Durkheim's Analysis of Media and Political Bias - Essay Example

For a proper democratic feeling, the media is expected to exercise the value of fairness during such reporting. Nonetheless, most of the time, they are more inclined towards one party and thus make reports on the campaign progress in a biased way. With this, although the media is given the freedom to air various happenings as they give their opinion, they do not give this right of freedom back to the public. In the long run, the bias during campaign reports may lead to the provision of misleading information. Ultimately, it is the principal contributor to inappropriate choices made by the citizens. Just like suicide, it results in the breakdown of vital elements of social order (Durkheim 25).

The media is currently faced with a broad range of issues. They all comprise the elements that affect the individuals in the fields, as well as the entire practice. While some of these are concerned with the ethical and professional requirements of the field, others are related to the problems and challenges that are faced in a variety of ways (Durkheim 232). One of these is the issue of political bias in the media, which arises from the fact that there lacks objectivity in any point of view. Therefore, there are a number of crucial questions that are developed due to the nature of society. They are linked to many factors such as stratification, power, agency, spectacle, identity, and regulation. It is also founded on the fact that the status of the media is a primary instrument in social reproduction (Thompson 58-74).

In this respect, the theory that is developed by Durkheim applies appropriately. Durkheim contends that society follows a pattern of social holism as opposed to social atomism. It means that society should be treated as a whole entity. This comprises more than just putting its different parts together. His approach involves more than just the individual constructions in the society (Giddens, 79).

The media and members of the public belong to a single network of interdependence. While the public expects the media to provide information that is correct, the media also rely on support from the public. For this reason, the actions, perceptions, and knowledge of each of the parties should be used in a style that does not have negative consequences on the other. With this, it is possible to view society as everything and the individual as nothing similar to the way that Durkheim provides his explanation about suicide. Although it can be thought to be an act directed to and felt by the individual, its impacts and effects are felt across many other people. In this relation, the media is expected to take responsibility for all the other parts that are present in the community.

As a whole, it should be considered as a single part that plays a vital role in society (Durkheim 261). It is supposed to inform the members of the public of the new occurrences. Thus, in the event of political campaigns, the media works as the eyes and ears of the public. Most of the interviews and highlights on the progress of the campaign activities should act to serve as elements from which citizens can use to make a balance and decision about the best leader for them. This forms the basis of democracy. Therefore, it is through the collective actions of individuals that include the voters and the media that the preferred leader can be chosen.

According to Durkheim, the media is one of the aggregates of individuals that exist in continuous contact to form a society. It forms a compact part of the society in a fashion that it cannot be divided or separated from it. All individuals are thus obliged to conform and adhere materially to the placed standards. They are the rules that bind and separate both individuals and corporations. Moreover, there is a need to uphold moral values between them. There are certain expectations held by the people towards the media. These are related to an aspect of fairness and balance in the kind of information offered. With political bias exercised by the media, there is an indication of loss of trust (Bauman 108).

This kind of problem can thus be eliminated in case the media as an individual entity in society embraces positivism. It is necessary that it conducts its activities with the application of consciousness, which seeks the good for all. It is necessary that they are emotionally attached to the collective values of the society and form some regulations that are guided by the moral perspective. Each of the individuals must perform its functions as expected and hold onto the religious aspects that bring about social solidarity strongly (Giddens 91). Read More