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The Growing Problem of Media Manipulation

 

            Media manipulation is a growing epidemic in all parts of the world. Not only are viewers of media being manipulated, but the reporters covering the news as well. People in position of political and economic power are responsible for what is covered in the media; they control what is said and what is not said. With so many different methods of media manipulation, it is hard for viewers to get the full truth and form their own opinions based on fact, which I believe is what our country's leaders want. Are we as influenced by what we are not told as we are influenced by what we are told? Absolutely. Sometimes the most important details to an event are the ones that are left out of the media, therefore swaying people's opinions. Michael Parentis refers to it as "suppression by omission." The unmentioned can hold the true meaning behind a story. But it is a reporter's job to stray away from subjects shedding negative light on people in power positions, so is it really their fault? Reporters who have progressive and radical views are blackballed, completely shut out of media. And if they for some reason are not, a conservative advocate accompanies their story. All personal ideology is out of the question, in other words news coverage is "prevailing to political orthodoxy". It is difficult to believe anything written in the media with guidelines like this. Also so much news coverage is centered on "bending the truth rather than breaking it". They want to "give a desired impression without straying too far from objectivity" so it still holds value and credibility. Sharing one side of the story is a terrible injustice to viewers of all media.
             Media also manipulates minds with loaded language. Loaded language is the use of words or phrases that are intended to be heard as objective facts but in reality are used to influence perception through the use of language that is emotionally loaded.


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