2007-02-18 11:31:39 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Civic Participation
I think it does though only as part of the overall media. People allow the media to set their values for them and often act as though it is a foregone conclusion that any other view has no value or is rediculous. They do it constantly on political issues and another responder indicated the media (and very much newspapers) have to be careful what that they do not offend key advertisers. That CBS backed off on a 60 minutes story about the danger of tobacco is a good indicater of how the media can dictate what people talk about. People who think they are getting factual news from the media are mistaken and that is a shame. I think the national tradition for journalism was to report the facts, no matter what. Don't think that is what is going on now.
2007-02-19 09:24:15 · answer #1 · answered by Tom W 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First let me put the term 'paper' into the category of media then restate the question as 'How does the media control social conversation?'
Now - the media has the power to basicaly set the topics of conversation... of importance. When we turn on the tv or read the paper before we go to work, those headlines are in our minds. Then later while at work, school, etc... during conversations, we might bring up those 'recent' topics.
2007-02-19 17:38:10 · answer #2 · answered by BeachBum 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its crucial structural factors derive from the fact that the dominant media are firmly imbedded in the market system. They are profit-seeking businesses, owned by very wealthy people (or other companies); and they are funded largely by advertisers who are also profit-seeking entities, and who want their ads to appear in a supportive selling environment. The media also lean heavily on government and major business firms as information sources, and both efficiency and political considerations, and, frequently, overlapping interests, cause a certain degree of solidarity to prevail among the government, major media, and other corporate businesses.
2007-02-18 19:42:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
People like to know everyone's business, and the paper definitely has it!
2007-02-18 19:35:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the paper does not control any thing, it is being used, a innocent victim if you will.
2007-02-19 15:53:47 · answer #5 · answered by acid tongue 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋