Effect of Television on Delivery of News - Essay Example

? Effect of Television on Delivery of News Effect of Television on Delivery of News In the current world, there are features of mass media, which are responsible, for coverage and production of news. The requirement these elements need to have is the unparalleled quest to provide the general public with information. This information needs to be fair, precise, and just. The public relies on this information to know what exactly is going on around them, and the world at large. Media is what enables the passage or storage of information. Without it, the world and freedom would be something that people could only whisper about with fear of consequences and/or repercussions. Over the years, the media has been responsible for highlighting all the things that happen truthfully. They spearhead the campaigns against injustices and crimes. This provides them with the correct channels to use in order to find the proper manner in which this information is transferred from one medium to another. The media’s credibility depends on how accurate their information is, and how it may affect the public. It is a cause for worry if the information is biased, lacks neutrality, or is wrong. This may lead to wrong perceptions about the media and all it stands for in today’s world. This paper will examine the effects that television and other media have had on the delivery of news. Neil Postman’s: Amusing Ourselves to Death According to Postman, the rise of electronic media has led to the change in reality. Many people cannot put reality into context because the media is shaping the world into something that was not there. He goes on to insinuate that the media has changed the way in which people view politics, their immediate social setting, the economic standing, among other things. He believes that the media manipulates information for people to have some way of relating to it, even though they did not want to in the first place. In his book, Postman claims that the public’s priorities are altered with uncomplicated forms of entertainment rather than the use of violence, cruelty, and brutality when they want to fight against totalitarian authority. Postman also shows of how the media is responsible for manipulating the public’s social, economic, and political standing by presentation of fictitious information, and facts. All these are methods devised by television and other electronic media to divert the public’s attention away from matters that affect them. The public’s money and energy is directed toward such manipulation, and eventual subjugation through the media without them realising what is happening. This book and all its findings have created the state in which many continents are in today. It is, therefore, only right to say that communication brought through television and other media is biased and provides information which is destructive to the rational minds of individuals. After long periods of television watching, one gets to question and be suspicious of discussions, and arguments. These effects are growing and will continue to mature provided the media is involved in contextualising the lives of people. Matt Quayle’s article; ‘The Method of the Medium is in the Motion.’ In this article, Quayle argues that Postman’s conclusions, though somewhat true, were a little premature. He did not take the time to correctly evaluate all the factors that came into play when writing his book. Today, according to Quayle, many factors contribute to the growth of the medium used to communicate to the public. This is unlike how they did twenty-five years ago. He reiterates the fact that Postman did an exceptional job in finding out what affected the media during that time, but a lot of things have changed. Quayle insists there is a possibility of increasing the public discourse in this modern age of technology. A lot has changed since the last time Postman wrote the book on the media. Quayle asserts that the television news space has fully-grown, and there is more to look for in the media in relation to news. Politics take centre stage in most television or cable news and many issues addressed. Live interviews give the public something to talk about when their politicians go on air. A different side is seen whenever the news shows air, and people can participate in all of them. This is the difference between then and now, in relation to the media. In the article, Quayle talks of the economic standing that faces nations, for example, the U.S. He talks of how the media played a part in informing the public about how the situation could be worse than the recession in 1984. Through this information, Quayle believes that the media fraternity is growing, and the effect it has on all the three fronts, that is, the political, social, and economic fronts should be positive. Article by Mark Kelley; ‘An Apology to the 4G Generation’ In this article, the author pities the generation that is engulfed by the large technology use. This use is decreasing the state of mind of these individuals. He tends to agree with the fact that technology could decrease the attention span of individuals, and lure the public away from normal thinking and reading. This was according to the book by Postman that Kelley described as a look into the future of technology. The adverse effects of electronic multitasking are felt today. This is as many researchers indicate according to some of the studies they have done. Attention span among the youth and other electronic users is deteriorating. Teachers at every level are complaining about the poor performance in schools. Employers are also complaining of the poor, working levels of some of their employees. The author urges people to be disciplined in the mode they tend to use the electronic media. Self-discipline may enable people to move away from dependence on technology. Over the coming years with the continuous advancement in technology, people will be more affected, and that may prove to be detrimental to their lives. In conclusion, it is crucial for people to realise the manner in which technology and its advances can affect them. Coming to such a realisation could be the difference between an individual’s addiction, and sanity. The media should be a source for genuine acts and patronage. It should exercise its right to educate everyone on their social, political and economic responsibility. People’s overdependence on technology can ruin their lives. To prevent this, people should rebuild their attention span by reducing their dependence on technology. This may help them grow socially, and be more creative. References Kelley, M. (2012, May 13). An apology to the 4G generation. Retrieved from http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/13/opinion/an-apology-to-the-4g-generation/ Postman, N. (1985). Amusing ourselves to death: Public Discourse in the age of show business. New York: Penguin Books. Quayle, M. (2010). The method of the medium is in motion. Journal of Education: Language and Logistics. Retrieved from http://www.freepatentsonline.com/article/ETC-Review-General-Semantics/246835923.html Read More