Media Archives — Page 4 of 7

To what extent do modern communications isolate us, rather than connect us, to others?

• May not need to leave the house to communicate
• Lack of physical/human contact
• Can make contact with others in different countries across the world
• Can use network sites for arranging meetings or events
• Real conversation is replaced by the virtual
• The nature of friendship is trivialised
• Re-defines the nature of loneliness

‘Adverts have to be memorable to be successful.’ Examine this claim.

Points for whether adverts have to be memorable to be successful.

• Eye-catching slogans
• Connection with the brand (verbal and visual cues)
• Create a storyline that connects to the audience
• Humour and satire can make adverts memorable
• Not just one-offs but a series which carry theme and character,
connecting to the brand
• Needs imagery which has an immediate impact
• Needs to be simple and clear
• Quality is essential, as part of a marketing strategy
• Depends on the medium (TV, magazine, billboard, internet)
• Jingles/music can be easily recalled to connect to the brand
• New products need as much factual information as possible.
• Celebrity endorsement
• High-end products do not require targeted marketing
• There needs to be an informed discussion with a reasoned conclusion

To what extent is the present celebrity culture harmful or beneficial?

Everyone wants to be the next Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber or Bill Gates. Most people have dreams of being a superstar. This is because of the present celebrity culture which is fuelled by media. From movies to advertisements to dramas to television shows, more than half of the content on media is on celebrities. Therefore celebrities have impacts on people. They are role models for people so they can have beneficial impacts on people. However present celebrity culture is harmful as celebrity styles foster unrealistic aspirations, media devotes too much to celebrity culture and the star-struck people are too overawed over celebrities. Therefore present celebrity culture ~~has negative impacts on people~~. negatively impacts people.

[Since question is asking you ‘To what extent”, this would be a good time to say “it significantly impacts people.”]

Celebrities are role models compared to others because they appear on media every single day and have greater influence on people. Present celebrity culture portrays celebrities in their best appearance. They are public figures who can bring large impacts on people. A lot of celebrities set a good example. For example, Michael Jackson was the founder of Heal the World Foundation where he has donated millions of dollars to disadvantaged children. He was also named as the pop star who ~~has~~ supported the most charity organizations. Other than pop stars, people like Bill Gates has made contribution to society. He set up the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty. People can learn from them and the fans of these two people will definitely follow their idols in contributing to society. However celebrities make mistakes at times. Celebrities cannot be role models to people as there are a lot of scandals about themselves. Paparazzi are everywhere to expose celebrities’ scandals. For example, Michael Jackson was sued for child molestation. This has created an a negative impact on people. Other than Michael Jackson, Bill Gates stole ideas from Apple Company to start up his own company, Microsoft. These are all inappropriate examples set by celebrities. Therefore celebrities are not role models to people and they bring negative impacts to people.

Present celebrity culture may foster unrealistic aspirations on people. Media always portrays celebrities in a perfect look. Almost everyday, celebrities appear on magazines, newspapers and television shows with a slim body. This causes a large impact on people. They bring about unrealistic aspirations. People may force themselves to lose weight in order to achieve a slim body like the celebrities. For example, there was news report that a young lady went on diet to achiever a slim body and died because of malnutrition. This is the result of unrealistic aspirations of people on slim body. Most of the celebrities are slim so this causes people to have the mindset that one must be slim in order to look pretty. However not every celebrity is endorsing on a weight loss advertisement. People cannot put the fault on celebrities that cause those cases of people going on diet and died but celebrities are very influential. They appear everywhere and people see them everyday. Their influence about slim body on people is very large too. Therefore present celebrity culture is harmful.

Other than unrealistic aspirations, present celebrity culture may create stereotypes ~~on people~~. People see every celebrity in their best look every day on television or in magazines. Celebrities are being portrayed as beautiful ladies or handsome men. This leads to the result that many people having the stereotype of being beautiful, one needs to look like a celebrity. People are mistaken about the definition of beauty. To them, beauty seems to be all about the appearance or the outside. For example, some people spend lots money to go for plastic surgery so as to like some celebrity. To me, no one is ugly. It all depends on people’s definition of beauty. A beautiful woman with an evil thought is considered ugly but a normal-looking person with a kind heart is beautiful.

Media devotes too much to celebrity culture as celebrities are always appearing on television, magazines or other mass media. Celebrities appear almost everywhere. Their life seems to be exposed to the public. Whatever they do, wherever they go, there will be reported on newspapers or television. Media mainly focuses on celebrities’ gossip and neglects important issues. For example, in the period of Tiger Woods having an affair, media was filled with this news almost every single day. People would only focus on “unhealthy” news instead of world news. However, there are not many celebrities having an affair like Tiger Woods so media would not be filled with this type of news every day. Coming back, Tiger Woods is a public figure and is a well-known professional golfer so his impact on society is large. Therefore media was always reporting on him so media devotes too much to celebrity culture nowadays.

Present celebrity culture has caused media to be not educational. The content of media is always showing celebrities’ life or gossip. Media is a tool of education. People gain knowledge though media. Due to the present celebrity culture, media is becoming more and more not educational. People can only know gossip of a celebrity through media. For example, some news about celebrity can even go on headline news. This causes media to be “unhealthy” and does not give educational content to people. Therefore present celebrity culture is harmful.

In conclusion, the present celebrity culture is harmful to a large extent. It causes people to have unrealistic aspirations. Media is filled with celebrities’ news every day and becoming less educational. Media should not always report gossips and should focus more on important issues like economy or politics. Celebrities need to take responsibility and try to maintain their good image to the public so as to bring good impacts to people.

Protected: Is censorship justifiable?

Protected: Mass Media

The mass media has robbed the individual of his privacy. Discuss.

The school of objectivism holds that there is a mind-independent reality. That is to say, individuals can have their own perspective of things and thus, have a different mindset from others. Hence, in this context, my perception of mass media would certainly be that it has indeed robbed the individual of his privacy despite proponents arguing that the mass media is already putting in much effort in preserving one’s privacy. The mass media comprises the Internet, newspapers, magazines, and cell phones ~~and so on~~. However, while the traditional form of mass media such as newspapers and magazines do to some extent undermine one’s privacy, its impact is still not as severe as compared to that of the usage of the Internet and cell phones. For instance, while search engine giants like Google and other social networking sites have brought us many conveniences in our lives, it is still essential to note that these sites have many times come under fire from privacy watchdogs too. Next, as cell phones continually improve with the advancement in technology, what is often not known to one is that these improved functions are also making it easier for government authorities to track us as well. Therefore, in this essay, I would like to address the pivotal concern with regards to privacy in the usage of these devices.

One of the foreseen and inevitable results of the usage of the Internet in today’s world is the loss of one’s privacy. The Federal Communications Commission stated in 2019 that about 70% of the people in the US use the Google site every day. However, what is not known to this large group of users is that their privacy could have or may have already been undermined as a result of the usage of it. For instance, Google has recently been castigated by a large group of privacy regulators for inadvertently collecting data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks in peoples’ homes as part of a project to capture images of streets around the world. In addition, Google also installs cookies in web browsers that records the search history of users and analyses text in emails to insert relevant advertisements as well. Hence, with this large usage of the Google site, it is clear from here that individuals’ privacy is indeed undermined as a result of it. Nevertheless, with all these said, there is still an alternative to the problem. There is the creation of the new search engine site called ‘Startpage’ that makes simple promise to store nothing about your identity. At the same time, it also offers another big privacy benefit and that is the fact that ‘Startpage’ does not disclose your search terms to the site you visit next which Google and most other search engines companies do. Since European data protection authorities, whose laws are much stricter than that of their American counterparts, certified the company’s privacy promises, this would further show that ‘Startpage’ assurances are indeed valid. Yet, what is important to note is that while these alternatives are available, they are often not known to many. Also, even though Google had apologized and stressed that information gathered from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks had not been used in any products or shared outside Google and that this incident was unintentional, these instances would still clearly show that our privacy has indeed been robbed away by this form of mass media essentially.

The advent of the Internet also led to the creation of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and the likes of TikTok. In order to attract users, these sites often need to offer ways for members to restrict the information about themselves that gets shared with the wider public and this is so as without effective controls, people would be reluctant to sign up. However, if a site allows members to keep too much of their information private, there will be less traffic that can be turned into profit through advertising and thus network’s businesses would be adversely affected. Therefore, the fact that Facebook generates most of its revenue from targeted advertisement based on user’s demography and interests, the need for privacy by users would certainly come in conflict with their desire for more profits. In view of this, Facebook has thus been criticized for many acts that undermine one’s privacy. For instance, in 2016, Facebook faced criticism for making more information about its users available by default and this certainly angered many privacy regulators as the default should always be tight privacy controls which users may then loosen if they choose. Hence, since less privacy would mean more profits for social networking companies, this leads us to the fact that essentially our privacy is still undermined as a result of our usage of these sites. On the other hand, it is important to note some actions Facebook has taken to deal with such privacy issues as well. Facebook has a plethora of controls that can be adjusted to create different levels of confidentiality and default settings for younger people on social networking sites are also often more restrictive than those for adults. In this context, Facebook certainly deserves applause for developing these fine-grained controls and for their efforts to educate youngsters in the appropriate use of social networking sites. Yet, their desire for profit can still ultimately put them on a collision course with privacy activists, regulators and their users and thus, leading them to divulge more information about its users rather than protecting it eventually.

Besides the internet, there is also another powerful form of mass media which is the cell phone. The cell phone has become such an important tool for the government to track on its people and protect the national security that it has, in turn, robbed individuals of their privacy. This is especially evident from the fact that as long as one does not leave home without their phone, this handy gadget actually keeps a record of everywhere you go and this is a record that the government can then get from your telephone company. At the same time, there is also a GPS chip being embedded in most smartphones now that can even reveal exactly where you are at any given moment ~~within a matter of meters~~. This is certainly a useful function for the government as they can then track down terrorist suspects by detecting anyone near the scene of the crime. In the US, in the name of improving emergency services, the FCC has also implemented the rule that phone companies have to meet benchmarks for how closely they can pinpoint a callers’ location. However, to bring the discussion further, it is important to note that the US Congress is taking action against this form of breach of privacy by the government and is calling for an amendment of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to make clear that information from the citizens’ cell phones about where they are and where they have been being deeply private that without a warrant, the government cannot have it. On the other hand, it appears that the US government has already been sweeping up a lot of data from completely innocent people through their cell phones and the FBI also added that if it does happen to gather data on innocent people in the course of conducting an investigation, it keeps that information for as long as twenty years. Therefore, it is impossible to resist acknowledging the fact that the mass media as a means of ensuring a country’s national security, has in a way led to our loss of privacy.

In view of this privacy issue, I would feel that the best way to deal with it is by allowing people to know the risk of using these platforms of mass media which could lead to the loss of privacy and in turn, allowing them to take the necessary precaution against it and this educating of the public with regards to this issue can be done through schools or even more campaigns. Thus, having evaluated all these points, it is clear that the mass media is certainly robbing us off our privacy and actions certainly need to be taken to deal with it.

Nice thoughtful essay. Conclusion could use a little bit of work – eg you could say that it is up to consumer to manage and deal with privacy by being media literate.

In the intro I would have liked to see the difference between new and old mass media explained.

Discussion of effects of newspapers, magazines and TV missing.

C:18

L:15

New Media has changed our lives for the better. How far do you agree?

“Those who control the media, control the mind”. Indeed, this statement holds much validity in today’s society as a result of the media’s significant presence in our lives and d ability to dictate our actions. Technological advancements have catalyzed the evolution of media, giving rise to new media in the form of the internet, smartphones and video games, amongst many others. Mankind has been positively affected by new media it is a tool that many uses in their daily lives. Despite the harmful aspects of new media, it can be agreed that new media has indeed changed our lives for the better. It has transformed the face of education, provided better avenues of entertainment and relief and has aided the masses in the dissemination of information. All of the aforementioned are unprecedented changes that have affected the individual and community, changing their lives for the better.

New media has played a pivotal role in positively transforming the educational scene globally. The Internet has become an increasingly effective platform for educators who wish to disseminate information and has provided students with greater opportunities for learning. Case in point would be Multiple Open Online Courses (MOOCs) which has educational material mostly in video format for nearly all age groups and subjects. Examples of MOOCs would be Khan Academy and Coursera, which ties up with universities such as Harvard University and Stanford University. Through this, individuals whose education was hampered due to poor socio-economic backgrounds or lack of basic literacy would be able to access education at their own convenience. This is also an important change because students can learn at their own pace, in comparison to the bullet train speed of information covered in schools. In South Korea, schools’ syllabi will be fully digitized by 2014, resulting in greater convenience for students and overall cheaper school fees in the long run because updating and replacing print material would not be required. Not only does this evolution from print material results in greater convenience, but it also improves flexibility in how education is provided because of the accessibility of a myriad of resources. In India, inexpensive tablet PCs will be distributed to schools to facilitate easier means of accessing information and providing facilities for students to learn effectively. This is a revolutionary change, akin to the benefits that South Korean students will receive as well. Although the provisions of tablet PCs and the significance of the internet has surfaced benefits, individuals from developing countries face an interesting conundrum. Those with low levels of educational qualifications or lacklustre economic backgrounds may see themselves as unable to afford such technology and may be lacking in media literacy, this may result in the inability to reap the full benefits that such services can provide. However, this is where subsidies by the government and private firms can come in to ease the accessibility of these services. The incentive in doing so would be that the long-term benefits outweigh the short term costs. Thus, through new media, education has evolved into being accessible to more and therefore has changed lives for the better.

Another aspect which new media has significantly affected is the ease of information dissemination. Through the internet, smartphones and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, information has managed to travel faster and further. Catastrophic events such as the Boston Bombings in 2013 went instantaneously viral through social media. Within minutes, everyone was informed about the massacre and received minute-by-minute updates on the situation. This enabled the instant mobilization of rescue missions and investigation into the injustice committed. Without new media, it would have been less likely that the masses, both locally and worldwide, would have been aware of this situation. Additionally, the rehabilitation of the city would have slowed down. The internet was also utilized in locating the criminals, creating relief as justice was being done. Another instance of the use of new media was the Arab Spring, where Facebook and Twitter were used to rally support for the cause and improve the regional situation so many wished to see a change in. Without such means, the movement would have been slower in garnering support and informing the masses of the causes. The dealing with the 2013 haze crisis in Singapore is testament to the positive change that resulted through new media. The government constantly posted regular updated on the National Environment Agency website, Twitter and online news channels to inform citizens about the Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) levels. In the absence of such information, citizens would have underestimated the severity of the situation, resulting in detrimental impacts on their health. This aspect of informing established an effective means of protecting citizens’ welfare. Therefore, the new media has changed the way we are informed through the dissemination of information, resulting in positive change.

One of the functions of the media is to provide entertainment. New media has successfully filled in this role and changed lives for the better with creating outlets for release. According to the media catharsis theory, the media is an avenue for the release of one’s emotions. If an individual is angry, he or she simply switches on the game console and indulges in endless hours of DOTA or Grand Theft Auto. This is a transformation from more passive means of entertainment, such as watching television, as one is actively engaged in the script of the video game. After emerging triumphant, the individual feels more relieved and less burdened with emotions, moving on. This change lives for the better, as it is an outlet for the release of stress and anxiety. Video games could also serve as a means to bond over common interests and help in developing critical thinking skills. However, this is contrary to the cultivation theory that insists that engaging in such violent games may cause a criminal or murderer to emerge. Although trends have been observed, the instances of criminals and murders being significant gamers are relatively isolated, coincidental and do not factor in the other trigger factors of such inappropriate behaviour. Therefore, the ability to release one’s emotions and bond over common interests, new media in the form of video games can be claimed to have changed lives for the better.

Despite the aforementioned positive attributes of new media, it is worth acknowledging that new media has its limitations as well. Through the emergence of social media platforms, a rather narcissistic society has come to be. A 2012 Pen Research survey conducted revealed that 91% of Facebook users post photos of themselves from an increase from 60% in 2010. This can suggest that individuals are becoming more active in portraying themselves in a particular manner on social media, creating a self-absorbed and obsessed mentality. The vast and extensive nature of the internet has created opportunities for increased vulnerability for groups of users due to inappropriate material. The presence of pornography on the Internet and obscene videos such as Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball can imply that the internet is not a safe place for the young. However, many countries apply strict censorship laws and individuals also apply self-censorship to such material. However, despite the means of controlling the flow of inappropriate information, new media has its limitations making lives worse off.

In conclusion, new media has played a pivotal part in our lives. Overall, it has indeed changed our lives for the better in terms of education, entertainment, and awareness. Contrarily, the perils of such a platform are present as well. To ensure that new media continuously plays a positive role in transforming our lives, those controlling the media must exercise caution and responsibility in how what and why something is present in the media. The media should quintessentially serve the needs and wants of the greater society, however, idealistic that may seem. As new media is constantly changing, so is its impact on society, whether it be positive or negative. New media has indeed changed our lives for the better and it is up to us, the consumers, as well as those controlling the media to ensure that the status quo remains or changes for the better.

Historical figures that have caused the most harm are the most influential. How far do you agree?

The undeniable truth is that the most influential individuals in history are those who have done the most good, and not the most harm. Historical figures like Mandela, Che Guevera and Einstein have imparted ideas and values that still continue to inspire people. Their influence cannot be measured against vile and vicious leaders.

Historical figures are those people who have left a significant mark on people and have influenced society or the world in one way or another. Many historical figures are remembered because of their heroic deeds and their name is taken with love and respect. While others are known for their atrocities and tyranny and sheer thought of these people brings feelings of disgust and anger. It would be myopic to say that historical figures that have caused the most harm are most influential. Those that have worked tirelessly to make a difference in this world are far more many than the few that have caused the most harm.

People who are of the view that we remember historical figures of the harm they cause, may often cite examples of Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot. These people plundered and caused destruction of life and land. So cruel were their actions that millions of people faced atrocities like genocide, ethnic cleansing, slavery, and arbitrary homicide. Their actions are still remembered by many people today and their name is spoken with utter disdain but it would be difficult to accept that they left a lasting influence of their ethos and pathos.

However, there are people in history who have done great deeds and have left a legacy. Though people may feel sad and grieve about people who have lost lives during the atrocities committed by Saddam Hussein or Muamar Ghaddhafi, people cannot forget the historical heroes who worked for the greater good of the society and left a legacy for people which is still followed. The teachings of Mahatma Gandhi of truth and non-violence resonate with people even today. Similarly, the teachings of The Dalai Lama about patience, tolerance and forgiveness has immense influence on people. Thus, it can be said that historical figures that have done good leave a better and lasting influence on people than historical figures who have harmed the humanity.

Many historical figures like artists, philosophers and scientists have provided insights into the workings of the world. There are also those who have invented and discovered things that have impacted humans in great ways. For example, writers like Gabriel García Márquez has influenced writers and readers across the world. His influential works like One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera has inspired modern writers like Salman Rushdie to adopt Marquez’s style of writing and has used it in many of his novels. Words of William Shakespeare too hold significant power today. No English literature class is complete without studying his works. Art of Frida Kahlo, portrayed the struggle for self-determination in the lives of women still connects with many women and men today. Thus, people who have influenced society in a positive way by portraying their society in real form and trying to bring change have had a greater influence than people who have harmed the humanity.

There are those who argue that those who have caused the most harm leave a lasting influence. It is true in some sense because it helps people in avoiding the mistakes the historical figures made. For instance, some may assert that the memory of the Holocaust under Hitler’s reign will prevent humanity from repeating such an atrocity. However, this is not true because evil acts are a part of society if historical atrocities are a reminder that we should not commit these crimes then why do racial prejudice, islamophobia and sentiments like anti-Semitism still exist? People like Hitler have simply been replaced by men like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who once declared his intention to wipe Israel “off the world map”. In fact, majority of the middle east harbours the harshest anti-Semitic sentiments. The media channels in these countries also use provocative Nazi-like language that oppose Israel and the West. Therefore, it can be said that good historical figures leave a lasting impact on people and bring positive change, however, tyrannical historical figures do not leave any guidelines for people or do not inspire others to be less evil.