I Need to Gag You

Manipulation is defined as exerting influence over others to make or prevent a change, for one’s own purpose or benefit.  Does this include media blackouts?

Mass media refers to organizations such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio and motion pictures that strive to deliver instant information to the public across national, ethnic, class or economical boundaries.

The media influence in our lives can make us susceptible to many wares whether it’s for products, ideas, values or even political candidates.  It can also present a platform for changing attitudes and behaviors even if the public is careful and rationally sift through a variety of the available information. Media can exert some great weight and importance on a variety of topics, subjects and change lives.

Mass communication mostly serves to confirm existing beliefs people already hold.  People make the final choice whether to interpret or misinterpret persuasive commentaries and will favor  those that match their own existing opinions and thoughts. Opposing or supporting responses are developed with the information provided.

A few uses of the media that are practiced can be such acts as providing ‘cues’ that people can use to decide the importance of an issue. An audience can be ‘primed’ to judge with use of selected criteria to make evaluations and images are used to ‘cultivate effects’ that further influence public attitudes and behaviors. What latest topics have roused your emotions?

Now, add control or interruption to the flow of information and a critical factor comes into play, social power. The ability to create a sequence of events and control over the importance, of a reality. What would be our reaction, if reading about the extinction of wildlife without knowing that the cause was from a oil spill?

Media blackouts can be followed voluntarily or by legal ‘suppression’ orders and various other named legal documents. These can be issued or requested by the judicial system or government official. Preventing information from becoming public knowledge can remove social pressures for important court decisions, negotiations, investigations, hide blunders of incompetent bureaucrats, hide violations of individual rights and enact the over all goal, of restricting access to information.

The field of sociology have noted that in regards to politics as in sports, the mass media has converted the average citizen into a passive spectator rather than a active participant. Apathy has become a norm in democratic societies. In the United States, their Constitution prevents Congress from making laws to restrict the Freedom of the Press whereas in Canada, the media can be restricted from reporting upon specific issues.

Apathy - a lack of interest or desire for activity, indifference, (Gage Canadian Dictionary)

Creating and promoting idea’s of government accountability can quickly become a false statement to the public when media blackout orders can be easily issued, especially if by a government office. Straightforward honesty and admitting to any wrongdoing whether by government, corporation, business or average citizen can better yield forgiveness and ease relations with the injured parties affected. Could you forgive somebody who admits to trespassing against you? Can you forgive somebody who seeks to hide the truth of a important issue?

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