How the News Media Influences Public Opinion

(590 Words)
Although most news media organizations represent themselves as objective reporters of the news, the truth is that they can influence public opinion to a great extent. What they cover and the way in which they do so can sway opinion without people even realizing that it is happening. It is important to understand the power the news media possesses.
The first way in which the news media influences public opinion is based simply on the decision on what to place in their pages. Different newspapers choose stories based on a variety of factors, and sometimes it is because of a specific agenda. When people read a strong piece in the newspaper they may agree with the position the newspaper takes.
For instance, imagine a situation in which the management or reporters at a newspaper like a particular politician. They may put in positive stories about him or her. They may write about his or her charitable works, for instance. They may overlook stories that show any hint of scandal or any sort of problem. Alternatively, imagine a situation in which there is a figure that they do not like. They publish stories about questionable tactics. They do not write about any of his or her positive pursuits.
In both of the above cases, the newspaper only printed facts and truth. However by deciding which facts and stories to print, they can sway public opinion to a great extent.
A strong writer can provoke empathy in readers. They can get their readers to agree with their views. They can provide anecdotal stories, which can touch the audience. When people read these statements in their head, they may start to think that they are their opinions.
It is amazing how you can present the same story in different ways to get two completely different reactions. An example would be a story on whether the United States should give aid to help poverty-stricken foreign countries. In one angle, the story could be about how wonderful it is that the U.S. is reaching out to other countries. The article could feature stories about people saved by the aid and talk about how grateful they were and the importance of helping one’s fellow man. In another angle, the story could focus on the problems in the United States and poise the question as to whether aid money should be sent overseas when there is so much need domestically.
These two stories could be discussing the same basic story and facts, and yet the readers will come away with two very different opinions when reading them. In the former case, the audience may feel very positive about the aid and agree with the decision. In the latter case, the readers may instead focus on the loss of the money to domestic causes and feel that it is a bad decision. It is up to the newspaper to decide what specific facts, stories and angles to include in an article, and this can change public opinion greatly.
Of course, newspapers also present editorial pieces. In these subjective pieces they provide their views on an argument and generally ignore those against it. People see newspapers as positions of authority and will often agree with what they write. That is why the endorsement of a newspaper is so important to political candidates.
The news media can influence public opinion on a wide variety of topics. Readers should be an intelligent consumers of information and take any biases into account. By reading objectively you can make your own informed decisions.