Connection Between Our Culture (ANSWERED)

QUESTION

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

• Textbook: Chapter 5, 6
• Lesson: Read this Week’s Lesson which is located in the Modules tab
• Initial Post: minimum of 2 scholarly sources (must include your textbook for one of the sources). Follow-Up Post: minimum of 1 scholarly source for your Follow-Up Post.

Initial Post Instructions

For the initial post, respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1 or Option 2: (Write both options. 1 page each)

Option 1: The framers of the Constitution were concerned that everyday citizens would not be able to understand or comprehend the makings of our government. They felt that everyday citizens were uninformed and did not care what was going on in our government. Even today we see where citizens are interested in government affairs seemingly only if our country is in turmoil such as unemployment, recessions, civil unrest, etc. Do you agree with this assessment? Are we uninformed? Do we wait till a crisis happens to voice our opinions?

Option 2: Many experts see the media as biased and more like infotainment. In fact, many people have turned to social networks as an outlet for news instead of CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN and other news stations. Do you see this as an issue? Do you see the news as biased or unbiased? Should there be more restrictions on the news stations?

Be sure to make connections between your ideas and conclusions and the research, concepts, terms, and theory we are discussing this week.

ANSWER

The connection between Our Culture and the News Media.

Option 1

I support the notion citizens are uninterested in government matters unless the country is in turmoil. Lyon et al. (2021) conducted a study to determine whether citizens possess the knowledge required to hold state politicians accountable. The authors found that citizens’ knowledge of national politics depends on individual disposition, i.e., a person’s interest in politics or education level. Lyon et al. (2021) also revealed that citizens are not well versed with state politics unless the state government is underperforming, political parties become ideologically divided, and political competition rises. This study confirms that people lack interest in the government except during crises or political turmoil.

However, on matters of political knowledge, Americans are not entirely uninformed. Carpini stated that an average American is “poorly informed but not uninformed.” Lyon et al. (2021) also indicated, “Even if citizens are not always well versed in matters of state politics, they appear to monitor the business of the states.” These studies suggest that an average American has some political knowledge instead of being completely ignorant. If citizens can monitor a state’s business, they can also hold it accountable.

According to Carpini’s (2005) survey, Americans were largely uninformed about the following issues:

• Political processes (e.g., how a bill becomes a law)
• Political institutions (e.g., separation of powers among branches of the government)
• Political actors and parties ( e.g., the names of elected officials)
• Substantive policies on socioeconomic conditions (federal budget deficits or surplus, etc.)

Although they were ignorant about the above issues, most Americans were knowledgeable about health policies, foreign affairs, social security, etc. Carpini’s (2005) study shows that Americans possess certain political knowledge and are not entirely uninformed about such matters. However, they only show interest or become actively involved in politics during turmoil or crises.

Option 2

Mainstream media is more credible and trustworthy than social networks; hence, people turning to these social networks is an issue (Salaudeen & Onyechi, 2020). Social media has become a major news outlet. Approximately 63% of Twitter and Facebook users claim to use the platforms as major news sources (Lee, 2016). Other social media use the platforms to follow news organizations, commentators, and reporters, while others use them to keep up with news events.

The widespread social media use presents various opportunities but also challenges. Misinformation and fake news are some issues associated with social media, given that social media news is often user-generated. Unlike mainstream media, where information must undergo vetting, professional scrutiny, and careful gatekeeping before dissemination, social media journalists do not have to adhere to these professional ideals and codes of conduct. These gate-keeping and fact-checking practices make mainstream media more credible and trustworthy than social media (Salaudeen & Onyechi, 2020). Therefore, turning to social media as the main news source is an issue.

Unfortunately, mainstream media outlets can be biased. Political and racial biases in mainstream media emerge when the outlets report congressional elections or black and brown crimes. Ownership control and advertisers’ influence can also contribute to bias in mainstream media (Salaudeen & Onyechi, 2020). However, I don’t think these biases justify restricting news stations. Media freedom is a constitutional right, and it should not be tampered with.

There are many alternative strategies for resolving bias and infotainment in news media outlets. For example, despite its challenges, social media can help hold mainstream media accountable and challenge its bias (Nekmat, 2020). Fact-check alerts (e.g., flagging accounts) will deter users, news organizations, and journalists from spreading fake news or misinformation on social media (Nekmat, 2020). These strategies will honor the media’s and people’s constitutional rights and prevent bias and misinformation, making it ideal.

References

Delli Carpini, M. X. (2005). An overview of the state of citizens’ knowledge about politics. Departmental Papers (ASC), 53. https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=asc_papers

Lee, Jayeon. “Opportunity or risk? How news organizations frame social media in their guidelines for journalists.” The Communication Review 19.2 (2016): 106-127.

Lyons, J., Jaeger, W. P., & Wolak, J. (2021). The roots of citizens’ knowledge of state politics. State Politics & Policy Quarterly, 13(2), 183-202. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/state-politics-and-policy-quarterly/article/abs/roots-of-citizens-knowledge-of-state-politics/606EA7F720D9150937D999862B967D1E

Nekmat, E. (2020). Nudge effect of fact-check alerts: source influence and media skepticism on sharing of news misinformation in social media. Social Media+ Society, 6(1), 2056305119897322.

Salaudeen, M. A., & Onyechi, N. (2020). Digital media vs mainstream media: Exploring the influences of media exposure and information preference as correlates of media credibility. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 7(1). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311983.2020.1837461

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