Media and Reality - Research Paper Example

? Media and Reality Task Outline i. Introduction ii. Perception and Reality iii. Consequences of a Biased Media Social Implications Political Impacts Economic Consequences iv. Conclusion Media and Reality Introduction Media is a phenomenal instrument for disseminating news; furthermore, it shapes public perspectives on various subjects. Media is a channel that highlights various happenings of the society; furthermore, it informs persons on divergent opportunities that they had not previously perceived (Dill, 2009). Therefore, individuals will be reliant on the media to assume the role of a watchdog on societal happenings. There is rising awareness of how the mass media is determining and shifting people’s concerns and beliefs. It is probable to suspect that certain issues that the media highlights undergo manipulation; furthermore, the sources of information may be prejudiced (Friedman, 2002). It is worth affirming that the media has a pervasive influence on individuals making them alter their standpoint on specific issues. Background to the issue According to Friedman (2002), we live in a technological phase since persons spend several hours on electronic screens conversing or inquiring on diverse topics. Evidently, television programs; for example, “All in the Family” can alter people’s perceptions of individuals from other races (Dill, 2009). Exposure to this episode can influence the person to generate an optimistic attitude to other races and compel them to initiate interactive relationships. Such a program can instigate a substantial urge to destroy racial bigotry; thus, becoming a force of societal changes (Dill, 2009). However, this program can differ from the realistic situations existent in the country. Racism can be extensive in numerous areas; however, the program acts on our perception since it shuns the reality. Indeed, reality is our discernment of the truth despite the obvious anomalies in the details that can be existent in the background. Television commercials are created in entertaining forms to lure the audience. They usually encompass an appealing story displayed repeatedly in attractive designs hoping it will induce the audience to ponder on the commercial message. Perception and Reality Friedman (2002) affirms individuals are currently living in two dissimilar worlds that have contrasting realities. One entails the world that the media channels portray and a world that one experiences by engaging in real processes. There are instances where the conceptualization of these diverse worlds significantly varies; thus, shocking the people since it is differs from the expectations (Dill, 2009). As such, the Media controls how we react to gender roles, sexuality, politics and institutional matters (Friedman, 2002). For example, the American Media relays numerous reports on the security threat of other nations to its citizens. Thus, the media portrays violent content leading to a feeling of paranoia amidst the citizens. Consequently, the sensation of exterior threats and violence propagated by the media was instrumental in propelling the US invasion witnessed in diverse countries; for example, Iraq and Afghanistan. Moreover, the obsession of the media with potential repercussions of external threats continues to influence airlines, immigration authorities and corporations, which have boosted their security protocols. Interestingly, the repetitive conveyance of the Muslim countries as threats continues to shape the perception of the US populace towards Muslims (Dill, 2009). As such, there were incidences of racial attacks towards American Muslims who fail to engage in the acts of distant relatives. Indeed, this is one of the adverse implications of media on societal perceptions. According to Dill (2009), such influential power of the media is escalating to controversial levels since it is instigating widespread changes in the mannerisms and circumstantial implications on individual lives. Technological advancements are consistently becoming a mechanism of domination in numerous societies. The proprietors of media can manipulate information and ideas that reach their audiences. As such, the audience believes the sincerity of the information; thus, formulating decision based on such ideologies. Dill (2009) states this aspect is well illustrated in situations where politicians are churning outrageous monetary amounts to media outlets in advertisements. These advertisements are prejudicial and can create or destroy the political ambitions the contenders. If the media favors a specific candidate it can extensively convey him/her in a positive outlook that can propel his success in the elections. In rare occurrences, participants that get minimal highlights from the media triumph the elections. The illusion of various factors is repetitively present in media channels until it becomes reality. For example, numerous programs encompass sexual episodes; thus, contributing to the moral deterioration of the society (Dill, 2009). Programs, musicians and the internet are persistently displaying sexual articles and films hence adolescents and consenting adults are accepting this concept as an element of their reality. It predominantly focuses on portraying the benefits of this endeavor but not the serious repercussions that can befall the victims. Dill (2009) insinuates the media is pervasive since it is easily accessible in various forms and has influential capabilities that can twist realities. It can compel individuals on dressing modes, reaction and thinking techniques, and lifestyles to adopt. Advertising is incorporating a new technique, and it is promoting unattainable stratums of beauty. The conveyance of information in the twenty first century is far from the traditional paradigms (Friedman, 2002). It is evident ethical principles of communication in the media fraternity is subjective to partisan parties and this affects their degree of sincerity. The audience should acknowledge the power of the media and meticulously scrutinize any information, which they encounter in the media channels. Consequences of a Biased Media When biased, media can exert detrimental consequences in the society. Apparently, many media clients cannot effectively distinguish reality from the media images. Rationally, the media may employ exaggerated ideas to achieve desired objectives. However, the viewers identify and treat the ideas advocated as real cases. Welcoming imaginary ideas in the actual world is a risky practice since some ideas may not be practical. Therefore, the innocent victims find themselves battling with wrong influences, a condition which invites problems to their lives. Biased media ideas have multifaceted consequences affecting all aspects of society. Social Implications Initially, biased media depictions exert numerous social problems. Fundamentally, people will always embrace ideas that seem essential in boosting their social status or acceptability. Media generally utilizes perfect characters with superb figures to lure people to their programs. For instance, advertisements promoting supplements display strong men or pretty women to prove the performance of these products (Dill, 2009). This may considerably woe people who have desires of improving their appearances. The media achieves its objectives by capturing the customers, but the victims bear the effects of these products. People blindly consume the products under the influence of satisfying their quests without considering their impacts. In the future, these practices may land them into grim health problems. According to Miller (2005), victims of false media illustrations suffer physical tribulations, including anorexia and practice of risky feeding habits. Notably, these people face solemn psychological sufferings when their medications plans fails to respond accordingly. Victims have immense faith on such programs and are eager to witness excellent improvements. As such, failing to achieve these changes makes them feel disappointed and unfit for the society (Poteat & DiGiovanni, 2010). Additionally, biased information fuels moral decadency in the society. Media violence distress people’s morals remarkably. Studies have identified that people who are frequent exposed to screen violence presents augmented aggression and are likely to engage in fierce crimes (Miller, 2005). Occasionally, people employ the solutions provided by the media in solving the real life challenges. For instance, movies and plays commonly advocate for the revenge as the best therapy for our offenders. Therefore, individuals who invite such an idea will always feel justified to avail hash revenge schemes to anyone who offends them. Children fall the real victims of such violence. Children’s young mind can hardly define the reality in media images. Media comedies may use unethical languages; therefore, children who follow these programs may borrow such vicious languages and use them ignorantly. Sometimes media portray convicts as victors. Children therefore, hold these convicts as their role models and formulate their ill habits (Poteat & DiGiovanni, 2010). Importantly, media propagates ill ideas that creep silently hence derailing morals in the society. Media has made obscene practices appear normal. This is evident in the position of the media in persuading the contemporary dressing styles and exposure of sexual activities. Actors in the media plays, advocate for the dressing codes with explicit sexual exposures. Media invites these attributes to invite viewer’s attention. However, viewers associate them with beauty and fashion; hence, adopting them (Miller, 2005). Moreover, media commonly displays open and brutal sex activities. In fact, in the current world, the media has substantially promoted the notion of sexual activities. Initially, sex was a secretive and a sensitive affair. However, explosion of media pornography has led to the establishment of a society that observes sex as the focal theme. Indeed the media observe that good sex is one that includes brutal and obscene sexual activities. Consequently, these ideas have penetrated the society and individuals continue to uphold them accordingly. Such ideas have a sole role of corrupting social morals (Sparks, 2012). Biased media information also installs unnecessary fears and conflicts in the society. Occasionally, administrators have effectively used media to circulate false assertions to accomplish their agendas. Distinguishing reality from media images can help the society encounter such fears. Additionally, media may spread wrong messages aimed at discrediting or building bad attitudes towards some communities or races. People who are unaware of the real story develop negative attitudes towards the victim groups. Notably, such biased depictions may ruin community relations. All these attributes ascribe the apparent position of biased media in derailing world’s social life. Political Impacts Besides social problems, when media is biased, it exerts noticeable political consequences. Political actors with authority over media have taken advantage of their position to advance their control. The society has faith on media and expects that they will always supply them with steadfast information. However, this is not always apparent since misuse of this opportunity has led to compromised governance. As such, undesired candidates have managed to use media to build their popularity (Poteat & DiGiovanni, 2010). Media builds such candidates by defacing the image of their opponents hence making them victors. A significant concern is apparent when people hardly identify treachery schemes employed by the media. According to Sparks (2012), public opinions play a critical role when influencing people’s decisions. This means that the tool may considerably mislead people if biased. Consequently, biased media sways the society into appreciating unfit candidates; hence, leading to weak governance. Additionally, the misuse of media has led to emerge of political wars. Information is an insightful tool that needs cautious handling. Consequently, poor handling of information in media has led to political clashes. Importantly, governments have utilized media to rationalize their ill actions. Although media has enhanced communications, its misuse continues to develop poor relations. Economic Consequences Media engages in extensive advertising campaigns, which may influence investments. The detrimental impact of this practice emerges where the campaigns fails to respond accordingly. Hence, investors face challenges in adjusting to un-expected market state as the reality in the ground turns to be very different from the prospects. Such conditions may surprise the investors making them lose substantial amounts in blind ventures. Unviable investments have detrimental impacts on the nation’s economy (Sparks, 2012). Conclusion Evidently, there exists a distinct difference between the images portrayed in the media and the reality. Mistaking the images for reality may exert injurious effects in the society. Such impacts are already apparent in the contemporary world. Understanding the variation between media images and reality is essential if the society is to escape the wrath of media prejudice (Poteat & DiGiovanni, 2010). However, sorting out the media images from reality is challenging since people who promotes biased allegations employs very tricky schemes. Therefore, effective analysis of any idea presented in the media is necessary; media is a beneficial tool but need be handled cautiously. References Dill, K. (2009). How fantasy becomes reality: seeing through media influence. New York, NY [etc.: Oxford University Press. Friedman, J. (2002). Reality squared: Televisual discourse on the real. New Brunswick, NJ [u.a.: Rutgers Univ. Pr. Miller, C. J. (2005). The social impacts of televised media among the yucatec maya. Human Organization, 57(3), 307-314. http://search.proquest.com/docview/201152423?accountid=45049 Poteat, V. P., & DiGiovanni, C. D. (2010). When biased language use is associated with bullying and dominance behavior: The moderating effect of prejudice. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39(10), 1123-1133. http://search.proquest.com/docview/746773047?accountid=45049 Sparks, G. G. (2012). Media effects research: A basic overview. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. http://jennifershewmaker.com/2011/09/14/does-media-matter-media-and-perception-of-reality/ http://voices.yahoo.com/media-influence-american-perception-reality-167471.html http://www.branam.com/makingsense/perception.shtml http://www.rocketjam.com/mediaandperception.html Read More