Discussion 1 – Personal Summary
The media is a hub for several subsets of communication and entertainment. In the 21st century, it has become one of, if not the main source of human communication. Media is influential and informative, allowing people from countless backgrounds to view or experience the same content at once. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40017080
Within the past decade, the media has evolved at an almost alarming rate. It impacts culture and society both negatively and positively, but recently the negative aspects have become more noticeable. A well-known disadvantage of the media is social media. It is a breeding pool of comparison and insecurity for teenage users. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep63508.6
Discussion 1 – Peer summary
My classmate’s interpretation of the media heavily aligned with my own. It is extremely versatile and often abused by media outlets who promote misinformation and share biased points of view. She used the term “horse race” to describe modern-day news coverage. Many news stations these days are known for having strong political affiliations, rather than being neutral https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt20krxdr.5
My classmate made sure to provide examples of the media being used for positive purposes. Many people use media to educate each other and stay aware of important events occurring in the world. Having an internet community can prevent people from being discouraged. She also stated that the media can persuade people and provided evidence by mentioning people being unmotivated to vote. Many Americans are bombarded with information telling them their vote does not matter, and they have begun to believe that. PBS showcases the personal accounts of discouraged U.S. voters, and what led them to their current mindsets. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/democracy-isnt-working-many-young-adults-believe-voting-is-not-important-ap-norc-poll-finds
In my initial discussion post and response, I constantly mentioned the negative aspects of media and the corruption that is happening within the industry. This holds a lot of weight for me, because I aspire to have integrity and gain the trust of my audience when writing. I know what it feels like to be on the other side as an audience member. I do not enjoy being fed false information, and I cannot imagine a single person who does either. I think the media is such an important asset to our culture. When used correctly, it can be helpful. We can spread important information to people around the world or we can simply share entertainment. Media is the bridge between bridges cultures and continents. It is the glue which holds the modern world together.
Discussion 2 – Personal Summary
Madison Green 