station or the program wants you to obtain. The Media portrays events and dialogues in particular ways so that you will think something was said one way, when it may have been meant to be taken another way. To sum it up, most American’s believe what they are told, and the media takes advantage of this, in a way brainwashing America to believe what they want us to. This happens a lot in politics, when speeches are given and a handful of networks all say that the speech meant something different, they want you to believe what you hear. Americans recognize the large role the media plays in their lives. Forty-three percent say that the press plays the most influential role in determining which issues and events are considered important (Times Mirror Center). The media’s role in politics is even more significant. They help shape the political culture, and have the power to make a candidate appealing or repulsive. In 1984 they tried to unseat Ronald Reagan by going against public opinion and not attacking Mondale as they would have done to any other conservative candidate. In 1992, they attacked George Bush for doing what Mondale had proposed, and as a result, Bush lost reelection. The media has taken many opportunities to try to help the public misinterpret the actions of conservatives, and as a result, all conservative candidates have had to fight an uphill battle. Therefore the media should stick to reporting on politics, and not shaping it. It should not be biased, but should offer information to allow ideas to form freely. They (the media) need to look in the mirror and then see who the real “out of touch extremists” are. With only 16% of reporters calling themselves Republicans while 44% call themselves Democrats, one has the right to suspect that reporting is skewed (Freedom Forum). This suspicion is proven with numerous comments and viewpoints expressed by those within the media business. Now, more than ever, t...
