Blogprompt 4: Media

To what extent do best selling UK newspapers cover stories related to "serious" issues? To what extent would you think it is their role to do so? In your opinion does the tabloid media and "low budget entertainment" (reality shows, soaps) have too much power and influence in this country?


When overhearing a conversation between friends, you don't hear them discussing any "serious" issues like Climate Change, you hear snippets of what happened in Eastenders or Coronation Street. When there's a power cut, the first thing on most of the population's mind is that they'll miss their favourite programme not on whether the hospital's have power or whether the street and traffic lights are out.

As I personally don't watch any reality shows, soaps or read the newspaper, I can only speak/write about other people's experiences rather than through my own experiences. Like I said/wrote in my previous blog, I believe that as citizens we have the right to know what is happening, even if we don't understand it all. The media writes about "serious" issues to a certain extent, but only if it they believe that the majority of the population want to hear about it. Even then, it is sometimes twisted to make it more interesting, they will leave important facts out or will only show one side/view of the story.

The problem with the media is that if they mention one thing the wrong way or take it too far, it can start a panic. For example, mass hysteria about the Swine Flu was provoked by the Media who just saw it as a good story. On a yearly basis, thousands of people can get the "regular" flu or a flu mutation (which aren't that different to Swine Flu) in just one country, however a few secluded cases of Swine Flu in varying countries and suddenly we're in an epidemic!

The media in my opinion has too much power, effecting our lives in such a way that we sometimes don't even notice. We have become dependant on reading our weekly newspaper, magazine or watching our favourite soap and go into a panic when we miss it for any reason. Our lives shouldn't be ruled by what we read or watch as it has most likely been manipulated to put it into a better light, make it seem more interesting and/or shows only a specific side to a story. Some soaps show serious issues but in a more comical or dramatic way, to make it more user friendly but shouldn't we also hear/see the real story too?

References
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