Compression in Media - Essay Example

? Compression in Media Introduction In the modern day phenomenon, media is believed to play an imperative part in our life and the overall society. The smooth run of important information is considered to be vital for the reason of contributing to the progress of the overall society as well as the communities. This run of information is learnt to be facilitated by the different forms of media present around us. The absence of the efficient flow or exchange of such extensive information would as a result restrict the viewpoints and attitudes of the general people further exploiting their respective thoughts and inferences in relation to the happenings in the world around them. It needs to be mentioned in this context that the theories related to the media helps in justifying as well as manipulating the work done and the information provided to the audiences (Lorimer, Gasher & Skinner, 2012). Thesis Statement This paper would focus on providing a detailed comprehension regarding the various theories related to the media along with a comparison between those. The research paper would also attempt to ascertain the specific perspectives on the way the media functions and manipulates in the society of that country. For the reason of comprehending the specific perspective, a lucid insight requires to be gained regarding the various theories such as libertarian theory, social responsibility theory and political economic theory related to media. Libertarian Theory The notion with regard to this particular libertarian theory is learnt to have developed from the thought that individuals are considered as rational beings who possesses enough competence to differentiate between the factual and the improper facts or information and make appropriate decisions based on such judgments. The underlying belief of this theory relates to the chief aim of the media that is believed to be the passing on of truth or facts and also the belief that media would desist from succumbing to any kind of outside pressures; for instance, from the corporate owners or the advertisers (Lorimer, Gasher & Skinner, 2012). The theory of libertarian even presumes that individuals holding contrasting or divergent perspectives will also be paid attention to. This implies that the responsibility of media under this theory is considered to be the communication or presentation of the negative as well as the positive viewpoints. According to this theory, assails made on the guiding principles as has been laid down by the government are completely acknowledged and are also supported at times. This theory also eliminates any kind of limitations exerted on the import as well as export of the media information with regard to the national boundaries. The libertarian theory believes in complete independence of the journalists along with the media experts within the system of media organization (Lorimer, Gasher & Skinner, 2012). Social Responsibility Theory The theory of social responsibility has been stated to comply with the notion of the libertarian theory but still suggests the need to recommend the kind of behavior or functions that the media should indulge into. This specific theory was learnt to evolve from the Hutchins Commission Report regarding the Free and Responsible Press. There were certain objectives that were assigned by the commission which also entailed the requirement for honest and comprehensive reporting of the entire possible aspects related to any issue. It believes that the media holds some specific responsibilities and commitments toward the society (Lorimer, Gasher & Skinner, 2012). This particular social responsibility theory even believes and complies with the notion that the government needs to support the media for the reason of acting in accordance with their respective responsibilities towards the society in case of any failures in keeping up with the obligation that is expected with regard to the media. It should be stated in this regard that this is where the theory stands apart from the libertarian theory. The idea of libertarian theory believes that the media needs to conduct their functions and tasks efficiently without the interventions of the government. Conversely, the theory related to social responsibility supports government supervision with respect to the media that fails to carry out their respective functions in accordance with the best possible interest of the society (Lorimer, Gasher & Skinner, 2012). Political Economic Theory The political economic theory concentrates or rather emphasizes on the way media is managed and structured. This theory aims at providing an empirical exploration regarding the finances associated with the media along with searching for relationship existing among the productions of media substances or materials and the finances related to it. To be precise, this particular theory explores the elite management of the economic institutions, for instance, the stock markets and the banks with the help of which the influences of the management on the different social institutions are depicted. This theory also emphasizes particularly on the association that is believed to exist between the culture and the economic structure. However, it needs to be mentioned in this regard that this theory or rather the thinkers of this theory prefer to abstain from the fact of exploring the aspect related to the manner of manipulations on definite subcultures that is exerted by the mass culture. Instead, they intend to concentrate on the aspect by which the processes related to the production as well as distribution of substance or content gets restrained (Lorimer, Gasher & Skinner, 2012 ). The particular idea underlying this theory related to how and when the economic systems associated to the society as well as the media replicates or represents the political concerns with regard to the affluent and powerful class of the society. The belief underlying the political economic theory relates to the idea that the substance related to the media is majorly manipulated by an amalgamation or blend of advertisers, government regulations, media owners, other competitors and the viewers and also the readers. Furthermore, private individuals are also believed to come to a decision regarding the kind of information that requires to be communicated to the people on the basis of earning the utmost return of their invested money. Therefore, it can be inferred that this theory differs from the above two as it deals with the impact of the provided information on the overall society that is influenced by both the political as well as economic structures. Notably, this theory takes into deliberation both the economic as well as political interferences that are exerted on the media (Lorimer, Gasher & Skinner, 2012). Conclusion From the discussion of the theories made above, it can be well comprehended that the functions of the media in our society relates to all the mentioned theories. However, to be specific it could be stated that the most accurate perspective according to which the media operates in the society relates to the social responsibility theory. This particular theory governs the media to function in a responsible way so as to provide actual facts to the society and not mislead the general public with false representation of facts or information. The media in today’s society operates in a way where proper and accurate information is communicated to the individuals. In the similar context, media is believed to act as an imperative source of providing information which implies that it is required to conduct its activities in a responsible manner which would prove to be helpful for the society rather than damaging. The media in our society is also learnt to be answerable to the general citizens as well as the government of the country. In instances, when the media is found to fail to act in a responsible manner, the interventions of the government are believed to be a common facet in the current prevailing society. References Lorimer, R., Gasher, M. & Skinner, D. (2012). Mass communication in Canada. United Kingdom; Oxford University Press. Read More