S0C105 Week 10 Assignment 2

Media and Society

Week 5

order_106904_271824

Introduction and Thesis:

Media is a significant component of Americans' daily life. An average American consumer of mass media spends about 294 minutes watching the television, 62 minutes listening to the radio and 75 minutes on their smartphones on a daily basis (Couldry, Livingstone & Markham, 2018). About 22 percent of the American population has access to magazines every day (Couldry, Livingstone & Markham, 2018). While the use of mass media has been slowing down because of the growth of social media and the internet, the statistics demonstrate that many people not only in the United States but also on the global stage exposed to different mass media channels.

Thesis: While there are a few exceptions, mass media has provided an opportunity for societal growth, advancement, and prosperity through education, information sharing, and entertainment. Mass media today is playing a significant role in creating and shaping the public opinion and strengthening the fabric of society.

Major Points

Mass media has provided an information platform for members of society where knowledge shared. Most people consider the media today as a tool used in informing the public and the nation at large. As the civilization of human beings continues, there has been a growing desire from politicians, governments and the civil society to have an informed community. The mass media designated with the role of ensuring that the society well informed of what is going on with the social world, the environment, the economy, the government and the leadership (Hepp, Hjarvard & Lundby, 2015).

Through acquiring and sharing vital information, mass media enables people to make informed choices and accurate decisions on issues of societal significance.

For instance, ongoing debate advanced by the press on climate change is changing people’s opinions on environmental conservation. Today, people are more attracted to companies which are involved in ecological conservation initiatives because of information from the media.

Mass media also, for the longest time have been providing a platform for education. Whether politics or sports, people in the society lean towards understanding the significance of events of how regulations and laws made by legislative bodies affect their daily lives (Hepp, Hjarvard & Lundby, 2015). The media bridge this gap. Most media channels today engage in educative roles focusing with equipping society with adequate knowledge that can shape their opinions.

Zheltukhina et al. (2016) explain that the media should not just throw general information at people. Most media channels have been reducing information to bits that can be understood and comprehended by the common man. Also, mass media has shaped public opinion on different issues such as education, politics, healthcare, and immigration. Today, the average American educated on the ongoing debate on affordable healthcare and illegal immigration.

Moreover, Last but not least. The media plays a role in keeping the government in check, acting as a watchdog on behalf of the citizens. It's one of the most significant functions of the media in the society- exposing the good and the bad. Couldry, Livingstone, and Markham (2018) explain that the media plays a significant role in ensuring that the leadership of the country kept in check exposing social ills like corruption and abuse of office. Apart from keeping the government in check, mass media also plays a vital role in giving opportunities for the “little and unheard” people to express their opinions (Hepp, Hjarvard & Lundby, 2015).

For instance, during public debate with political leader’s mass media creates conducive platforms where people can air the views and opinions on issues affecting the society.

However, this position is likely to be challenged by the negativity in public opinion and social discourse. To some level, mass media is responsible for the sexualization of young women in society. Because young women constantly confronted with messages and images from media sources like TV and magazines on ideal body shapes, they may be influenced to adopt these lifestyles (Hepp, Hjarvard & Lundby, 2015). Sexualization of young women through the media has become a massive problem associated with depression and eating disorders.

References

Couldry, N., Livingstone, S., & Markham, T. (2018). Media consumptions and public engagements: Beyond the presumption of attention. Springer.

Hepp, A., Hjarvard, S., & Lundby, K. (2015). Mediatization: theorizing the interplay between media, culture, and society. Media, culture & society, 37(2), 314-324.

Zheltukhina et al. (2016). The Role of Media Rumors in Modern Society. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 11(17), 10581-10589.