Society and the Media

Paper Summary:

Many theorists claim that the media acts as a tremendous stereotyping machine, perpetuating stereotypes and simplifying portrayals, while not being an accurate reflection of society. Others argue that the media has the potential to cure social fragmentation, encourage cross cultural understanding and an understanding of diversity. This paper argues that both these claims of correct. It shows that on the one hand, the media does create meaning by communicating certain views with this shaping social meaning. In this way, it is stereotyping and does not represent real society. On the other hand the media has the potential to do more than this. The author of the paper is of the opinion that one way this potential is being realized is with the rise of the Internet as a communication method. The Internet medium takes out the control issues associated with typical media and the qualities that the Internet medium brings to communication shows how the potential might be realized. To consider these ideas further, the paper describes how the media creates meaning and what this means for society. It then discusses how the Internet medium changes the media, showing how this contributes to promoting diversity and cultural understanding.

From the Paper:

"Another aspect worth noting is that the media also interprets events in television news. Just as the print journalist records their interpretation of what is newsworthy, the television news does the same thing. The one difference is that the television version does this in a far more succinct manner. In print journalism, the journalist decides how to report the story but still provides enough information that an individual could often look at the issue further and come to a new conclusion if they were so inclined. In television news, this range of information is not presented. Instead, the news reader summarizes the story very briefly, while at the same time pictures are shown that add to the meaning. A print story about the problem of obesity as seen in a new study may involve providing various details about the study, what it means, why it was conducted and other information. The television story about the same issue may just have the news reader say something like a new study reports that Americans are getting fatter while showing pictures of overweight people walking down a street. This example does not provide the range of information that allows the individual to assess the information. Instead, they are more likely to be convinced that everyone is getting fatter. It is relevant also that the footage chosen is especially created to enhance the meaning of the story. In this example, the news program is going to purposely choose footage that shows a significant number of overweight people. This footage is not a representation of the real nature of society, instead it is a bias towards creating a certain meaning."

More papers on Society and the Media:

• Cause and Effect Essay # 67911 : "Body Image and the Media"
• Essay # 68079 : "Marshall McLuhan and the Media"
• Essay # 67858 : "Black Males and the Media"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: