The Stories That Shape the Political World, Book Review Example

Media is a tool often referred to as the society’s source of information. Relatively, it affects how people perceive the situations happening in the community. Basing from this fact, Jamieson and Waldman specifically pointed out how such truth is seen in the society today. Discussing how media influences the society especially during elections [particularly referring to the American society], the authors clearly defined the points by which the power of the press is imposed as a tool for making specific events happen. Fabricating situations so as to fit the stories that the media hopes to impose is what is exposed in the reading. How much should these facts affect the personal perception of human individuals about media? Notably, both authors consider the fact that in line with the power of the press to influence the thinking as well as the decisions of the public human individuals ought to be careful, more defensive and likely investigative before they actually embrace a particular issue to be factual and realistic hence letting it affect their personal being and perceptions over certain matters in the society.

One specific example that shows the involvement of media in the process of developing particular information into a social issue is that of the Mengnui incident in China. Mengnui, being the recognized as the largest dairy manufacturer in China was discovered to have been developing food problems. Their products were found to contain Melamine during the year 2009. This report has crossed overboard and the possibility of it becoming a social issue has increased especially that the products of the said company goes out as export of the country. At the turn of events, the company decided to apologize to the public, however specific reputation have already been placed upon them by the media which cannot be completely erased from the thinking of the public. This therefore serves as a lifetime mark for the company’s reputation in the market among its prospected customers. True, the expansion of the situation and over definition of the problem through media coverage with use of extensive documentaries caused social alarm. This alarm did not only place the product involved in question but the majority of the products coming from the said nation. At this point, issuing an apology was not the most practical solution the problem that has risen from the said situation.

Paranoia over these products have become a source of phenomenal questioning that China had to deal with especially when it comes to reestablishing their economic stance in the face of international trade. From this particular example, it could be analyzed that Jamieson and Walden’s commentary on the course of media development and how it impacts the thinking and perception of the people creates a full picture on why the Chinese issue on the release of products containing cancer causing substances has gained so much attention than what was actually necessary. This case reveals that the course of development that media fabricates could either ruin or establish a reputation for those it specifically represents.

With issues like that of China, the consideration over the facts is not anymore seen to be important. Most listeners and viewers from the public only get highly concerned on what information they are being fed with by the press. Although they do have the choice to research on whether or not the reports are true, only a few actually do willingly look for the facts. As a result to this, it has become harder for the truth to surface especially when particular situations have only been fabricated. In connection to the matter involved. It is then suggested that before anything is to be believed upon, issues should be well examined first. The internet provides links to reliable sources, information technology has increased the capacity of individuals to decipher the facts from notions. This way, listeners of media are able to make sure that the facts presented are real and reliable so as to make conceivable decisions that could affect the people’s lives.