...accessing media have evolved, so has the way it affects the individuals who have access to it. When radio and television weren’t even thought of as a way of communication, most used the newspaper as their primary sources of information, and did not question where that information came from, or if it was valid or not. Media can influence the opinions of people in severe ways, both good and bad, for example government influence on media can sway the opinions of the people exposed to that specific media. As the media plays such an influential role in the lives of most Americans, we need to ask ourselves, “Are we in control of the media, or is the media in control of us?” Media’s drastic growth has lead society to become more aware of what is going on socially, economically, etc. As people become more aware about what is truly going on, and taking about it through emerging media sources and exposing themselves to many different sources of traditional media, the individual is able to find the truth and form his or her own educated opinion, and American culture holds this as a very important factor in the people’s everyday lives. Communication started with the radio from hearing news broadcast to listening to music and plays that all happened before television. The radio was very real and came to life without having the visual effects of today’s technology and still had the effect of making people feel as if they were in the play itself, radio was the first wireless form of mass communication...
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...Media’s Influence on Society Over the last 500 years, the influence of mass media has grown exponentially with the advance of technology. First there were books, then newspapers, magazines, photography, sound recordings, films, radio, television, the so-called New Media of the Internet, and now social media. Today, just about everyone depends on information and communication to keep their lives moving through daily activities like work, education, health care, leisure activities, entertainment, traveling, personal relationships, and the other stuff with which we are involved. It's not unusual to wake up, check the cellphone for messages and notifications, look at the TV or newspaper for news, commute to work, read emails, take meetings and makes phone calls, eat meals with friends and family, and make decisions based on the information that we gather from those mass media and interpersonal media sources. We need to be aware that the values we hold, the beliefs we harbor and the decisions we make are based on our assumptions, our experiences, our education and what we know for a fact. We rely on mass media for the current news and facts about what is important and what we should be aware of. We trust the media as an authority for news, information, education and entertainment. Considering that powerful influence, then, we should know how it really works and how does it really influence us. The degree of influence depends...
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...Mass media has a huge responsibility to the public in the way it influences and shapes people’s ideas. The more the audience interacts with mass media the greater the influence it has on the viewer’s ideals. Living in a socially and technically evolving society means that like Mass Media, what we deem socially acceptable in terms of sexual roles/ identities or even body image has also changed (Silverstein, B. 1986). Mass media acts as an authority that creates a frame work for its audience to perceive reality, using this we can see how manipulation occurs through simple advertising campaigns. The more we interact with media, the more accepting we are of the social reality presented (Gauntlett, D.2008). We want to believe our reality is ‘objective’ when in fact it is ‘subjective’ (McQuail, D. 2010). McQuail argues that our perspective is our reality; Jeffres expands upon this by explaining that mass media acts as an “authority to provide us with an interpretation of reality, explanation, personal opinions and even instructions on how to understand it” (Jeffres, L.W. 2001). Gauntlett believes that on a subconscious level, we seek such an authority to provide us with a framework to perceive reality. Through advertising we see that mass media has the ability to manipulate its audience. Advertising utilises many psychological principals based on research and depending on its target audience, persuades viewers into believing they ‘must’ have the product advertised. A great amount...
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...Political Socialization is an ongoing process that begins early in life which eventually identifies one’s beliefs and/or expectations in politics. Political Socialization can begin on the playground and continue to the office or the dinner table. A person’s upbringing can have a large impact on political socialization, because children consciously and unconsciously mold a foundation of their parent’s political beliefs. These political views are reinforced throughout their lives. Common agents that have an effect on a person’s political socialization are family, peers, religious influences, political parties, and mass media. There are two distinctive levels of political socialization. There is a primary level which is the subliminal influence (unconscious), and there is the secondary level which is the more formal influences (conscious). The primary level is socialization through family, peers, and social groups. A person is actually unaware that they are being conditioned to think in a particular way...
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...The portrayal of the mass media is seen to neutral and unbiased. Media is an agent of political socialization, which has created an impact on politics. Mass media has operated in a way that can affect politics in America. Today, significant factors contribute to the workers of mass media as their reports can face a high chance of influence to politician. Such influences include big corporations or the government, primarily to manipulate the mass audience for their own advantage. Mass media has a great influence on the public opinion as they can fluctuate what individuals should think, know and feel about politicians. The media supplies the general audience with information that voters can base their decisions on. From this, the media is able to manipulate the general public on extreme issues that interfere with the general publics’ rights, such as important issues regarding health or even political interferences. Although one may believe what they learn from the media may be a from an objective point of view, but in truth all information from the media has many external factors that can influence stories for a purpose. This paper will argue how the mass media has a direct influence on the general audience’s perspective and the opinions of the opinions of our political candidates. One area to notice is how certain issues in the media are given more attention in comparison where others are not. What is determined to be on the agenda of the media is a continuous competition from...
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...Mass media messages and effects Heather Gilliland BSCOM/268 06-06-16 Mabelle Reynoso Mass media messages and effects Introduction The mass media is in the business of steering your thoughts about subjects and controlling how the public thinks. The press, the television, and the radio play an important role in society. The mass media informs, educates, and entertains the public. They also influence how society looks at the world and can often alter that view. Mass media shapes public opinion on many different matters. When you want to see the most current events, read about the news or listen to get the latest gossip on celebrities, or learn the latest fashion trends, members of society usually turn on the television, the radio, or access the internet through your computer or smartphone. Mass media has developed a technology to reach the vast majority of the population. The mass media is constantly changing and growing as new technological advances are being made. The public is exposed to vast amounts of content in the stories they read and the news they listen to, and even though we depend on mass media for almost everything we listen to, all the stories may not be very ethical. There are many undependable sources of mass media out there, but there are also true, dependable and reliable sources that we are exposed to as well. As the public depends on the media to such a great degree, it is important to know which sources to trust, and which to disregard as unreliable...
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...Introduction The media is the link between the public and politics. However, while media sources are viewed as purveyors of the day's news, they maintain considerable influence on politics. It is important to differentiate the concept of media influence from the concept of media bias. While some media sources will have an undoubted bias in the way they are reporting the news and the issues they select and prioritise, this does not necessarily equate with influence. Influence can be far less obvious or overt than bias, and can lead to changes in opinion in an indirect manner. While United States news outlets such as Fox News or the New York Post may have a more direct political bias, other outlets such as CNN or the New York Times – while appearing less openly biased – will also wield considerable influence. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, while The Daily Mail has an agenda which must be obvious to many who read it, less openly biased newspapers such as The Guardian will still have the potential to influence politics and politicians. In fact, media sources with a less overt bias will have potentially more influence than others, as they could be considered to be more reliable or trustworthy than biased tabloid entertainment news. This paper will assess the issue of media influence on politics, and evaluate the methods and forms this influence can take. Discussion Media Influence The role of the media in influencing politics has been long recognised. Comparative analysis of media sources...
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...Functions of Mass Media We know that mass communication is a process of disseminating messages to the large number of audiences through some forms of technology. Some forms of technology, here refers, to the mass media. Mass media are the means of public communication reaching to the large, scattered, heterogeneous and anonymous audience at the same time. Mass media have been proved a boon to human society. Nothing has influenced the lives of modern men as the mass media have. Mass media are the powerful means that do not only influence today’s world but also shape the globe of tomorrow. In this case, mass medium perform essential task in order to cast its effect to the audience and maintain the society. Many scholars have argued different functions of mass media. Even so, we can classify the functions of mass media into two categories: general functions and specific functions. Under the general functions of mass media, following points are incorporated. a. Information: Dissemination of information is the major function of mass media. Since information is knowledge and knowledge is power, media offer authentic and timely facts and opinions about various event and situations to mass audience as informative items. Information provided by mass media can be opinionated, objective, subjective, primary and secondary. Informative functions of mass media also lets the audience knows about the happening around them and come to the truth. Media disseminates information mostly...
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...today’s time and age, mass society and mass media is a massive cultural wave that more or less plays a large role in society. Like it or not, mass society and mass media is largely intertwined with one another. In this essay, it will be discussed whether mass media is influenced by the presence of mass society. Mass society is a social system that is determined by mindless standardisation, the weakening of religion, a sense of alienation and moral emptiness, strained family and community ties, political indifference and the replacement of refined and high culture such as art and literacy with low culture which gives way to bland and unsophisticated tastes. The society concerned in this context is born from the modern, industrialised era where factory-produced, mass consumer goods precede home-grown goods which are produced on a smaller scale. The Industrial Revolution that took place in the 19th century contributed to the ‘soulless’ uniformity of the society and paved a way for the decline of traditional and aristocratic ways of past societies. Mass society is largely related to mass culture in which consumerism tendencies play a dominant role. It can also be defined as the young society which has been transformed from having individualistic, communal and pluralist characteristics to one which are of the total opposite of these values. Mass society is often seen as a threat to the American social, cultural and political life because it has changed American mass culture from one that...
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...Introduction to Media Industries Media Visualization Essay Media Usage Mass media has become a powerful tool in shaping our culture, and is largely reflective of our society today. According to our text book and class lecture notes, mass media can be loosely defined as the technological vehicles through which mass communication takes place, along with the industries which control them. Over the years, mass media, has had a profound effect on American society, on its culture, and on the individuals exposed to the media. Mass media effects people differently because of varied amounts of exposure and formats; however with the convergence of media, todays society fails to recognize the immense influence that mass communication has on every one of us. While keeping track of my involvement in mass communication and media for three days, I became eminently aware of the influence mass media has on me through varied amounts of exposure and mediums. I created six classes of mediums through which mass communication presents itself- television, movies (film), radio, phone (including both landlines and cellular devices), internet, and print. After noting how I received media through differing technological vehicles, I than created my own categories for the roles it plays in my life- entertainment, advertisement, research (both school and personal related), and interpersonal communication. Observing my participation in media through these four lenses produced for me, a better understanding...
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...Name Professor’s name Course number Date Gender Stereotypes in Media The mass media plays a significant role in the contemporary society. It provides broadcast information at a fast race and gives entertainment to audiences from diverse social backgrounds. Mass media is made up of press, books, magazines, radio, television, and internet. The internet is the most embraced medium in the contemporary society where digital technology dominates. Nevertheless, TV also has a wide influence in the society. By creating and conveying certain type of information to the audience, media can manipulate the attitudes and opinions of people. In this study, we intend to discuss problems associated to media influence through an investigative study of its commercial structure. The study also tries to specify gender stereotypes as used in persuasive advertising technique. Humans organize their knowledge about the world sorting and simplifying the information they receive (Gu 291). They tend to establish cognitive schemes that are certain representations of reality portraying its basic elements and features (Everett 387). The schemes developed by humans are responsible for the definition of our perception and view of the world. They have significant influence our social understanding, situation, anticipation and emotional control. The most common type of these schemes used for social orientation in our environment is stereotypes (Darling 153). The stereotypes scheme represents the opinions and perceptions...
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...The Mass Media The mass media, including Television, Video Games, Radio, Newspapers, Magazines, the Internet and Advertisements, have a great influence in shaping peoples thoughts and ideas, sometimes in a better way, but most of the time in a unconstructive way. The purpose of mass media is to entertain, inform and persuade information to a large group of people, and it can affect how we dress, what we buy and how our society functions. Even though there are a lot of positive influences in the media, in my eyes there is still way more negative influence. The media is affecting children, the youth and society in general. According to the studies by the Kaiser Family Foundation there was a 400% increase from 1976 to 1996 in sexual references. Not to mention all of the television shows that influence crime, drugs and drinking alcohol. If children learn by observing, imitating and making behaviors their own, then why are all of these negative influences on the mass media? People are trying to understand why the crime rate is so high in the youth population, maybe they should take a look at what they are watching on a day to day basis. Now day’s children have an extremely easy access to the media. Sometimes parents will even hand their children the remote, or buy them a new video game to act is if it were a babysitter. What people need to know is; children learn by observing, imitating and making behaviors their own, so all of the things they are watching...
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...being an unbiased medium for the communication of information, the U.S. media plays an intricate role in shaping and controlling political opinions. Media is extremely powerful in the sense that without an adequately functioning media, it is virtually impossible for a sophisticated social structure like the U.S. Government to exist. All known sophisticated social structures have always been dependent upon the media’s ability to socialize. The U.S. government generally will exploit the media, often times manipulating the enormous power of the printed word. This exploitation ultimately empowers the U.S. government by strengthening it with the ability to determine and control the popular perception of reality. One way in which government achieves this objective is by misusing the media’s ability to set the agenda. Contrary to popular belief, the media is in fact an enormous power in society. Separate independent news organizations do not exist for the most part. Rather than creating an independent structured agenda of their own, smaller news organizations adapt to a prepared agenda, previously constructed by a higher medium. Based upon this information alone, it is quite apparent that media has the characteristics of a hierarchical rule. In order for the U.S. government to control and determine the public’s popular perception of reality, the government must shape and oversee the information that the media reports to the people. This particular process of democracy is known and...
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...University of Phoenix Material Monica Davis Effects of Mass Media Worksheet Write brief 250-to 300-word answers to each of the following: Questions | Answers | What were the major developments in the evolution of mass media during the 20th century? | The earliest forms of media can be tracked back to live stage dramas, books, and newspapers. The term “mass media” made its first impact in the 1920’s when radio, video, and television changed the market. These choices became very popular with a generation that no longer wanted to read in order to receive information and entertainment. Since then mass media has continued to improve the way in which the world receives and distributes entertainment and information. With the invention of new technology in the 20th century the cost of production dropped and increased the amount of films, books, and newspapers that could be produced for larger audiences. While the cost of production dropped that also meant that the profits increased. The world wide web created a forum for spreading new and entertainment even faster. With the concern for saving trees and reducing the amount of carbon in the air digital newspapers and magazines also became a big success for mass media and global news. Today events that take place half way around the world are in local newspapers or on broadcasting stations within minutes of their occurrence. The 20th century gift to mass media is speed and advertisement. Businesses can introduce themselves and...
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...Mass Media Control Tambela Vaughn Everest University Brandon Online Abstract The research included within this paper is several online articles, periodicals, and related books to mass-media control and its psychological adaptation in an individual’s mind. I also performed a media and mind control case study. I used my family for the subjects; my older sister who is a Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.) and my mother who is a widow, an evangelist, and retired home nurse, for the control group, and my nephews who are fraternal twins, age thirteen for the experimental group. My observations were to observe both groups for a week during different intervals of media exposure. My nephews, the experimental group, were observed during and after watching television, using the computer, and listening to music. They were then observed when these forms of media were limited. My mother and sister, the control group, were observed during the limited periods of their television usage and listening to non-secular music. I believe there is direct correlation between adults and children who watch and listen to obsessive amounts of television, movies, news, and popular music and aggressive behavior, stress, dispositions, and sleep and eating habits. The case study observations supported this theory. Keywords: mass media, mass-media control, aggressive behavior, perceptions, adverse misconceptions, psychological adaptation, media nationalism, suggestive media, groupthink nationalism...
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