The news media plays a critical role in the American democracy. First and foremost, the media speaks to the Congress, the politicians, the public and to our society. The media has become the most influential to our society today. Before the 1950’s media had little to no effect to most politicians. Nowadays technology has advanced dramatically where we are able to access the news through; televisions, radio stations, Internet, and even print media. Television has become the most used media with over 55% of Americans accessing on a typical day in 2012. The Internet is 39% of Americans accessing on a daily basis which leaves newspaper and radio to be in the range of 29-33% the least checked for Americans on a typical day. Today, there are different
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It is important to acknowledge the influences media has on public opinion. The two components of public opinion are political values and political knowledge. This is affected by what is chosen to broadcast and what issues to focus on that can encourage audiences to believe and interpret the related information that is publicized. In the “Central Ideas in American Government,” Jocelyn Evans and Kristy Michaud mention that the media influences worldwide to 24% positively, 23% negatively and 53% neutrally. When individuals begin to judge other issues due to the influence of media, it is called priming. Priming is used in a few ways, such as, voting decisions. The media does a great job covering up an issue by shifting the focus on another issue. For instance, focusing on the growth of health care reform in 2009, media led the followers of health care to reflect more favorably to the President Obama due to his support on the same matter. When media was first being used the purpose was to educate citizens by releasing important information about the government and the politics. At that time Thomas Jefferson had said, “the press is the best instrument for enlightening the mind of man, and improving him as a rational, moral, and social being.” (Evans & Michaud, 11.19). Nowadays media has a complete different outlook and intention that have its advantages and disadvantages. Media can be beneficial to society by providing citizens important information that can be knowledgeable. There are also disadvantages when certain media outlets focus on providing the public information that are bias and false. For example an advantage of television is raising awareness on an issue that needs immediate attention to all listeners. A disadvantage is when the public believes false news that can be covering up another issue that has not been
It is important to acknowledge the influences media has on public opinion. The two components of public opinion are political values and political knowledge. This is affected by what is chosen to broadcast and what issues to focus on that can encourage audiences to believe and interpret the related information that is publicized. In the “Central Ideas in American Government,” Jocelyn Evans and Kristy Michaud mention that the media influences worldwide to 24% positively, 23% negatively and 53% neutrally. When individuals begin to judge other issues due to the influence of media, it is called priming. Priming is used in a few ways, such as, voting decisions. The media does a great job covering up an issue by shifting the focus on another issue. For instance, focusing on the growth of health care reform in 2009, media led the followers of health care to reflect more favorably to the President Obama due to his support on the same matter. When media was first being used the purpose was to educate citizens by releasing important information about the government and the politics. At that time Thomas Jefferson had said, “the press is the best instrument for enlightening the mind of man, and improving him as a rational, moral, and social being.” (Evans & Michaud, 11.19). Nowadays media has a complete different outlook and intention that have its advantages and disadvantages. Media can be beneficial to society by providing citizens important information that can be knowledgeable. There are also disadvantages when certain media outlets focus on providing the public information that are bias and false. For example an advantage of television is raising awareness on an issue that needs immediate attention to all listeners. A disadvantage is when the public believes false news that can be covering up another issue that has not been