...and its delivery determines how individuals feel, think, and react. His book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, discusses how the medium of television and the media in general can change of society’s way of thinking and the general public discourse. The most obvious political detriment of television is that it affects society's ability to form an informed electorate. Television and all forms of media has taught society to judge politicians by their celebrity aspect. This does not allow individuals to consider the important issues and elect politicians who have the best chance of bettering our lives or ensuring our safety (Postman, 1985, p. 95). In Amusing Ourselves to Death, Postman writes "You...
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...Fiction vs. Reality Jessica Nefedov University of Phoenix The United State’s judicial system is one that controls the everyday sentencing and hearing of cases. These cases range from civil matters, such as divorce, evictions, small claims and child custody to misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanors and felonies are criminal cases. Our Judicial system is made up of three branches of government; the Legislative branch which examines, debates and votes on bills, the Executive branch that initiates and administers the law, and the Judiciary branch, that we will be discussing in this paper. The Judiciary branch applies the law, as is seen in courtrooms across America and in homes on televisions. Television shows are popular for their dramatics, which increase their ratings. The more dramatic and action packed a show is, the more people tune in to watch it, therefore making it a successful show or series. In the world today popular crime shows such as Law & Order, CSI, Raising the Bar, and Peoples Court, show the dramatics of a case. Of these shows, Law and Order and Raising the Bar, both portray the legal drama and police procedures taken in a case. Upon watching an episode of Law & Order or Raising the Bar, one will see a lot of discrepancies of the fiction versus reality of today in the courtroom. It is important to remember that television shows are not real, unless stated so. Again the idea of creating a successful series is to have it appeal...
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...media today, there are numerous gaps between reality and the information that is presented. Seemingly every current issue, whether it’s political, social or otherwise, is reported through so many different outlets and with so many different facts that it’s hard to grasp what the reality is. The role of media in democracy is to represent every perspective and to provide well-researched and accurate information to create an educated and involved society. Media’s representations impact our society’s perception and shared reality. The way media represents a certain topic creates a public perception. Because of media framing, they can show us certain sides of an issue or shine a light on one perspective while effectively dimming the light on another. Because of this, we create perceptions based off of information that may not be whole. With these perceptions, we begin to construct a social reality. Once this reality is created, it is difficult to change it even if we find contradicting information. Because of these reasons, the way media represents information is crucial. The issue that will be discussed in this paper is that of gay marriage, stereotypes of homosexuals, and the scientific side of homosexuality. The way media has represented this topic over the past 30 years has varied immensely. We’ve come a long way over the past couple decades and homosexuality is now widely discussed in all forms of media including news, television, advertisements, movies, books, magazines and...
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...THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN DEEPENING DEMOCRACY SHEILA S. CORONEL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Since the 17th century, the role of the press as Fourth Estate and as a forum for public discussion and debate has been recognized. Today, despite the mass media’s propensity for sleaze, sensationalism and superficiality, the notion of the media as watchdog, as guardian of the public interest, and as a conduit between governors and the governed remains deeply ingrained. The reality, however, is that the media in new and restored democracy do not always live up to the ideal. They are hobbled by stringent laws, monopolistic ownership, and sometimes, the threat of brute force. State controls are not the only constraints. Serious reporting is difficult to sustain in competitive media markets that put a premium on the shallow and sensational. Moreover, the media are sometimes used as proxies in the battle between rival political groups, in the process sowing divisiveness rather than consensus, hate speech instead of sober debate, and suspicion rather than social trust. In these cases, the media contribute to public cynicism and democratic decay. Still, in many fledgling democracies, the media have been able to assert their role in buttressing and deepening democracy. Investigative reporting, which in some cases has led to the ouster of presidents and the fall of corrupt governments, has made the media an effective and credible watchdog and boosted its credibility among the public. Investigative reporting...
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...Controversial Issues in Entertainment Paper COM/225 Today there are various different controversial topics that can be found all across the mass media. As time continues on into the future one can also look at the timeline of controversial topics throughout history and see how the public perception has also changed as time has progressed. The change of public opinions overtime may very well be due to the fact of how the media presents the topic to the public. The portrayal of a certain controversial subject can either demonize or glorify a particular topic all depending on the public’s mindset during that specific time and the presentation of the story. Such specific controversial topics overtime to name which created this bias include: Freedom of Speech, African-American rights, women’s rights, racism, and the topic of In God We Trust vs. Freedom of Religion in America. These are just a few to name from previous years as today’s ethical issues include: war, same sex- marriages, legalization of marijuana, divorce, crime increase, equality, and Global Warming. The different forms of communication that have been used to reach the mass media overtime are the newspaper, telegraph, radio, magazines, television, and internet. The definition of the news can be classified into two concepts. “News and newsworthiness”, that means that the main objective of the press is to release information about significant changes that can affect a large group of people...
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...not something to celebrate; it is truly something of American suffering and distrust. Recently shootings have been occurring all over the United States from South Carolina to Texas, spanning all the way to California, there seems to be no safe place. The occurrences given do not account for all of the shootings throughout modern history, but these incidents are just a minute number of events that have rekindled the debate behind gun control. The Second Amendment: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people...
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...12/2/2010 Sociology Final Paper Marriage and Family The simplest and most basic foundation of a sociological civilization or group begins at the core center of sociology; which is marriage and the inner-fabric creation of a family. It is said that matches are made in heaven, however finding and defining your “soul mate” differs from one social group to the next. The social institution of marriage changes and adapts consistently through time, religious practice, and national beliefs. Many people believe they lead happy and satisfying lives without a marital partner, as others highly value and desire a life-long marital partner as the pinnacle achievement of their life. The uniqueness of marriage is that every race, class, religion, and country is involved one way or another in that social institution. One particular reason is the need to reproduce and add new members to a group. Margaret Anderson and Howard Taylor in Sociology: The Essentials mention the concept of a functionalism. Functionalism is defined as a theoretical perspective that interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole society. The creation and upbringing of a son or daughter in a marriage fulfills society’s needs. Whether the upbringing of a child is conducted properly and positively varies by family, but sexual reproduction accomplishes the selfless task of adding to a society. The traditional Functionalist Theory in the United States of America interprets...
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...given to it through the media. People rarely specifically research on candidates or propositions anymore. Much of the mass media is biased by trying to persuade viewers into believing what they want them to believe are true. Media is created for consumption by a large number of people watching it. The media has a remarkable impact on politics, which is not always good or beneficial. The data collected from the media can either be used for or against a politician. If a politician is favored by a certain network, such as CNN, NBC, or FOX, then the network can help his or her career reach new heights; however, if a politician is disliked then the network is capable of destroying the politician’s career. The media has the desire to make decisions for itself and in return try to convince people of its rightness and distort its viewers’ perspectives. There are many different types of media that can have a different influence on society’s political view. The four biggest forms of media are radio stations, newspapers, the internet, and television. People could tune into radio stations or talk radios to listen to political candidates being interviewed. An example would be in 1992 when "President George H. Bush interviewed with conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh" (Curl). Non-political hosts for radio stations are able to gain insight and achieve a political stand point by questioning the politician and giving the listeners what they wanted to hear. On the other hand, newspapers tend...
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...Media In The Courtroom Media in the courtroom can profoundly change and alter the outcome of a trial by allowing society to form an opinion before justice prevails. How is that possible, from Judge Judy to the Supreme Court society wants to be involved by any means possible to give their opinion on how justice should prevail? The journalists and television companies sell this belief, they hide behind the first amendment rights to air and publish any information that in turn helps to sell their product. Society is blinded by the need to know mentality, they have not realized the end results may not end in their favor. The only time society sees an error in our system is when the error affects their lives. Reality T.V is a catalyst to this need to know mentality. Cameras, Television, Radio, Internet, and Journalists these are the instruments that set criminals free. Ladies and Gentlemen I intend to prove without a reason of doubt that media in the courtroom is detrimental to the process of a fair trial and a defendants right to due process. As John Q public should be aware the justice system is a process to keep society safe, if they interfere with that process how can they say lady justice prevailed. Let’s say they have a defendant who has been accused of killing 10 people he has signed a confession of guilt and of course has hired a lawyer. First he is arrested and informed of his rights. Next they go into the courtroom where a judge informs him of his rights and his...
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...Regardless of point-of-view, the events surrounding Disney’s America theme-park provide compelling lessons to policy makers, business interests and citizen activist groups. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Disney’s America controversy through the lens of public policy process. I first analyze the core issues of the case. Second, I identify predominant actors and stakeholders. Third, I point out policy instruments and processes germane to the case. Finally, I discuss the outcome and lessons to be gleaned from the case. Issues Haymarket, a community with a population of 375, is located approximately 30 miles southwest of Washington D.C., in Prince William County, Virginia. It is situated in an area characterized by farmland in view of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. Nearby is a Civil War battlefield site, now a National Battlefield Park administered by the National Park Service, where 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers died during two battles fought at Bull Run: the first land battle of the Civil War in 1861, and in 1862, when Robert E. Lee defeated Union forces as he led the Confederate toward the Potomac River. In the early 1990s, Chairman Michael Eisner of Disney, envisioned an American history theme-park to be called Disney’s America. Colonial Williamsburg in southeastern Virginia initially provided inspiration for Disney executives. Prior to 1993, Disney officials surreptitiously acquired land-options in Prince William county using false names in...
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...Your Name Instructor’s Name Course Name Date of Submission POLITICAL SATIRE Thesis Statement Political satire does in various ways alter the political history as it strengthens and accompanies political accomplishments. Political satire aims to inform individuals about matters pertaining to the general public as well as issues interconnected to government and politics, in a lighter but educational manner. It not only acts as a curative means to entertain citizens but also has a substantial effect on the political scene of a country. Based on this, “Political satire in the 21st century has a higher impact on the public opinion than a revealing newspaper article through creating humor and simplicity." Introduction The use of satire to express thoughts, themes, and opinions has been in existence since the early ages. It was written by an old Irish bard in an effort to put his solemn contempt upon the intended target. Mostly, satire targeted leaders, their styles of leadership, ideas and actions. The satire on the king, especially during the Irish king’s regime, was liable to result in his dethronement or even death. Political satire has been used in the past periods and continues to be used to criticize the political scenes in a humorous way. The use of satire over centuries as a literary tool has made it possible for essential thoughts, themes, and ideas to be passed across and expose the malfunctions and flaws in the society in a humorous manner. Over...
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...Jonathan Schwartz Prof: F, Gomez Eng 1A 11-15-13 The Power of the Media to Shape Our Perceptions and Understanding of Reality on Gun Control Introduction The wake of gun violence in the United States has seen various proposals on how to handle the gun issue. Occasionally, people have woken up to shocking incidences of gun violence on various quarters. Perhaps the most outrageous incidents are the ones that involved shooting of school going children by a fellow student, seemingly unstable, or at least for that moment. It is important to note that in these incidences, the media coverage of the live happenings have always been extensive, giving the perpetrator of such violence a lot of fame. Various segments of the society have reacted to such incidences with diverging and converging opinions on what should be the best way forward. While the Obama administration has been on the forefront proposing stringent measures for the purposes of reducing or eliminating repeat occurrence, Republicans have a different view on how to address the whole matter. Religious groups and civil society have not spoken in one voice although one may deduce that everyone desires some changes in regards to how the whole issue should be addressed. Some of the emerging schools of thought that have come out have to do with logic behind issuance of guns, the ethical and practical implications of the solutions proposed for adoption as policy. Probably the big challenge is that the incidences...
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...Media and Socio-Cultural Change The 2003 Iraq War Did Not Take Place Did the 2003 Iraq War take place? This question derived from Jean Baudrillard’s essay with the title ‘The Gulf War did not take place’ written in 1991 in response to the Gulf War (August 2, 1990 - February 28, 1991). Baudrillard began his essay with a provocative statement “Since this war was won in advance, we will never know what it would have been like had it existed. We will never know what an Iraqi taking part with a chance of fighting would have been like. We will never know what an American taking part with a chance of being beaten would have been like” (Baudrillard, 2004). This bold paragraph prompts us re-think whether the war actually occurred as what we saw, read or heard from the news and the media, however we are not supposed to consider this literary. Baudrillard’s argument was to demonstrate the war perceived by the world was not the “actual” war rather it was a media spectacle. According to Kellner, “Media Spectacles are those phenomena of media culture which embody contemporary society's basic values, serve to enculturate individuals into its way of life, and dramatize it's controversies and struggles, as well as its modes of conflict resolution." (Kellner, 2005) In Kellner’s essay ‘September 11, Spectacles of Terror, and Media Manipulation: A Critique of Jihadist and Bush Media Politics’, he implied how media spectacles have been used by terrorists and the Bush government to promote...
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...Carel Bou Maroun Research Paper on Media ENG 203 – Layla Al Kadi Harmouch Introduction: Everywhere you go, you hear people talking about Media. Media is the plural of Medium. But what is a medium? A medium is a mean of mass communication. How can you communicate with a big number of people without what we call a medium, such as newspapers, television, or the Internet for example? Simply, you can’t. Media are elements that help to communicate messages. Any element. In a classroom for example, media are the walls, the board, and even the people inside it. The term mass communications alludes to any type of correspondence that at the same reaches a huge number of people, including yet not constrained to radio, TV, daily papers, magazines, bulletins, movies, record. (Wimmer and Dominick, 1983.) As we all know it, some media are more active and used than others today. For instance, we can think about televisions or mobile phones. But we all know that television is not the first technology used to spread messages. “Media are the result of technology.” (Avery and McCain, 1982.) Day by day, new technologies are emerging and the “old” ones are being forgotten. This is what our modern-day world looks like. It’s constantly changing, moving, evolving… The innovation and models for creating and conveying media substance are always advancing. (Croteau, David, Hoynes, and Milam, 2003.) Media are also socialization agents. You learn...
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...social situation as a whole. This social stratosphere of revolving and intricate subjects of change and progression represent a multitude of conflicting ideologies, theories and realities. The media serves as an informational anchor, particularly in its portrayal of social situations and change, primarily divided into Western and Eastern media. The broader subject at hand is gender and social change in the Middle East, but specifically, how women, as the primary subject of the gender discussion, and Islam, as the foremost engine to drive the social scene across the Middle Eastern peninsula co-exist to create an unprecedented dynamic in the Middle East. This research paper will attempt to progressively reveal and discuss related subjects in order to create a transitional framework for a relevant understanding of the gender and social dynamic of the Middle East. As an outline, this paper will begin by briefly discussing the global role of women from a gender and sexuality perspective. It will then analyze how such roles are portrayed and what movements exist in order to effect the global perception. More specifically, a discussion on the progress made by Middle Eastern women in terms of the women's movement will ensue. A brief historical perspective will be provided followed by arguably the most vivacious debate in the world today: how Islam directly affects women and social change in the Middle East, but also how it indirectly affects the gender social...
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