America at Odd Politics and Media, Essay Example

Classic discourse has moved predominantly toward online media.  From blogs, journals, social media, online news, and more, I think that competent journalism is becoming more and more difficult to find.  It seems that most of what we find online today can be discredited with spelling errors, bias, and a lack of credibility altogether.  Although some sources do in fact provide real news, classic and competent journalism is certainly threatened by the new-age media replacements.

Advertising and media are a huge part of political campaigns and political movements alike.  Yet, the media seems to distort and warp facts and news.  In the past, presidential candidates wrote intelligent essays in journals.  However, the media has turned politics into a show – a circus of sorts – showing only certain information while keeping other information under wraps, and encouraging politicians to wear makeup and speak a certain way.  Overall, I think the media plays a large part in politics, and it certainly influences viewers and voters.

This is a difficult question.  I believe in First Amendment rights and allowing the public to decide what is fact and fiction.  I almost think it is an insult of intelligence to shelter citizens from certain media, yet many people want to be force fed their information these days anyway.  Although I believe in the First Amendment, I also think that boundaries are important.  It seems like too many things are out of hand with sexual content as it is; I would hate to see what would happen if boundaries were removed.

It is impossible to turn on the television during election season without seeing some kind of slanderous campaign advertisement.  Yes, I think it is improper and in poor taste.  I don’t think that fighting “dirty” should win elections.  However, I think that it should be left up to the voters to do their research and discover what fact is and who the best and most competent candidate should be.  The media should not determine who our government officials are.  We cannot simply veg in front of the television expecting the television to tell us who to vote for.  Thorough research and voting for the candidate who supports personal values is always the best bet.

Just like the rest of the media and campaign advertisements, I think that discretion should be left to viewers and listeners.  Talk radio is no more influential or biased than television media.  Therefore, I think it should be taken lightly, mostly used for entertainment purposes, and listeners should support their decisions and knowledge with real and factual research.

Mainstream media is most certainly biased toward liberal values.  From television shows, to magazine covers, to the music we listen to, liberal agendas somehow seep their way into our homes.  We hear, see, and read about many things that are not consistent with conservative principles.