Essay on Media Forms Opinions

Submitted By CollegeBound2015
Words: 534
Pages: 3
Open Document
Media has played a negative role in shaping the opinion of the public towards African Americans. The way the media has portrayed us, has left many disgusted. We are constantly struck with stereotypes and uninformed viewers who see us in news, television shows/movies, and today’s music. Modern day media has become a misrepresentation of who we really are.

News media almost always portrays African Americans as criminals instead of victims or youth trying to excel. The media holds African Americans males in particular, guilty until proven innocent. “Statistics indicate that young black males are in the Chicago criminal justice system far more than young white males of the same age. While 29% of black males have spent time in the Cook County Jail compared to 4% of whites, news media uses black crime to compose a major portion of local news programming.” While in Sanford, Florida, Trayvon Martin who was 17 at the time was murdered. The news portrayed him as a thug. Regardless of school infractions, the night of February 17,2012 he was defenseless. “Criminal records were not taken into consideration and national media were more concerned with more concerned with gold teeth and weed residue, instead of revealing evidence to confirm he is indeed a victim.”

“A 16 year old girl pointed out that most black sitcoms today are shown on newer networks such as UPN while mainstream channels such as NBC, CBS, and ABC present white sitcoms with the occasional appearances by black minorities.” It was very uncommon to see a realistic portrayal of African American men and women on television shows and movies. Common portrayals of African Americans in movies are drug dealers, crackheads, welfare queens, and the angry black woman. While some however partake in theses roles, it is not the vast majority of our race. Mainstream channels portrays African Americans in is sitcoms as big-time lawyers, doctors, or the CEO of a company. Many are neither of these stereotypes. They are middle-class working individuals who provide a means of living for theirselves.

Those who don’t form opinions through television shows, movies, or the news, form opinions through the music
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Media Forms Opinions

Incentive systems Essay

Assignment Two – News Media Comparison The Case of Amanda Todd Suicide Charisma Olajuyigbe 103714972 02-40-101-56 Andrea Landry Monday 25th March 2013 Introduction Mainstream media, also sometimes known as ‘mass media’, is a “collective journalistic entity” that provides news and information to a large amount of audience (wisegeek.com). Alternative media on the other hand is a form of media that may involve traditional outlets such as television, radio, newspapers and magazines. It reaches…

Words 1663 - Pages 7

The Role of Media in Government Essay

The Role of Media in Government Phase 3 Individual Project Isaac Joseph March 9, 2015 Colorado Technical University GOVT201-1501B-09 Prof. Constantinos Scaros The U.S. has one of the most varied media industries with expansive media outlets ranging from newspapers to broadcast television. The American people have access to every moment happening in the world with thousands of magazine, blogs, website, and 24 hour information broadcasting. The majority of the people rely on these outlets to gain…

Words 588 - Pages 3

Polarization Of Conformity And Persuasion

and take on more extreme opinions as a function of being in a group, relative to their individual attitudes and positions when they are alone (Myers & Lamm, 1975). This phenomenon finds a contemporary application in the discourse of opinion facilitated by social media technologies. In the first place, even if social media is comprised of initially unrelated individuals separated in space, people with the same attitudes (by principles of social identity) are able to form post hoc groups based on the…

Words 766 - Pages 4

Effects of Mass Media Essay

Effects Of Mass Media Matthew Kelly HUM/186 July 29, 2013 Krystal Holthus Effects Of Mass Media Mass media that surrounds our everyday lives, without a doubt has a large impact on our culture and way of life. The spectacular phenomenon of mass media has shaped and influenced our culture, by the process of evolutionary major developments and convergence. The media shapes and impacts our culture by providing large amounts of information through various channels of technology. Every day, people…

Words 818 - Pages 4

Paper Revised

Social Media Dependency Healthy effective communication without a doubt is the most important skill to get right in my opinion when it comes to anything. For a healthy relationship with a family member, friend, acquaintance, lover, or a stranger on the street: communication is key. To be able to effectively tell someone anything, to address a problem you may have and to come up with a solution, to organize events and outings with friends and family in hopes they run smoothly; Clear forms of communication…

Words 689 - Pages 3

Media Bias In Australia

Australian media tell biased news. David, Christian, Kathryn, and Kerrie (2015) believe that the statement 44 reported that current media is not enough to explain the coverage to the public. Sometimes, media coverage is biased such as a stereotype or less information. Folker (2013) states Australian journalists are still not suit for world views and cultural backgrounds of the general population. Although the media in Australia plays an important role, the number of people don't check media which mean…

Words 949 - Pages 4

Media Bias

Media is defined as the mass of communication. This can be through forms of social media, newspapers, books, television, articles, and more. Today we use media to stay informed on current events, politics, and other topics, but is that smart way to receive information? Many argue that media can be portrayed as biased and unfair giving us unreliable information on events. I believe the media is biased due to who is sending out or writing the information. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,…

Words 1188 - Pages 5

Essay on The Hidden Face of Power

and 2. how the news media relate to such forms or sources of power. Throughout history it is evident that the media is necessary and at the core of liberal governance, it changed and improved the way ideas and information were addressed and communicated in society, therefore giving rise to public opinions and improving the level of debate. The association between a free press and a liberal democracy was ultimately necessary to keep absolutist governments in check. The media have acquired a set…

Words 2392 - Pages 10

Public Opinion In The United States

Public opinions can be formed in every way possible. That is why we have a community/society among ourselves. The United States is made of many groups of different views, who share the common knowledge and viewpoint with each other within their group. Public opinion can be a powerful source of support system and can be divided through many different ways due to the advancement of technology in our society. Public opinion can both positively and negatively affect the political standpoint and views…

Words 524 - Pages 3

MCS Essay

‘Children and Film/Video/TV Violence’ (1999) and other work of the Glasgow Media Group, explore how these researchers set out to prove that media representations have clear and measurable effects on audiences. In other words what are the methods they use to prove their hypothesis? This essay will explore the different opinions and debates that various researchers have accounted on the effects of extensive violent media exposure and how it is changing the ways in which society functions today. It…

Words 1586 - Pages 7