Social Reaction Paper

DJ Woodard Mass Media�s Impact on Political Policy Sociology 101 April 23, 2009

It seems as though the mass media industry grows more and more, advancing technologically every decade. The use of public communication has slowly taken over the mainstream, and now, media and technology has consumed every bit of what we Americans do in our everyday lives. From the first brick-like cell phones, to iPhones and BlackBerrys, technological advancements as well as social changes are happening all the time. The use of movies, radio, television, and magazines are a huge influence on the political world, because it allows people to use their own judgment. In current times, these tools are used to one�s own advantage and may be used however is pleased (to an extent). The political government have been affected by this, but has also used these means of communication to reach the public. Firstly addressed is the impact that the use of media had on the recent presidential election. In the beginning of the campaign, the controversy was the fight for democratic candidacy between either the first female president or the first black president, otherwise know as Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. After preliminary voting, America had come to find that a black man would be running for our United States President. Before you know it, Americans everywhere were either praising or bashing this Illinois Senator. Republicans were furious, while democrats were overjoyed. An article from Socialistworker.org quotes �Republicans tried to make race an issue by reviving the dead issue of Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright, calling Obama "dangerous," letting conservative followers believe Obama was Muslim and Arab.� Example being- people were trying to use his ancestral background against him in his campaign. Although I stand politically as a Republican, I would like to share my opinion with this matter. I do not think it is fair at all to use this type of information against him. People like Jeremiah Wright are trying to throw peoples� opinions of Obama�s intentions and political standing by filling the minds of American citizens with nonsense. This is an unfortunate issue, seeing as according to David Str�mberg, a Stockholm University Professor, mass media has a major underlying factor on the decision-making of uninformed voters (such as the first-time and younger voters). This is because of the information heard in the news or read in headlines. On a side note, I understand that that being the first black president of the United States of American is definitely a historical phenomenon, but I feel that the use of media (such as merchandise sold in shopping malls) is way to over-the-top. That said, either way it is still a huge landmark on our American history.

Mass media have influenced many American�s ways of thinking. The ability to broadcast news across television screens, radio waves, and tabloid headlines have given people way too much power. Because of the fact that you are able to share facts and/or fictions with a �hint of your own two-cents�, people tend to alter the truth sometimes. In addition, people usually prefer to believe that rubbish over the real facts, rather than to do the digging themselves. Clearly, this is how rumors are started and spread. I have come to realize that before a person reads an article about a politician, or anyone famous being for that matter, a viewer/reader will somehow connect to or relate to the headline. Shortly after, having read the article or not, the viewer will have formed an opinion based on initial response, somewhat like a first impression. Those people, however, are the politically uneducated; which I am almost positive is quite are large percentage of the American population. Clearly, making the impact on the political policy. In reverse, the use of mass media by the political government (rather than being used against them) helpful in many ways. For example, monitoring minors on social networking websites. Websites like MySpace and Facebook have opened up a whole new world for sexual predators. With millions of young boys and girls logging on everyday, these children are putting themselves at risk. The risk of becoming a victim of sexual assault, rape, and etc.. Because of the issues, complaints, and criminal acts that have occurred from kids networking on these sites, the government is trying to develop a bill to protect minors from sexual predators online. A blog post on APCommunity.blogspot.com mentions that bill to be proposed to congress would retain internet records for two years (including IP addresses). The post also mentions that the reason this has not happened already is because of the expenses it would require for this to happen. Aside from this, Pennsylvanian Republican, Michael Fitzgerald, is also taking action by endorsing a bill called The Deleting Online Predators Act. This bill would require monitoring of minors� internet usage on social networking websites in public schools and libraries, cutting off access to these websites for underage children. Despite the fact that there are so many other problems going on in our nation today, Some people may find this to be an unimportant issue to have to deal with during these times. Some may also find this to be a major invasion of privacy, but I personally never underestimate the importance of children�s safety. Imagining myself with children, I would want nothing but the best for them, wouldn�t you agree? I respect the fact that the government wants to, per se, �take advantage� of mass media for the better. It is important that we keep predators away from America�s youth. Mass media on politics is generally directed as a bad thing, and I�d have to say that I agress. But I would also have to say that media and technology can be a good thing in the political and governmental world- IF it can be used to help protect someone, find out valid information, or even help the nation communicate. If American used media in a healthy way, this country, I am sure, would function more properly. J.M. Balkin of Yale University quotes, �Without mass media, openness and accountability are impossible in contemporary democracies. Nevertheless, mass media can hinder political transparency as well as help it. Politicians and political operatives can simulate the political virtues of transparency through rhetorical and media manipulation. Television tends to convert coverage of law and politics into forms of entertainment for mass consumption, and television serves as fertile ground for a self-proliferating culture of scandal.� Boldly, yet simply stated, this Yale professor says exactly what I am trying to emphasize. Balkin is brilliant in his metaphors, using the term political transparency to signify mass media simulating the political world. By transparency, Balkin means that transparency is a way we view things. �We want the medium to be transparent to vision so that we can accurately view what is on the other side.� His theory is that mass media will help Americans understand government operation, participate in political decision, and to hold government officials accountable for wrongdoing. He also goes on to explain how the public uses mass media to into the

private lives of political figures, for example, the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal. He also expresses how many different ways and just how far the media will go to exploit peoples� private information. All for the public eye to get a kick out of, as a form of entertainment. J.M. Balkin has many ideas and theories in his article that are excellent, and I could not agree with him more. From Darwinism to the O.J. Simpson trial, he has perfected the idea of how this nation is viewed through the silver screen, and how it leaves the politicians in the real world standing. So surprisingly, there are a few things that mass media is good for in this society today! You see, there are both pros and cons where mass media and political policy meet, and sometimes we need to find a happy medium. From a Yale University professor himself, he helps me explain the many impacts and advantages mass media reflects on society. It not only influences, but also dominates! Whether it be to exploit persons� private lives or historical background, or protect for the common good of others, it is always important to know the facts behind what people hear, read, or see. When the people of our nation are buying what the media is selling, that is when the impact is left on out political policy. So let not be dumbfounded by scandal and deceit; let us be aware and understand the intellect behind the operations of the television we watch, the magazines we read, and the radio we listen to- whether it be fact or fiction.

Bibliography SOCIALISTWORKER.org. 3 Apr. 2009. Race in Obama Era. Mass Media Competition, Political Competition, and Public Policy. David Str�mberg. 26 Mar. 2002. Weblog post. APCommunity.blogspot.com. 24 Mar. 2009. McCullagh, Declan. "Lawmakers Take Aim at Social-Networking Sites." CNET News. 10 May 2006. Balkin, J. M. "How Mass Media Simulate Political Transparency." 1998.