It is interesting to look closely look at the different uses
of media. It appears that all four mediums, Newspaper, Radio, Magazine, and
Television, are used to "pass time" and for finding/receiving some
kind of information. Yet, more uses of these Medias are specific to each one of
them. Newspaper is specifically used to "identify self as reader".
Magazines are used to "gain access to valued subgroup". The radio is used to "regulate moods".
And finally, as strange as it may sound, Television is used as a companionship.
As it appears, we largely use Medias as a tool for dealing
with our emotions and the self-value. It
is important to understand that the way we use the media is directly related to
the effects of the media on us. Therefore, there is a risk for emotional harm
that can be caused by using Medias. Although very important, emotional harm is
only one of the many ethical problems that "media communicators face on a
daily basis".
Emotional harm by the media is definitely something that’s worth taking note of. We enjoy a lot of freedoms in this country, but none are more important, as well as more dangerous, than freedom of speech and freedom of press. Those who take advantage of those freedoms and use mass media to distribute them need to be extremely careful about how they use those freedoms. As more content becomes more readily available to a wider audience the makers of the content need to be more aware of what kinds of messages they are sending. They also need to be more aware of how those messages are going to be received. I remember how much of a big deal it was when I was growing up that girls were trying to be like the models in Cosmo. Those that didn’t fit that type were often ridiculed without giving thought to the idea that beauty comes in many forms.
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