by Donald Sevilla
SENSATIONALIZING THE NEWS: WHEN MEDIA PLAYS GOD
All too often, the Fourth Estate plays an important role in our society. A free and responsible media is a strong indicator of a vibrant and mature democracy.
Media with all its powers that could sway public opinion must act with a great sense of responsibility and ethics. With great power comes an even greater responsibility to wield it fairly and unflinchingly.
Yet, there is no one above media to oversee its actions like a watchdog, as a thin line exists between press freedom and its abuse. With this in mind, it is important that media knows how to handle itself and when not to overstep its bounds.
But human as we are, our personal biases and emotions do get in the way. It is most difficult to discipline ourselves when we get carried away and when our interests are at stake.
Thus herein lies the danger that can make or unbreak careers, promote or destroy our political leaders and harmonize or destabilize our society. Media’s power is far-reaching and wide which Joseph Goebbels realized early on.
Information brings knowledge and knowledge is power. In bringing out information or news to the people, media’s role is unparalleled.
Here, news can be slanted to favor a point of view or be plain truthful.But the bare truth is often boring and needs to be spiced up to catch attention. The public loves excitement and people most often notice the tiny dark blot on a huge sheet of white paper more than the whole white sheet itself.
Hence we often encounter the words “breaking news” to catch our attention and to bring a sense of urgency to a subject. These are ” tricks of the trade” designed to sell a paper or arouse interest from a wider audience.
But again in all our interactions, human factors come into play. So what happens when media plays God and tries to manipulate our mindsets? What can we do when we are subtly being led to form an opinion?
The easiest adversary to deal with is from the outside, but coming from within and among us is most difficult A wolf in sheep’s clothing poses a greater danger than the pack of wolves we may be confronted with out in the open.
Media’s role in our society is such that we must also be aware of repercussions when we cross it. Politicians are careful not to antagonize media as they are vulnerable to public opinion.They know they cannot take it headon.
But even then, we must learn to recognize the telltale signs when media starts to encroach in our lives. We must develop a keen sense of awareness to feel that something is off. For example, when we see that a narrative is becoming repetitive and directed regularly towards somebody at the same time, we must raise red flags.
But even if it is farthest from the truth, told repeatedly it gathers a semblance of legitimacy. When things start sounding like propaganda then in all probability it is.
In this regard, the pen becomes mightier than the sword and whoever must have first thought of it, realized the power of media. But are we helpless against all these? Who can control and regulate media?
While it may seem hopeless enough to let us resign to the fact that not much can be done, we can push to educate ourselves. An informed and well-educated citizenry cannot easily be misled and manipulated.
The power of media to manipulate the masses preys on our idiocy. Common sense which is the most uncommon of all, is a trait which most people lack. Our cultural penchant for “Marites” and her kin does not help either.
Yet we are tied by our weaknesses. We are made more vulnerable by our apathy. We’d rather be bystanders than be in on the action itself. But whatever the outcome, each one of us has a role to play.
“Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.” When media oversteps its bounds we must stand up for our constitutionally-vested right to speak in the same manner that media anchors on its right to free expression. We condemn curtailing press freedom but so should we condemn being misled and brainwashed by it.
For everything we do, should have its reasonable and ethical limits. It should be within the bounds of law and fair play to foster harmony. No one has a monopoly to the truth not even media. And just like us it is not infallible and prone to commit mistakes.
While Peter was the rock upon which the “institutional” church was built, he cannot claim to be more holy than Paul or Luke.