What ca I write in an essay about today's media?

Question

I have to do an essay with the title "The contemporary media - between myth and reality" (it's for French - "La presse contemporaine – entre le mythe et la réalité") and I really have no idea what to say in it. Any suggestions?

PS: for those that usually answer with "do your own homework": I'm not asking for the essay itself, I'm asking just for a few ideas.

Answer 1

It would probably be helpful for you to read up on the history of journalism. Then I'd read what some of today's best journalists are writing, followed by what their critics are writing about them.

One of my favorite sources over the years has been the Columbian Journalism Review. In the current issue, there is an article about a blogging critic of the jounalist Joe Klein. I suggest you read this piece as well as track down the blogger's original critique and Joe's original article.

There are also other great articles on this site:
http://www.cjr.org/

Of course, there are a great many other journalism reviews across the country, but I think CJR is a good place to begin.

Email me if you get stuck.

Answer 2

My first inclination was the American view of the current Iraq conflict, based on the "myth" of weapons of mass destruction that became an unreality and how the press coverage has changed since pre-deployment to today.

There are other aspects that can be explored.

The coverage of the so-called tomb of Jesus which coincided with a film release on PBS

The discovery of a "life planet" 30 light years away by observing Wave Undulations (where are the scientific "proofs" on that one and is science projecting a myth with such a broad statement and are the newspapers selling a one-sided issue to the people, is this unbiased reporting or publishing a PRESS RELEASE as NEWS).

The Scopes "Monkey" trials which was a staged event between both factions to intentionally get into a court case on teaching creationism vs. scientific theory. You might also explore the pros and con's of modern evolutionary theories which include rejection of the "primates" concept by many modern scientists in favor of "separate and distinct" speices, as well as the various time lines from different scientific groups as to Neaderthal and Sapiens coexisting or not coexisting.

News reporting, especially among critics of Fox News, is based on rhetoric. Inflamatory sells news papers. Big, bold headlines.

If you want some background in a FICTIONAL setting check out the films "The Paper" by Ron Howard and "Citizen Kane" by Orson Wells. Both are examples of journalism trying to unravel something.

What grade is this for. It's an excellent "advanced thesis" concept. You would be doing this for your Masters Degree in English or Journalism in a university. EXCEPT you would be required to THINK UP the question as well.

Answer 3

Comrade Obama subscribes to the same values as Fidel. Look at how Cuba has its people fleeing in little boats to get away from the dictator who has turned them into uneducated paupers. Obama is full of something but is not vim and vigor. He is doing his best to turn us into the same kind of country cuba is before the 2010 elections. Funny how the libs seem to be so fond of a communist dictator.

Answer 4

Broadcast news - how would you know if it's being censored?

Newspapers - Are they the media of the past?

Teenagers - Where do they get most of their information?

Radio - Tuned in, or, tuned out?

Answer 5

u can write about the awareness it brings..
how fast it is spread...
and its reading between lines attitude...
non censored medias defects
age limits to prgrams
etc...
hope it helped

Answer 6

Plagiarize and make up a lot of stuff. Teachers ar not nearly as smart as you think!