Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Media and television

The media play a critical role in modern society because they are the carriers of information about how people behave. And, the evidence from social science is clear that information about others’ behavior can have a contagious effect—leading observers to behave similarly, which can lead still more and more observers to conform.

Television commercials depict crowds rushing into stores and hands depleting shelves of the product. Advertisers proclaim their products as the “largest selling” or “fastest growing” in the market. Restaurant owners designate certain menu items as “our most popular,” which immediately makes them even more popular. Besides the number of others who have performed an action, there is another feature of others that makes their actions contagious—similarity. People follow the actions of others who are like them. Here, again, the media must exercise caution, as these behaviors can take on a copycat character.

I suggesting that the media should be censored in the reporting of news of genuine value. media representatives can reduce the negative consequences of events such as panics and suicides by reducing the repetitiousness and sensationalism of their coverage.

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6 comments:

Deborah Chia said...

I think censorship needs to be carefully considered. I think a little bit of censorships are ok. But not if it changes the whole meaning of the message. In the end you have to work with the world, not the world working with you. In a way i think singapore is overly-strict on their censorship laws. but one can continue this arguement on and on an on.

Deborah Chia said...

i'd like to rebutt myself. but if censorship doesnt take place, it might take a hold of the population. in areas with quite a lax censorship board, like America, a lot has happened due to violence from the media and other CMCs, hence censorship may be good that way. But i still think that in the end, the person decides the action, not the film. So you can censor all you want, but the action still gets carried out no matter what. unless reality becomes like the movie tom cruise acted in, where the crimes are foretold and the future criminal gets arrested before he commits it.

Anonymous said...

Wow i didn't realise that the media plays such a powerful role in mordern society!!! Thanks for enlightning me...

bOn said...

yes, media these days tend to exaggerate events, causing us, the receivers, to panic more than we actually should. but that's what catches viewers or readers attention. am i right?

lucas said...

yeap, without the sensationalisation, our attention will not be put to it since there are so many things that can distract us. it's a matter of using our minds to discern the truths from the lies.

Mr. Potato said...

Media censorship holds an important role for the government. They do this to protect the national interests of the country. Freedom of speech is often over hyped especially in a young nation like Singapore because I feel that our people are not ready to face the consequences if somethign contraversial was to break out.