When it comes to the function of media, in the book it describes that it had four functions which are surveillance, correlation, cultural transmission, and entertainment. The first on to show info, the second is the analysis of info, the third is education, and the fourth is to entertain people. I feel that all of these are important for media, but I feel that the most important are correlation and entertainment. The reason why we engage in media is to be entertained. It doesn’t matter what program you watch or listen to ranging from Howard Stern to Oprah, we watch them because we find their programs interesting and entertaining. Correlation is analyzing the info that we are given and we must decide if the info we are given is accurate. I feel that this is a good function of the media to expose lies because the fact of the matter is that we aren’t taught to question media that much, we tend to go on face values, instead of trying to find the truth. That’s what news is all about, trying to find the truth, and I think that media does a good job with these functions.
I hate to do this, but I have to disagree with you when you say that news media does a good job of exposing the truth. It is my opinion that the news media's do a better job of bashing each other and spend more time competing against each other than they do actually researching and digging for the truth. It is very common for the news media to be flat out wrong about more than the weather. It is a daily event for every news media in the United States to produce bold faced lies as truth. Mostly this is due the the inherent nature to be biased and the corporate pressure put on these medias. But some of the blame must surely be blamed on the viewer for believing these mis-truths instead of researching for themselves the true details and facts. It is our laziness that allows this sham of "Trust Worthy News Broadcasting" to thrive.
ReplyDeleteAll of the four functions of surveillance are essential for media functions, but as you mentioned correlation and entertainment are very important. I was television because of entertainment that is my principal reason. Entertaining audience is the goal of Television, radio, magazine, and news paper, and then through entertainment they inform and persuade. Correlation also it is important we must analyze carefully what to believe and what not to believe using critical thinking. I agree with you when you mentioned that we aren’t taught to question media that is why is good in some way that media lies in some information so that way we would be more aware of the information given.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post on the functions of media.
ReplyDeleteIts true, we as viewers are watching media to be entertained. Many of us would say we aren't really influenced by media but entertaining media is very much a influence of how people should or could act in certain situations.
Those who want factual information would not turn to TV media but more along the lines of newspaper or internet. However its true that much of the TV media does give us information though its not always exact or accurate but we accept without much research or questioning.
However I would have to say news media is informational but bias. So its not necessarily true to say all news is not true or accurate but to state that all news reports accurate information based on their agenda therefore its mostly bias.