Information and Impact American
Pop Culture”
https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/textbooks/Understanding%20Media%20and%20Culture.pdf
(p. 169-172, Newspapers)
Newspapers have long been criticized for the way stories are presented, yet newspapers continue to print—and readers continue to buy them. They have been accused of choosing which articles to print based on personal financial gain and loyalty to advertisers and shareholders. Do you think that newspapers and their reporters today work on our behalf, perform a “watchdog journalism” function or are simply agenda setters – controlling what we get for information? Support your position.
Sample Solution
Newspapers and their role in a democracy
Newspapers play an important role in a democracy. They are supposed to be a watchdog for the public, holding the powerful accountable and informing the public about important issues. However, newspapers have been criticized for the way they report the news, and for their role in shaping public opinion.
One of the main criticisms of newspapers is that they are biased. Newspapers are often owned by large corporations, and these corporations may have their own agendas. For example, a newspaper owned by a media company may be more likely to report news stories that are favorable to that company's other business interests.
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Another criticism of newspapers is that they are sensationalized. Newspapers often focus on negative stories, such as crime and violence. This can give readers a distorted view of the world and make them more likely to be afraid.
Finally, newspapers have also been criticized for their role in shaping public opinion. Newspapers can choose which stories to report and how to frame those stories. This can influence what people think about important issues.
Newspapers as agenda setters
One of the most important functions of newspapers is to set the agenda for public discourse. Newspapers do this by choosing which stories to report and how to frame those stories. When newspapers give a lot of attention to a particular issue, it signals to the public that that issue is important.
For example, if newspapers give a lot of attention to crime, it tells the public that crime is a major problem. This can lead to the public demanding that more be done to address crime.
Newspapers can also use their agenda-setting power to promote or discourage certain policies. For example, if a newspaper is opposed to a particular policy, it may give more attention to stories that are critical of that policy. This can make the public less likely to support the policy.
Newspapers as watchdogs
Newspapers are also supposed to play a watchdog role, holding the powerful accountable. Newspapers do this by reporting on corruption, abuse of power, and other forms of wrongdoing.
When newspapers report on wrongdoing, it can lead to public pressure for change. For example, if a newspaper reports on a corrupt politician, this can lead to the politician being voted out of office.
Do newspapers work on our behalf?
Whether or not newspapers work on our behalf is a matter of opinion. Some people believe that newspapers are essential for a democracy and that they play an important role in holding the powerful accountable. Others believe that newspapers are biased and that they often distort the news.
Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not they believe that newspapers work on our behalf. However, it is important to be aware of the potential biases and limitations of newspapers.
My position
I believe that newspapers can play an important role in a democracy, but I also believe that it is important to be aware of their potential biases and limitations. Newspapers can be a valuable source of information, but they should not be the only source of information that we rely on.
We should also be critical of the news that we consume and we should be willing to seek out information from a variety of sources. We should also be aware of the agenda-setting power of newspapers and we should be critical of the way that they frame news stories.
Overall, I believe that newspapers can be a force for good in a democracy, but they need to be held accountable for the way that they report the news.
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