Opinions of News Media Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 946 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1+

Page 1 of 3

Media: An Exercise in Sensationalism

In modern society, the media contributes little more than sensationalism entertainment rather than serious coverage of current and relevant news affairs. Corporate mergers and consolidations of broadcasting agencies have resulted in a need to offer media coverage that will attract ratings and boost profits rather than assure the well being and best interests of the public. Consumers are no longer informed, but rather sensationalized as a result of the news media. The news media tends to be biased and subjective, offering limited views on important political and international phenomena, thus depriving consumers of their right to fair and unbiased coverage. These ideas are explored more below.

Though consumers now have more media coverage available than at any point in the past, the overall welfare of consumers has not benefited from media coverage in recent years. The news media is charged with providing consumers unbiased information that should help consumers make both conscious and conscientious decisions regarding their lives and the daily goings on in the world (Champlin & Knoedler, 2002). Yet a majority of news broadcast and media coverage today is in fact biased in nature and more oriented toward sensationalism than unbiased reporting. Broadcast stations are supposedly licensed to operate in the best interests of the public, however largely news media at best provides information for entertainment value only. In fact originally the emphasis of news media was to be on the supplying and meeting the demands and needs of the public as opposed to broadcast stations or advertisers (Croteau & Hoynes, 2001).

Stuck Writing Your "Opinions of News Media" Term Paper?

View All Our Example Opinions of News Media Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

However, in recent years the news media has become largely a vessel of entertainment, filled with preconceived notions, biased opinions and largely useless entertainment value sensationalism. Rather than report on the facts and well rounded international events, broadcast agencies tend to focus on limited affairs. Fox news is a perfect example of a broadcast agent well-known for its sensationalist tactics and biased news media coverage. The news offered consumers on this network is best described as entertainment rather than true reporting.

Another example of how the news media coverage has failed people is with regard to one sided or limited coverage instead of coverage of the news as a whole. Take for example the coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial in 1995, when CNN offered live coverage of the trial but did not cover other important news stories including whether or not North Korea was opening nuclear inspections to outside authorities (Sparrow, 1999; Champlin & Knoedler, 2002). Coverage of the news during the Clinton administration focused largely on the Monica affair rather than other important international affairs in the news (Champlin & Knoedler, 2002). The broadcast agencies in modern society available tend to focus on one or two issues or events rather than focus on the broader impact of events and happenings….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Opinions Of News Media" (2004, October 27) Retrieved June 29, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/opinions-news-media-57996

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Opinions Of News Media" 27 October 2004. Web.29 June. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/opinions-news-media-57996>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Opinions Of News Media", 27 October 2004, Accessed.29 June. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/opinions-news-media-57996
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example