have used a few different examples to illustrate that the media creates news to a certain extent. Good try!
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