Response Paper #4

Because of my hospital experience, work, etc. I never got to meet with anyone so I am posting my response here as normal.  Here we go!

Response Paper #4

            My favorite form of mass media is reading news websites online.  I love reading the news because I can get an idea of what is going on all around the country with regards to many different subjects.  I feel that it keeps me knowledgeable and up to date.  The news really does project many different attitudes and personalities of people.  My favorite news sites to read are:  msn.com, cnn.com, and msnbc.com.  Reading these news sites reflect the diversity of US culture by showing all that goes on within the US.  I know that the news can be biased (ahem Fox news), so I try to stick to stories that are objective and straight to the facts.  They also reflect the diversity of the US because of how the journalists write their articles.  You could have the same story on all three websites, yet how the story reads might be different.  It shows the diversity of the writers and their views of the world (although they try to be as objective as possible).  Reading the news should be a standard because of how it keeps people informed of all of the facts of what is going on in our world. 

Stereotypes are regularly challenged by the news by showing stories that go against the main culture.  Stereotypes are always portrayed in the news stories, mostly in crime and negativity.  Some crimes happen because of people’s perceptions of a certain culture which only fuels stereotypes further.  Also though, it can shed light onto a particular subculture, for example, and expose the truths that may not be thought of.  It can also expose the truths of certain geological areas as well.  The news just may surprise you, and get to think in a way that you wouldn’t have thought of before.  It is unfortunate that actual newspapers are dying out, but it’s amazing that the internet can reach so many people.  People need to take the time to just take a look at what is out there.

Stereotypes are also always constructed in this mass media.  By being exposed to different news stories, that may further make someone actually believe a stereotype.  As much as people can really take to a news story, they can also reject it just as easily.  Reading the news makes people use their brains, and think and feel a bit.  Because of this, certain people can react to aspects of a story.  Unfortunately, there is also some dominant ideology at play with some news outlets.  This sways people and keeps them believing the same old things.  This is why objective news stories allow you to form your own thoughts without too much influence and are good for the creative mind.

            The sociological perspective on the media that I agree with the most is the interactionist view because of the smaller group.  I have said before how much I agree about theories regarding smaller groups of people.  Because mass media is such a daily piece of life, it does have a profound effect upon us that we don’t even realize.  I often hear in conversations people speaking about something they saw on TV or heard on the radio; it brings people together as an activity to do as well. 

            Overall, it’s hard to say if mass media more hurts or helps our society.  There are cons and pros to it, as anything else in life.  There is one thing for sure though, we can never escape mass media and the influence it has on us.  As I was reading the chapter, I totally forgot all about social networking and the effect that has on people.  It brings everyone together and is used as an “activity” for free time.