Do Americans actually believe what they see on mainstream/cable news programs?

Question

I have a feeling a lot of people will respond that they don't buy much of what's spoon fed across major stations, and yet people sure don't seem to act like it much of the time, since I see a lot of opinions on here that are in direct alignment with what's reported on these stations (and I'm talking about sources from both the right and left wings).

Answer 1

The thing about American media is that it is such an effective reinforcement of the control exercised by mass culture. Free democratic media has more power over people because they trust it. Whereas with non-democratic media, such as that found under totalitarian governments, people know that their media is controlled so they know not to believe it. In America we believe our media to be a free and democratic source of information (and letting the occasional dissenting voice be heard reinforces this idea) and as such we assume it must be reliable. Because of this people tend to believe what the media tells them even when it reflects the ideas and interests of big business and government administration.

(The details and implications of what I am describing go much deeper of course, but I feel that your question is sufficiently answered.)

Answer 2

Well, yes - of course they believe. Americans can be made to believe anything. Consider that most Americans honestly believe the following to be true:
1. A $70,000 SUV will keep you from getting stuck in the mud when you're driving off-road (as so many millions of us do);
2. Ronald Reagan actually had nothing to with IranContra;
3. Bill Clinton was correct: oral sex isn't 'sex';
4. Spaghetti grows on tress in Italy;
5. George W. Bush won the 2000 Presidential election fair and square;
6. The sitting U.S. Congress is NOT the most incompetent, evil, corrupt, and arrogant body ever to occupy the Capitol Building;
7. America is not fighting an illegal and unconstitutional war in Iraq just because we want all that OIL swimming underneath Iraq's sands; we truly want to bring democracy to that nation;
8. The federal government had nothing to do with - and no prior knowledge of - the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon in September, 2001;
9. Members of Congress are genuinely interested in serving the public, and have absolutely no desire to serve the wealthy elitists and industrialists, lobbyists, special interest groups and big businesses that contribute to their campaigns;
10. JFK was assassinated by a lone gunman. -RKO-

Answer 3

No way. I am not even a liberal and I can tell that Fox news is the worst with that Sean Hannity guy and Frank O'Reilly. Aside from all of the left vs. right, an itelligent person will weed through the spin they put on everything and just listen to the facts.

Answer 4

You are 100% correct many person do base their choices on what they see,hear and read on media. Yes from both sides. Few people take the time to research themselves and Politicians etc know that! I urge everyone to not do so! I also urge everyone to do some research of their own and form educated decisions and take this power away from the media and celebs!

Answer 5

Well the saying goes you should only belive half of what you read and not thing that is on cable news's,I think we all know that CNN is against bush, and FOX hate every one who does not agree with them so there you are.
I read the paper for my news's.

Answer 6

No via fact in actual actuality filtered and can be rather manipulated by potential of individuals with money. sparkling case grow to be interior the State of Washington some stupid man or woman died in an act of bestiality between him and a horse and that they'd not launch the call via fact the guy grow to be properly to do and his kinfolk grow to be waiting to maintain the community newspapers quiet as to who this man or woman grow to be. the wealthy can arise with the money for to cover their secrets and techniques at the same time as though it grow to be any elementary Joe (easily i don't think of elementary Joe's do this) there call would have been plastered contained domestically newspaper with their image to boot. additionally community information everyone seems to be finding to make a narrative out of not something via fact it ought to be their massive risk to make it interior the "nationwide" information boards. community media, like the nationwide media, has sponsors paying solid money to pitch their product to the buyer gazing community information. purely like CBS pulled a phase that grow to be popping out related to the hazards of smoking via fact of tension from the tobacco marketplace, the community papers additionally won't run memories that influence that is advertisers.

Answer 7

They generally do trust the freely-controlled mainstream outfits, just as they trust their doctors to keep them healthy (most doctors are glorified drug pushers, who know nothing about proper nutrition).

Answer 8

we as a americans should take everything with a grain of salt and get as much information as we can before taking sides or voicing our opinions

Answer 9

No , i dont Buy what they say on TV News shows .. Not all American's are as Stupid as the President ...

Answer 10

Different people believe different things from different sources.