Question 1
Broadcasting in radio and TV are useful in shaping public opinion. Classified under the mass media, TV and radio are owned by most people, which enable them to have access to information. Access to information is an important approach towards achieving a healthy democracy. By getting information, the public gets informed on the performance of the electorates. The functionality of the government is confirmed through the information from TV and radio as aspects of mass media. The media plays the role of the civil society arena owing to its impact on governance and democracy. Through media, the public keeps a check on the government. In the advancement of America's civil rights, freedom of the press is a celebrated achievement. It gives radio and TV the right, to tell the truth, and reveal to the public the progress of the government and provides an opportunity for the public to develop opinions towards issues of national concern.
Commercial broadcasting entails the running of television and radio programs for profit. Some media houses businesses entities that have the objective of making profits. They air content that is in the interest of their clients. On the other hand, public broadcasting is a government or public-funded content with the interest of the public. While the commercial advertisement has private ownership, public advertising is owned by the public or an organization with the interest of the public.
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Funding of public broadcasting has been lately controversial in the US. For instance, the US presents Donald Trump has been advocating for slashing of funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting which in turn funds NPR and PBS. Analysis of a recent case revealed that public media houses do not act in the interest of the politicians. The politicians use threatening policies such as avoiding to fund public broadcasting houses as a means of attracting political allegiance. The politicians are interested in silencing the public radio and TV because they do not act in their interests.
Question 2
“Me Too” is a social movement that focuses on preventing sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The movement provides the platform that enables victims to share their experiences and make people aware of the vice. Operating through social media, the Me Too movement seeks to provide a source of solidarity to the victims of sexual harassment and abuse. Founded by Tarana Burke, the movement has attracted the participation of celebrities, which has beefed up the campaigns against sexual harassment and abuse. Another social movement is Black Lives matter which advocates for anti-black violence and fights racism and police brutality.
The images and sounds on the topics played a major role in sparking public discussion on sexism, racism, and privilege in America. Through the uproar of the media, the public was made aware and the issue attracted attention not only in America but the entire world. The behaviors such as racism, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and police brutality could then be highly condemned and perpetrators brought to book. Through media images and sounds, vices that had become a culture found resistance from the public.
Living a hundred years ago, it would not have been possible to bring the matter to the attention of the public and the entire world. The media provides an opportunity for the public to access information and take the necessary action. Without media, the public could not have known about police brutality and sexual harassment. As a result, the rate of committing the atrocities could have continued. As such, media is a useful tool for shaping public opinions on such matters of public concern.
