Positive Effects Of News Media

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Effects of News Media
Lamarcus Pendergraph
HUM/186
August 7, 2017
Professor Allyson Wells Effects of News Media
Information and news media have a significant effect on American culture. The more reputable the media organization, the more socially responsible the organization must be when deciding what stories should be shared. Additionally, with the rise of media convergence, it is more important for media outlets to know and understand what effects it will have on American culture and how they must alter their journalism to portray the intended message.
Social Responsibility
Dependent on the creditability of the media outlet, it may or may not have a social responsibility to the community. For instance, I would expect that major outlets such as CBS, NBC, and local news stations do more research than an outlet such as TMZ or MediaTakeOut because stories on the more reputable outlets are normally assumed to be fact and are not vetted by the viewer as much as gossip sites. Think about the story of Y2K in 2000. Because major news stations were discussing the possibility of all technology shutting down, everyone began to prepare for 1/1/2000, and some people thought the world would end because of the fear that the media stories created.
The more reputable outlets have a higher potential of ruining someone’s life. When Bill Cosby’s story hit gossip sites, lots of people thought someone was just trying to have their five minutes of fame. However, once the story

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