The Importance Of Media In The Media

1996 Words8 Pages
The news we consume is inherently affected by the mode and the source by which we get our information. If we are not cognitive about where our news is coming from, we may not realize that we are not getting the same information as everyone else. Media companies act as gatekeepers, determining not only what is important for us to know, but in what context we need to know the information. And yet, this varies from each news outlet depending on a variety of factors, including whether it is international or domestic, commercial or not, and who owns the company. As gatekeepers for information, media companies have a distinct power to influence what news pieces audiences see and in what light they see it in. These gatekeeping devices are inherently…show more content…
CBS reported on news stories in which they speculated beyond the known facts to raise questions about what could happen next. In covering the legal battle between California and the United States over sanctuary cities, CBS choose to speculate that California is likely to win the lawsuit in the Supreme Court, which would serve as a major blow to the Trump administration (CBS, 2018). In doing so, CBS incites viewership and discussion by both liberals and conservatives alike, who will likely continue to tune in to see if CBS was right. All of this leads to ways in which broadcast media has the ability to set the agenda for the public. When the media sets the agenda, they decide what the public will be talking about and discussing. In many ways, what the media determines is newsworthy is also what ends up being on the agenda, which can actually be many different agendas. Broadcast media can set the political agenda for what congress will be talking about, or it can set an agenda for what everyday citizens will be…show more content…
Today’s media marketplace offers a variety of sources and channels through which individuals access media and it is crucial that consumers are aware of the ways in which media can influence them, as well as what exactly they are being shown. By being an active viewer of broadcast media, individuals can be more informed and cognizant about how their news is being delivered to them, and how this would differ if they watched a different news channel. When we become more aware about the way in which news is framed in order to promote a viewpoint, or how news corporations are able to decided what deserves national attention, we can become more informed media consumers. This is especially true for commercial media sources, in which the undue influence of advertisers, parent companies, and short time slots all skew the way in which media is chosen and
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