Media Literacy 101: Content & Audience
So, Is it all about us? Not really.
Along with the obvious reasons of monetary profits, the media holds much greater power to shape and reshape our perception of the world.
Whether it is television, newspapers, radio, internet or films, media products have a greater capacity to reach and influence the audience.
Researcher Bernard Cohen made a statement in 1963,
“The press may not be much successful to make people think,
but it is very successful in telling people what to think about."
Later in the year 1972, Maxwell Mc Combs & Donald Shaw developed the Agenda-Setting theory. The theory states that the media deliberately makes us think certain issues are more important than the others.
In a way, those who control media have more power in their hands.
But, as my favorite dialogue from Spiderman movie quotes;
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
This responsibility comes into action when content creators do not stereotype any individual coming from a different socio-economic or cultural background.
Humans are visual creatures, we learn more through images and when visual content is bombarded onto us, we consume it, not thinking much about the effect it will have on us. We move from our reality to a perception of reality created by the media.
So, next time when you are reading a book, watching a film, or consuming any media content, be conscious.
Ask yourself rational questions about the content, the story, and the message.
Why do you like something and why don't you like something that needs to be analyzed.
Because someone out there has already thought about it.
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