Week 9 - Thinking Critically About the Media

Week 9

Thinking Critically About the Media

            On this week lecture, the title is thinking critically about the media. This topic actually let me know whether the media is giving you what you want or giving you the truth. This lecture will make me learn more about the media and what have they done to make people confuse.

            As a critical thinker, you must be aware of the presence and power of suggestion in electronic and print media. I start with suggestion. Suggestion means presenting ideas to reveal certain ideas or qualities. We use suggestion everywhere, in daily life, in professional world and in media. Suggestion in media include in electronic or printed.

There are many types of media. Media came from Latin word which means “in the middle”. The first one is news media. News media is like a bridge between us and the world of events that happening everywhere. Usually, news media will prefer to make news as entertainment. This is because many people don’t really like watching news. They will select the issues that attract people such as accident or fight in the parliament. Use of language also very important in news media. It can affect audience perception of an issue.

We should be responsible readers when we consider the use of headline, the balance of reporting on issue, the fairness and the photo composition when we read print media. Headline is important because it is the first thing that a reader will see when opening a newspaper or magazine. The media always can easily manipulate us by photo. If they want people to sympathize for that person, they will put a young and innocent photo of that person on paper. Making people believe that the person is innocent. For a critical thinker, you should consider finding the facts and not just by looking at the photo.

            Next, I’m going to talk about advertising. Advertising is to inform and to motivate people on buying certain product. There are many types of advertisement that companies used to attract people. For example, humor, catchy slogans, sex appeal or anxiety ads.

Example of catchy slogan

Example of humor advertisement

So that’s all from this topic. I learned so many things through this topic. Now, I read newspaper or magazines and watch news with attentions. I do that because so that I will get the right message and facts. I also told my family about it so that we will not spreading the wrong message. Overall, this is an interesting topic and really fun to learn.