The End

-I have learned a lot in this class. A few main things that stand out if my deeper understanding of what exactly mass media is and how we react to it every day. I found out more about the politics and regulations that mass media has and all the organizations that monitor every outlet. I also learned a lot from the media pioneer presentations that we did in class. There were great presentations and I found myself looking through things just to find out what media pioneers are out there. I learned about different issues such as advertising and ethics and children exposed to TV and the impact that might have on it. Overall, I truly enjoyed this class and learned a lot about mass media.        

                              

Democratic Mass Media?

Mass media reflects a political system in the U.S. We are a democratic country and our mass media reflects that. We are allowed to talk about issues and not be censored like in other countries. For example, when political uprising was happening in Egypt, the mass media was shut down because the government didn’t want the information getting out. However, if such thing had happened here, our mass media will have every right to report on the issues happening. Such examples can be seen in many other countries and the U.S. is a great example of a free mass media just like the free country we are. 

Public and the Mass Media

Mass media shapes the public’s agenda of issues because whatever the mass media is broadcasting will be what people talk about. For example, if mass media keeps talking about the Royal Wedding, the public will be concerned with that particular piece of news. Depending on the issue, the public could be swayed to think one way or another and even change their original mind set on the issue. 

1st Amendment!

--The First Amendment prohibits government interference in free expression, religion and individual and public protests against government policies however when it comes to speech and press there are a few more rules. A newspaper can’t just write anything about anybody, if the information is false, the newspapers could be sued for libel and if it’s spoken for slander. Overall, the First Amendment protects speech and press as long as it’s true information and with good intent. 

The First Amendment and You

The significance of the First Amendment is that it protects people in media against people not liking what they say or write. Reporters can go a write a story knowing that they are able to write what they want without being to bias but to an extent that they don’t necessarily piss people off. But then again since they are protected by the first amendment they have the freedom of speech and can do and say what’s on their mind specifically about the government. In news today you hear about people criticizing the government and how they don’t trust it and how’s it run poorly. Saying this through speech’s and news allows them to be protected from the government and other people that disagree because the First Amendment specifically prohibits government interference in free expression, religion and individual and public protests against government policies. In the media you are also allowed to talk about religion in anyway you want as long as you aren’t promoting it to people as in that they should change their religion. There is also a free expression provision that is also placed with the First Amendment that protects peoples rights and which states that the First Amendment ban against government abridgment of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

The importance of the first Amendment

What is the significance of the First Amendment with speech and press?

The first amendment is so important to journalists because it is the right to freedom of the press. A journalist has the right to report on what he or she wants to within what their boss allows them to do, or tells them to do. The point is that they have a right to report on what they and their station want, they are not restricted by the government. The government does have rules on libel to protect a citizen or company but they do not have restrictions on what they can publish about the government or famous people.

This Amendment is also so important to journalists because they can serve as watch dogs to the government. When the government becomes corrupt, the media can find out and publish information about it. This is the same for big business, when these businesses get corrupt, the media will try to uncover this. The people that do uncover these sorts of scandals, rather than being punished, are rewarded for their intelligence and ability to uncover a mystery. The reason they are able to be praised, is all thanks to the first amendment.

This is a link on a talk show where the interviewer asks when should the first amendment “lose”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxHExkcWKFo

Democratic Mass Media

Mass media within the United States represents the democratic political system globally. The United States being a democratic society gives mass media more power through laws such as freedom of speech. Mass media has the right to show, within reason; whatever they feel is best fit for the audience they are trying to reach. Globally mass media from the United States is representative of the democratic political system in which it is located. Many other countries do not have the ability to watch, and say what they want at their own free will. When compared to other countries mass media within the United States gives has the ability to reflect the feelings and cultural trends across the country.
The democratic political system of the United States is shown across the globe not only politically, but in the reflection from mass media. Having the ability to choose the shape of mass media through the direction of society shows the democratic abilities of mass media. These abilities is what makes US mass media stand apart from mass media across the globe, leaving all the power within the citizens of the country mass media is sourcing from.
-Michael Bouchie