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Kula Browne Dr. Alesha Gayle English 0701-057 15 Oct 2013

In America today, we are constantly engulfed with images and messages from the media. This include, print media and screen media. Often the question raised, is whether all of these forms of the media shape us as a society, or if we as a society shape the media. The role the media play in our lives requires a critical eye. The extent to which the media has influenced society today has been argued about for years. It can be argued that the mass media is used as apparatus that are more powerful and more elastic than anything in earlier existence, for manipulating people into certain styles of belief and understanding within society. The media is a way of communication comprising radio, television, newspapers, internet media networks and magazines. Through these means, media institutions reached the public with news, current events and information that influence people widely on each given subject, depending on how the issues are presented in the news. The growth of the media has spread massively over the years due to technology. With the help of the internet, one do not have to wait for news crew or commercials to get on television. The internet provides users or people immediate solution to all their quest for information within seconds. The media introduces many new things to the public, both positive and negative. The case of Steubenville is a classic example of how the media can influence society to form a positive or negative opinion about an issue.

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According to the Aljazeera March 26, 2013 web post, the Steubenville rape trial sparked public discussion of rape culture that many advocates consider long overdue. The case didn't only bring sexual violence into sharp focus: the media itself went on trial in the court of public opinion. Poppy Harlow covered the Steubenville verdict live, reporting back to Candy Crowley, a CNN host. The segment garnered particular outrage, especially Harlow's statement that it was "difficult to watch" as the two defendants, Ma'lik Richmond and Trent Mays, were sentenced. How is it difficult to see a rapist face legal consequences for rape, after all? Harlow was criticized for her description of the defendants: "two young men that had such promising futures, star football players, very good students." Her reference to their lives "falling apart" seemed to void their responsibility for the crime: this rape conviction was something that happened to them, catastrophic as a sports injury, not something they brought upon themselves by committing rape. Critical reactions like MSNBC's "Watch how sad these CNN reporters are for Steubenville rapists", invited readers to answer the question, "What do you think of their coverage of the verdict?" Critics have gone so far as to write an online petition demanding an apology from Crowley and Harlow. Thus far, neither reporter has issued an official response, although an article on the Huffington Post claims that Harlow is "outraged" by the criticism. Have Crowley and Harlow "failed miserably", as the petition says? Is it possible to humanize perpetrators without diminishing rape? The media positively affects the American culture by the quick and easy flow of useful information and education, its major role in developments like fight against racism, gender bias, world poverty and spreading awareness about world peace. The media affects the American culture in several ways, beneficial and harmful. The media affects the way people view the

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world, others, and the way they live their lives. The media however, influences the way people learn, network, and connects with the rest of the world. Politicians know the power of the influence of the media is vital to a democratic society. A free press is crucial for effective function of our democracy, but if the media is not totally free, it covers the way for manipulation and concentration of views of the American people, thus undermining the political system itself. Chief Justice Roberts understood that media influences public opinion. On June 26, 2013, Justice Roberts wrote an opinion in The New York Times stating our country has changed. While any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions. This decision had the American public forming an opinion about Justice Robertss decision to strike down section five of the Voting Right Acts of 1965. This acts protected minorities American to vote freely for 48 years. Politician uses the media to preach hate, lies and propaganda to influence the American society to get their messages across. Propaganda expresses opinion or actions.(Institute for Propaganda Analysis). One can expresses his or her actions through the media to allow the American public to form an opinion. Conley writes in the honky (page 77) in society overall it may be that those who are in control have a larger voice, the ability to fill up the newspapers and airwaves with their opinions. Institute for Propaganda Analysis writes Lincoln must have had in mind citizens who could balance their emotion with intelligence when he made this remark. But you cant fool all of the people all of the time. President Lincoln used plain folks in his speech to make the common man believe in him more than his opponent. In todays Republican Party, they are trying to get the American society to believing that they do not want the government

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shutdown but they are not doing anything about reopening the government. This government shutdown is all over the media and the media has influence society to form an opinion again. An individual social capital might measure time and energy one invest in digesting the messages from the media. The size of the conversation that have been discussed in the media has an important value to influence the public opinion. In the Steubenville trail by twitter there where people around the country whos social capital were invested well in that case until the last day. People went to the court to hear the case and others, it was close to home for them. Social capital is useful in interacting with other Americans. One can be treated differently due to their social status in society. Social capital can provide a person many opportunities depending on their status, who they know, their worth, and their family background.

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Work Cited Levy, Ariel Trail By Twitter the New Yorker August 5, 2013. Conley, Dalton honky University of California Press Publication date: October 2000 Liptak, Adam Supreme Court Invalidates Key Part of Voting Right Act Published in June 25, 2013 White,Jessica.Outraged by outrage and the Steubenville rapists. Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/03/201332513290657792.html