Media Too Powerful Essays - Jury, Legal Procedure, Oprah Winfrey

Media Too Powerful? Exposure to the media is a constant event. It begins as soon as the radio or television are turned on, or as soon as a newspaper or magazine are opened.. The television, radio, newspaper and magazines are all ready to give us their spin on the top stories of the day. Some try to give us facts, with as little of their input and thoughts as possible, some work only on rumors and inuendoes, while others give us facts but slanted to their way of thinking (Kurtz 1). The media contributes to public opinion and provides understanding of the news. The media entertains us, watches government and social institutions, and gives the public information for debate and discussion about local and international affairs. The media and journalists are protected under the lst Amendment, but does freedom of the press imply the freedom to be sensational, to be biased, to be inaccurate? Does the lst Amendment protect the media if it prints or discusses lewd or pornographic material at the expense of the general public? The government needs to take control of the media (Stengel 3). There is a need to get accurate information that is unbiased. The media needs to be held accountable and not hide behind its cries of free speech and censorship. With some restrictions and some intergity, the media will still have plenty to report, debate, review, and still be a watch dog of sorts. The government is here for the protection of the people, and there are some areas that the media only endangers our safety, whether it is on health issues, privacy issues, or in international affairs. There are some places that the media does not have a very good perspective on national security or individual privacy (Stengel 1). The government could look at ways to assist the media on a bi- partisan approach. It is time the media and our government does what is best for the American people, not for personal or political gain (Hannon 3). Government should put restrictions on the areas the media can report. Newspapers and magazines shape America's views and opinions. Newspapers have diverse content, producing in-depth stories and news analysis. They represent many perspectives with a wide range in subject matter. Newspapers do investigating reporting, express personal opinion, reviews, as well as gossip. Some newspapers are gossip oriented, while others are news and analysis oriented. There are specialized newspapers that have mass appeal with a national view (Merrill 1). Magazines appeal mainly to the elite, well-educated, and the opinion leaders. Generally, magazines are more incisive, interpretive and more comprehensive than newspapers (Merrill 3). The main function of newspapers are to inform and summarize, while magazines explain, criticize, interpret and comment. Magazines supplement newspapers (Berninghausen 4). Radio and television have a significant place among the media. Radio mainly provides entertainment, although National Public Radio provides facts, views and opinions on many subjects. National Public Radio is noncommercial and is supported by the government as well as the public through donations (Merrill 3). Television produces on the spot broadcasts of major events, documentaries, political views and opinions, terrorist episodes, and international crises. Through satellites, news is flashed instantly from all over the world. With cable television, some stations produce news reports twenty-four hours a day. Since the mid-1990's, two-thirds of our nation's homes are equipped with cable. The broadcast networks, including public television, are discussing new strategies for presenting the news (Beringhausen 8). The media has had a major impact on trials. They put forward information, interview prosecutors, attorneys, the accused, the accused relatives, and with all the information that is given, facts, opinions and views all seem to become distorted. It isn't possible for all to be telling the truth, and even when the accused goes to trial and a verdict is reached, the media second guesses what the judge and jury were thinking (Ross 1). Public opinion has no place in a trial. A judge and jury reaches a verdict based on the laws that pertain to a crime. The facts should be laid out and a decision made based on those facts (Ross 2). The Freeman of Montana were tried via the television before and during the trial