Race-Baiter, Essay Example

Race-Baiters is a unique social commentary about the perspective of the media today. Unlike the days, where news was delivered to give you the news, it now focuses on entertainment, opinions and editorial story pieces that run throughout the thirty to an hour long format. Mega news networks like CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and others are prime sources of where most individuals receive political and world news, relying on local new sources for more local events. These leading news networks have garnered a mass audience and have substantial influences on individuals in aspects of religion, political, and social issues. Eric Deggans defines media ecology as, “the constellation of websites, social media spaces, radio and TV outlets, print publication, and even music platform that each person regularly consults each day.”(Deggans, pg.225) The basis of media ecology is that it defines your circle of network of social and technology sources that make up your daily digital digest.

The media that make up my media ecology includes the internet with social platforms including, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. News sources online from CNN and MSNBC, on television from local news networks, entertainment in forms of music, movies, television shows, and various video games. The choices that I make in media do not segregate me from others as my choices are diverse in subjects and taste that allows for a world view experience. In terms of political, philosophical, and cultural views, the role of media is to open your eyes to different views. Being close-minded is not an option as the views, cultures, languages, different races, and ethnicities are what helps to make up my media ecology, News sources such as CNN and MSNBC include a variety of topics with much dealing within the United States however, they also spend plenty of time focusing on world issues, especially ones that impact Americans. From those media sources, I have developed a deeper understanding of world issues that impact other parts of the world and the people who reside in them. As a journalist, it is my responsibility to take into account other perspectives and other issues that affect others. It is necessary in the field of work to be able to desegregate media choice within my media-ecology in order to become aware of different mediums, news, views, issues, and cultures that impact the world every day. In order to achieve this balance, the sacrifice to open up my media ecology to other media that regularly is not used or consumed including new sources such as Fox that tend to lean towards a more conservative approach, music and entertainment that regularly does not fit my style, video games that others might enjoy, or social platforms that are popular with others including Pinterest, Myspace, Tout, and other sources. With a combination of different media a collective perspective will help me develop as a journalist in order to be empathetic to others and current news in a fair, truthful, and rational nature.

References

Deggans, Eric. Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation.2012. Palgrave MacMillian. New York, New York.