The Power of the Media in Understanding of Reality on Gun Control - Research Paper Example

? The Power of the Media to Shape Our Perceptions and Understanding of Reality on Gun Control Introduction The wake of guns violence in the United States has seen various proposals on how to handle the gun issue. Occasionally, people have woken up to shocking incidences of gun violence on various quarters. Perhaps the most outrageous incidence was the one that involved shooting of school going children by a fellow student, seemingly unstable, or at least for that moment. It is important to note that in these incidences, the media coverage of the live happenings has always been extensive giving the perpetrator of such violence a lot of fame. Various segments of the society have reacted to such incidences with diverging and converging opinions on what should be the best way forward. While the Obama administration has been on the forefront proposing stringent measures for the purposes of reducing or eliminating repeat occurrence, Republicans have a different view on how to address the whole matter. Religious groups and civil society have not spoken in one voice although one may deduce that everyone desires some changes in regards to how the whole issue should be addressed. Some of the emerging schools of thoughts that have come put have to do with logic behind issuance of guns, the ethical and practical implications of the solutions proposed for adoption as policy. Probably the big challenge is that the incidences that have occurred cannot qualify to be categorized as organized crimes. They are spontaneous reactions from private citizens with unforeseeable emotional and psychological instabilities. This has made generalizations very difficult. It has even begged the question whether first time offenders of gun violence can be treated as criminals or patients unlucky enough to be roaming outside instead of being attended to in mental programs. The media is one of the most powerful tools with regards to the flow of information. Most people have a lot of trust in the media. The view of the media is considered by many to be the right view. For this reason, it is easy to manipulate the public through various media platforms. Over the years, politicians and law makers as well as various governments have used this blind trust that the audiences have to propagate different agendas. This aspect of blind trust has been described by Robertson Davies in the following quote, “The eyes sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend”. This quote insinuates that the media has the tendency to change the view of its audience, their attitudes, level of knowledge, and ideal about overall subject. Gun control is one of the most commonly discussed subjects by the media. However, this subject has been discussed in an impartial manner. In other words, the media has not been able to discuss both sides of gun control matter. . This paper shall analyze the effect of media on people’s perception of gun control Background In the American society, gun control issues have now topped the list of communication trends. Incidents such as Virginia Tech University (2007), Tucson Arizona (2011), movie theatre at Aurora Colorado (2012), Newtown Connecticut (2013) etc. have been made the topic of discussion in many media broadcast sessions. Consequently, these media broadcasts have shaped biased perspective regarding gun control Different people have varied views with regard to the gun control debate. Most of these views are directly related to the hype on gun control propagated by the media. After the incident in New Connecticut, the enforcement of the gun control laws took a different turn. The following graph that appeared on edition.cnn.com under the heading How Media Lose Interest in gun control by Danny Hayes indicates the trend of coverage of gun control by different media news channels (Hayes, Why this gun control debate has been different) Figure 1: Graph showing the news coverage of gun control (Hayes, Why this gun control debate has been different). It is very important to understand the issue of gun control while discussing various arguments and debates over the topic in detail. In this way, readers will be able to form a clear understanding of the proposed argument. It is expected that this will help the readers to form a neutral stance regarding the subject and form a rational perception. This research paper is a proposal argument, which seeks to understand the role of media in shaping up the perception of public regarding the issue of ‘Gun Control’. The paper will also provide and suggest some recommendations, after addressing the issue in detail. Thesis Statement The role of media regarding the issue of gun control is biased. The information they churn out suggests that gun control is the only way to curb supposed rise in violence. It is the media which provides terrorists or psychopaths with an incentive to become the center of attention and become famous. Providing consumers with false information / misconception regarding gun control. It is influencing the public in the wrong direction regarding the topic. The media makes people feel as if they support violence and senseless killings if they are not for gun control. Arguments in Support of the Thesis Fredrick E Allan writing for the Forbes magazine in an article tilted Gun Control: The Congress of Cowards referred to the lawmakers as cowards when they shot down the bill on background check for guns. Elizabeth Flock wrote an article on usnews.com under the title Gun control debate clouds the definition of mentally ill claiming that gun control advocated for gun violence through research done at John Hopkins. Senator Joe Lieberman said that the American people will continue hearing the screams of the people who died in New Connecticut until action was taken. The senator was talking to fox news on the topic of gun control. Fox news Sunday reported Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, a gun rights advocate saying that it would have been better has the principal of Sandy Hook elementary school had an M4 (Mirkinson). It was noted that different media houses followed the bandwagon of gun control campaigns. Different campaigns on gun control were designed by the media organizations to pose as the sole reason behind the violence. In addition, these campaigns which are broadcast everyday on various channels across the country changed the perspective of American citizens. Another impact is that it has allowed terrorists and other dangerous non-state elements to gain popularity. Gun control is not a minor issue, and it should be brought to the attention of the concerned authorities but in a proper manner. No one has ever proposed to completely abolish media coverage over the topic of gun control, but at the same time it is the duty of this society to fulfill its responsibility and curtail the issue in the best possible manner (Jones, Media overwhelmingly promotes gun control). The media advocacy for strict gun control in was heightened after the incidence in New Connecticut. The assumption that possession of gums is the only reason behind such incidences is wrong. Studies have shown that untreated mental illness may result to violent activities. The increase in coverage of violent scenes by the media gives a platform for the publicity of these people. It is important for the media to ensure that they are responsible in the manner by which they convey the information to the public According to an article which was published for ‘The Week’; the author has questioned this issue. The author Mat Lewis has questioned the purpose of gun control. According to the article, the extinction of mankind is not dependent on guns alone. According to an article on newsbusters.org titled Gun control? How about media control the author Matthew Sheffield says that the media should not assume that the core issue behind terrorist’s attacks is the availability of guns alone. This is just one of the factors which also contribute to such disastrous events (Sheffield). According to an article on globalsearch.ca under the title Violence: The American Way of Life, the author John Kozy says that the American society has been a violent society as it has been ‘conceived and nurtured by violence’, ‘Americans not only engage in violence, they are entertained by it’ (Kozy). Keeping this fact in mind, the journalists should consider the fact that they might be contributing to our already ‘violent-society’ in an unproductive manner (Sheffield). Various studies including one done by Browne and Giachritsis, show that the media has a violent influence on children. The entertainment industry has the tendency to glamorize violence in an effective manner. Various games and movies advocate for violence. Live broadcast of violent issues is one of the platforms that most terrorist use to satisfy their desire for publicity (Sheffield). This does not mean that the argument is against the first Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It’s an argument aimed at advocating for responsible journalism. There are better ways for lobbying for better gun control measures than the current continued coverage of violence in a bid to convince the public to adopt the laws. According to an article ‘The Power of Media Bias: Most Americans Wrongly Believe Gun Violence Has Increased’ published on newsbusters.org by Geoffrey Dickens, it was revealed that the information regarding the increase in the gun violence is incorrect. The article gave references and statistics from researches (Pew Research Center Poll), which states that gun violence has dropped by half with comparison to the mid 90s. 56% of the people, who watch news, think otherwise suggesting that the media is propagating false information and manipulating its viewers (Dickens). This shows the manipulation of the public by media agencies. The research was initially highlighted in an article published in the L.A. Times. According to Emily Alper, "It's unclear whether media coverage is driving the misconception that such violence is up. The mass shootings in Newtown, Conn., and Aurora, Colo., were among the news stories most closely watched by Americans last year, Pew found" (Dickens). A recent MRC study, however, cleared the confusion and stated that there is nothing ‘unclear’ and the influence of media on the public’s perspective is correct. The three major broadcasters namely ABC, CBS, and NBC were found guilty through this study. These news channels largely broadcasted programs with 216 panic segments on the issue of gun policy (Dickens). The article’s credibility was justified after the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported the exact number of death toll, which reported a positive decrease by 39 percent from 1993 to 2011 (Dickens). The statistics, which have been broadcasted to the masses, are completely incorrect and a wide disparity is observed, "Despite the remarkable drop in gun crime, only 12% of Americans surveyed said gun crime had declined compared with two decades ago, according to Pew, which surveyed more than 900 adults this spring. Twenty-six percent said it had stayed the same, and 56% thought it had increased" (Dickens). A similar kind of study, which was conducted by University of Maryland, illustrated how the media channels such as Fox News can convey false information regarding certain topics and can provide false information to their viewers through various news outlets and publications. The results as per the study concluded that as many as 90% of the participants who were also consumers of the media outlet said that they felt they had been provided with false information. According to an article published on huffingtonpost.com under the title Fox News Viewers are the Most Misinformed the author Jack Mirkinson indicates that the viewers of Fox News were found to be the most misinformed viewers (Mirkinson). Another online article published on mediaite.com under the title Gun Control Debate the Media Bias, David Gregory Exposed their Hypocrisy by Noah Rothman, the author talks about the media bias over the issue of gun control and how it has been providing viewers with wrong information (Rothman). The article clearly states unlike in the past when the anchors used to report what the news was without including their personal opinion with the element of ‘why’ in it, today the media anchors deliberately comment and provide consumers with their perspective on the issue. This certainly creates an influence on the viewers who think that the channels are the correct source of information. This is the cause of the disparity which exists between the public (Rothman). Right after the death of the 26 children in Newtown, the news coverage regarding gun control increased. The public failed to understand the actual facts and the agenda of these media stations – which is just to make profits and nothing else. It is the media, who have been influencing the public in a negative manner regarding gun control (Dickens). The study conducted by Wayne State University on ‘Media Influence on Attitudes toward Guns and Control’ published on the American Journal of Criminal Justice the author Kenneth Dowler revealed that larger media consumption resulted in the disagreements of gun control. The 1995 National Opinion Survey of Crime and Justice were implemented in this study to comprehensively analyze the adverse effects of media consumption. The media consumption can be either by watching televisions (hours per week); crime influenced dramas or programs, or by watching news as a primary source for crime reports (Dowler). The survey revealed that people who used to watch more television were the ones who were against gun control. According to these people disarmament can help decrease the crime rate in the country. Concealing firearms to diminish violence in the society is not the solution according to those who had their information from news channels. The author also suggested that the media is continuously depicting violence and crime through its programs and other means on television; which is greatly influencing the attitudes of the public in a negative manner regarding the issue of gun control (Dowler). The National Rifle Association itself disagrees with any new gun laws or reforms. As told by their representatives it was clear that the bar, which stops the introduction of new laws and reforms, is the confusing. The article further clarifying its headline said that the media intensely showed its interest in the issue for a brief time, before it found another issue to move on. This was because of the ‘attention-cycle’, is witnessed after any dramatic event, and is not confined to the gun control debate. In this case it was the Newtown Shooting. It is supported by the Lexis Nexus database that found as many as 3,635 news stories on economy during December and January. This was four times greater than what was witnessed during the gun control debate (Hayes, How media lose interest in gun control). It should be noted that the media has been very successful in molding the perceptions of the audience in any direction it wants. This is because of the obvious fact that viewers think that the information which is provided to them, includes certain facts, is correct forgetting that it may include cultural biasness, some business or political influence or any other socio-economic element. All through the media has suggested and propagated the message that gun violence increased. They have given the wrong facts in a bid to build a negative attitude against the position of guns. They have made people feel that through increased violence more people have died in shootings than earlier. Through this they have instilled fear and guilt among their viewers in a bid to ensure that gun control receives as much support as possible. (Dickens) Solutions The topic of gun control is a sensitive issue and many of the U.S. citizens are emotionally attached and thus blindly believe in with whatever information is passed to them. It is very wrong and heartless to play with such strong feelings, intentionally or unintentionally. The media should ensure they adhere to their role to be as impartial as possible. Starting at the governmental level, it is the role of the government officials to check for the authenticity and the credibility of the information regarding the topic of gun control or any other news, which is provided to the public. The government should scrutinize the information, which is being provided by the media. This is because it also touches on the power or duty of the government and the authorities concerned to other nations that how it is controlling its media. Responsible attitude is what the entire American nation deserves from top level management which is the government. It is understood that the media in the United States of America is free, but at the same time it is the duty of the media to stay within the boundaries and not to harm the interests of the public who believe in them. The media, which is also considered as the fourth pillar of any society according to Dr. Shah Shah in the book 2nd Revolution of our Founding Fathers Noble Vision, should understand its responsibilities (Shah). It should device ways in which it can diminish the negative elements such as that of gun violence from the society. If it continues to neglect its duties for fame and revenue or to get victory over its rivals, then this freedom should be put in check. Secondly, it is also the core responsibility of the public itself to understand and to judge what is right or wrong, rather than to blindly trust any source of information. The public should find secondary sources of information that confirm the credibility of the information broadcast through different channels or sources. This will help in coming up with a strong and positive perception towards gun control, without being misguided or adopting negative attitudes Refutation of Opposing Argument The claim that media is the major influence on peoples attitude is not necessarily accurate. There are various other sources that appeal to people’s emotions over the gun issue. One of them is the rampant killings on the streets that go unreported. Political inclinations are also a major factor. The blind trust of the citizens to their elected leader may be the major contributor. Motions showing that support for the debate correlated to the support in the previous elections. If the common leadership of the support state was opposing the motion the result ended up the same for the citizens in that area (Shah). Conclusion Through the above discussion, it has come to our understanding that media is a strong and influential elements that can mold public perception. It has the power and potential to make the audience think and act in any manner it wants. Different stories, cases, and studies have shown different intervals or eras in which the public talked and acted in the same manner, as the media wanted them to. The media is so powerful in this regard that the audience acts like its puppets. The basic purpose of this research paper was to present an argument discussing the role of media in shaping the perception of the public. The media without understanding the sensitivity of the topic has broadcasted programs and campaigns which might have increased the problem according to many writers and thinkers; as the evil forces / terrorists desperately craves for media attention. Secondly different studies have shown that media has conveyed and passed false information to the public regarding gun control. This has led to serious misconceptions in understanding the topic, thus making the audience confused and unable to come up with the right decision. Thirdly, the media has also led to the increase in individuals who disagree with gun control and think that guns and arms should not be concealed. These are all the pointers that indicate that the media is wrongly directing and leading the public towards varied perspectives. It is very important to understand the sensitivity of the issue of gun control. The perception of the audience plays a key role in the major decisions. It is the duty of US government, media itself and the public to review and come up with actions regarding this issue Works Cited Browne, Kevin D. and Catherine H. Giachritsis. “the influence of violent media on children and adolescents:a public health approach.” Lancet 365 (2005): 702-710. Carter, Gregg Lee. Gun Control in the United States: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara : ABC-CLIO, 2006. Dickens, Geoffrey. “The Power of Media Bias: Most Americans Wrongly Believe Gun Violence Has Increased.” 2013 йил 8-May. newsbusters.org. 2013 йил 8-November. Dowler, Kenneth. “Media influence on attitudes toward guns and gun control.” American Journal of Criminial Justice 26.2 (2002): 235-247. Hayes, Danny. “Why this gun control debate has been different.” 2013 йил 28-January. washingtonpost.com. 2013 йил 7-November. —. “How media lose interest in gun control.” 2013 йил 11-Janaury. edition.cnn.com. 2013 йил 9-Novemeber. Jones, Russ. “Media overwhelmingly promotes gun control.” 2013 йил 12-February. onenewsnow.com. 2013 йил 8-November. —. “Media overwhelmingly promotes gun control.” 2013 йил 12-February. onenewsnow.com. 2013 йил 9-November. Kozy, John. “Violence: The American Way of Life.” 2013 йил 12-January. globalresearch.ca. 2013 йил 8-November. Mirkinson, Jack. “Fox News Viewers Are The Most Misinformed: Study.” 2010 йил 17-December. huffingtonpost.com. 2013 йил 8-November. Morrissey, Edward. “Gun control? We need media rumor control.” 2013 йил 18-September. theweek.com. 2013 йил 9-November. Shah, Shah Dr. 2nd Revolution of Our Founding Fathers' Noble Vision: Reconstruct Mature ... Bllomigton: AuthorHouse, 2008. Sheffield, Matthew. “Gun Control? How About Media Control?” 2012 йил 18-December. newsbusters.org. 2013 йил 8-November. Rothman, Noah. “Gun Control Debate Exposed The Media’s Bias, David Gregory Exposed Their Hypocrisy.” 2012 йил 27th-December. mediaite.com. 2013 йил 8-November. Images of the Sources: Shah, Shah Dr. 2nd Revolution of Our Founding Fathers' Noble Vision: Reconstruct Mature ... Bllomigton: AuthorHouse, 2008. Print Browne, Kevin D. and Catherine H. Giachritsis. "the influence of violent media on children and adolescents:a public health approach." Lancet 365 (2005): 702-710. Online. Hayes, Danny. "Why this gun control debate has been different." 28 January 2013. washingtonpost.com. Online. 7 November 2013. Hayes, Danny. "How media lose interest in gun control." 11 Janaury 2013. edition.cnn.com. Online. 9 Novemeber 2013. Kozy, John. "Violence: The American Way of Life." 12 January 2013. globalresearch.ca. Online. 8 November 2013. Rothman, Noah. "Gun Control Debate Exposed The Media’s Bias, David Gregory Exposed Their Hypocrisy." 27th December 2012. mediaite.com. Online. 8 November 2013. Sheffield, Matthew. "Gun Control? How About Media Control?" 18 December 2012. newsbusters.org. Online. 8 November 2013. Carter, Gregg Lee. Gun Control in the United States: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara : ABC-CLIO, 2006. Print. Dickens, Geoffrey. "The Power of Media Bias: Most Americans Wrongly Believe Gun Violence Has Increased." 8 May 2013. newsbusters.org. Online. 8 November 2013. Mirkinson, Jack. "Fox News Viewers Are The Most Misinformed: Study." 17 December 2010. huffingtonpost.com. Online. 8 November 2013. Morrissey, Edward. "Gun control? We need media rumor control." 18 September 2013. theweek.com. Online. 9 November 2013. Dowler, Kenneth. "Media influence on attitudes toward guns and gun control." American Journal of Criminial Justice 26.2 (2002): 235-247. Online. Jones, Russ. "Media overwhelmingly promotes gun control." 12 February 2013. onenewsnow.com. Online. 8 November 2013. Read More