Mass_Media_and_Its_Effects_on_Society

Mass Media And Its Effects On Society Toney Reed, Carmin Leach, E. Todd Landrum CJA/550 October 25, 2010 Brenda Ward Introduction In the industrial and computerized age that we live in today, it would definitely be an understatement to say that we are affected by the media. The media plays a very intricate role in society today. It shapes and frames the mindset of many of those who use it for day to day means. The youth, particularly, are inspired by it in their learning and day to day activities. Adults deal with it and utilize it for their basic everyday functionality. The media is an intricate part of worldwide communication; it assists us with keeping up with what is going on in our community, state, nation, country and world as a whole. With such a job and role as it plays in society, it certainly proves to be an outlet that has a direct effect of security and public safety. The object of this paper is to delve into and get a better picture of the role that mass media plays and how it has a direct affect on changing the security and public safety working environments. We will analyze and discuss the areas that have changed over time and their significance to all groups involved. Additionally, distinguish between general public opinion and vocal special interest groups. We will also analyze the role that these groups play and their influences. The media influence has grown a lot with the advancement of technology. First there was the telegraph, then the radio, the newspaper, magazines, television and now the internet. We live in a society that depends on information and communication to keep us informed on what might be going around us daily. The media has a huge impact on society and also in public opinion. After the attacks of 911 the media gave a huge coverage of the event and exposed Osama guilty for the attack as they were told by the authorities. This shaped the public opinion to support the war on terrorism, the same happened with the war on Iraq. What better place to get the public informed about your reasons and purpose for attacks than the news.   Author Albert Bandura described the objectives of terrorists as the following, "Terrorists try to exercise influence over targeted officials on nations through intimidation of the public and arousal of sympathy for the social and political causes they espouse.   Without widespread publicity, terrorist acts can achieve neither of these effects" (Bandura, Albert qtd. In Nacos 1).   Terrorists need the news media to get the publicity, and the media is a willing accomplice.   The news media is an accessory to terrorism, and as such they should develop a set of standards that will limit the terrorist ability to get their message out to a large audience during terrorist situations. The problem is that if media received accurate information then the public opinion supported a wrong cause, this is the power of public opinion influence. This paper will discuss the affects of mass media and the direct affect that it has had on changing the security and public safety working environments. The Media The media has quite a large impact on the gullible public that watch and listen to them each day. The media will insist that they are reporting the truth to the public, when they are more likely stating their own opinions to the public. Television contains the ability to produce multimedia content and thus, has the immense power to change an individual's perception of reality. It is of no wonder that in order to believe in something, one has to have complete faith in the source of information. This source of information could be ranging from one person to any academic institution. One way that the media shapes our political reality is by mixing facts with opinions and in doing so manipulates messages. The amount of time and emphasis allocated to particular types of stories can also have an influence on what issues viewers perceive to be significant. Over reporting issues, while neglecting others, positions some issues at an unmerited advantage to others. While the media can be blamed for negative public opinion, it can also be applauded for positive effects on society. The United States Marshal Service along with the assistance of an unlikely ally, the mass media, has teamed up to effect public safety. Fugitive Safe Surrender is a unique, creative, and highly successful, initiative that encourages persons wanted for non-violent felony or misdemeanor crimes to voluntarily surrender to the law in a faith-based or other neutral setting.  Managed by the United States Marshals Service as a community re-entry program for wanted non-violent offenders, Fugitive Safe Surrender offers individuals with felony and misdemeanor warrants the ability to turn themselves in to law enforcement and have their cases adjudicated in a safe and non-violent environment. The goal of Fugitive Safe Surrender is to reduce the risk to law enforcement officers who pursue fugitives, to the neighborhoods in which they hide, and to the fugitives themselves. Authorized by Congress in July 2006, Fugitive Safe Surrender is believed to be the first program of its kind in the nation (usmarshals.gov 2010). Tens of thousands of fugitives are present in every major city across America. Many are wanted for violent crimes, but authorities target far more for lower-level, non-violent felonies ranging from drug possession to theft. Still more are wanted for misdemeanor infractions. Law enforcement officials at every level of government apprehend large numbers of fugitives every year through regular investigative efforts and concentrated fugitive sweeps.  These duties are among the most dangerous faced by authorities. But the danger is not just to police – it is also to the members of the communities in which these individuals hide...and to the fugitives themselves. With the potential dangers that come along with apprehending fugitives of the law, the U.S. Marshal Service has decided to utilize partners that can assist with a safe and successful fugitive retrieval program. The U.S. Marshal Service has solicited the help of social and conventional media outlets. From a social media standpoint, I’m referring to radio and television on the Internet (podcasting) and articles on the Internet (bloging) combined with conventional methods to include radio, print media and television. With the goals of the Fugitive Safe Surrender program in mind, media resources used testimonies from offenders who turned themselves in and with permission, aired the interviews on the local news, newspaper and or the host media’s website. With the fact based interviews by participants of the program, this gave still at-large offenders the courage to turn themselves in. Friends and family members were interviewed stating how they heard the radio ads and news stories and went to the web site and how the audio and video ads and testimonies of prior participants convinced them that the effort was legitimate. They became so comfortable with the process that surrendering mothers brought in their children. Some offenders were accompanied by multiple family members and friends. With no “spin” on the story or biasness, both social and conventional media played a huge role in bringing offenders to justice without incident. The social and traditional media approach employed worked beyond expectations with over 6000 surrendering in six cities (usmarshals.gov 2010). References http://www.usmarshal.gov/safesurrender/index.html