▶ Your Answer : The advent of social networking sites has enabled people to have easier access to breaking news. They can share various information and story by forming distinct communities based on their interests. Still, the news media are credible sources, and people consider all the words from them to be 'the truth.' However, I believe the news media is not a reliable source to get unbiased information for the following reasons. First of all, the news media tend to write corporate-friendly articles. Media companies earn most of their income from advertisements; They portion significant parts of the newspaper or other online media. Thus, the news media have to maintain amicable relationships with mega-companies, resulting in posting comparatively positive articles regarding them. For example, Samsung was in hot water for the last several months because they were convicted of accounting fraud. The final decision from the court is yet to be made, but many people were shocked by the news. Its fraud could have been undisclosed without the report of a daunting journalist. Many news media intentionally avoid reporting negative aspects or criticizing mega-companies because they are in a symbiotic relationship. On top of that, the readers prefer to read provocative themes and articles, triggering journalists to come up with biased information. We all choose to read dramatic novels rather than monotonous ones because they are more intriguing. This common-sense also belongs to other online media, including the news media. Keeping track of daily newspapers, I realized that every publication contains at least one article regarding car accidents or plane crashes. On the other hand, I have never read a piece of writing that someone safely left for America or someone enjoyed his trip to New York in the newspapers. That is because those stories are not attractive. The audience will not read them if they print out those tedious stories. The news media are always looking for shocking and dramatic stories that can grab the attention of the readers. We should not expect them to bring about unbiased information. People believe the news media always convey an accurate and verified report to the audience. However, it must be somewhat exaggerated and dramatized because they need to delude the audience to sell their data. |