It can be the most powerful tool ever created against anybody or anything in existence. It plays a huge role in disseminating information to the masses. It is manipulative and with the wrong intentions, it could bring anybody down. I have been studying media for three and a half years now and I've grown as a part of it through the years. I mean, I know how it works, I know how media practitioners are able to add and subtract certain parts of the whole news story in order to make a good story. And I know how important it is to commoditize a news story or... a story per se. And that have just been proven the movies 'Jay', 'Shattered Glass' and 'The Quiz Show'.
These three movies depict the realities that are happening in today's media industry. Despite the good side of journalism, which is to expose the truths behind a certain phenomenon and being the 4th estate, journalists could be overwhelmed with having the power to trim the real story and make it as something that would appeal to the masses... Or make someone appear good or bad or even dumb. Just like in the Indie film 'Jay'. Jay, is a journalist who is doing a feature story about a murder victim whose suspect is a home service masseur. He manipulated everything he wanted to appear in his coverage. One instance was when he forced the people to cry above the victim's deathbed. He wanted to make the story as interesting as possible.
Same goes with the story presented in Shattered Glass. Stephen Glass is a writer for a known magazine. He is known for writing good stories, the kind of stories that appeals to the public.Until he was caught fabricating them. Another form of deceit was presented in The Quiz Show where they try to make their show interesting by putting up a winning contestant. It was a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire kind of show and here they give the questions in advance to the contestant so he would know the answers before the show even starts.
One reason that I formulated as to why things like these happen is the tendency of human beings to greed over fame, money and power. As a Broadcast Journalism student, it is important to learn from these mistakes. The 'truth' is what everybody wants, not just the story. Journalists shouldn't treat their audiences as idiots. Or maybe, perhaps the audiences should be critical on what they see on television. I think these films should serve as eyeopeners to, not just TV audiences, but to journalists as well. WE shouldn't act like idiots. Truth is, I would work for television someday but I would have to say that WE should doubt everything it feeds our minds. WE should not remain passive. And always remember that the truth will and shall always prevail.
Same goes with the story presented in Shattered Glass. Stephen Glass is a writer for a known magazine. He is known for writing good stories, the kind of stories that appeals to the public.Until he was caught fabricating them. Another form of deceit was presented in The Quiz Show where they try to make their show interesting by putting up a winning contestant. It was a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire kind of show and here they give the questions in advance to the contestant so he would know the answers before the show even starts.
One reason that I formulated as to why things like these happen is the tendency of human beings to greed over fame, money and power. As a Broadcast Journalism student, it is important to learn from these mistakes. The 'truth' is what everybody wants, not just the story. Journalists shouldn't treat their audiences as idiots. Or maybe, perhaps the audiences should be critical on what they see on television. I think these films should serve as eyeopeners to, not just TV audiences, but to journalists as well. WE shouldn't act like idiots. Truth is, I would work for television someday but I would have to say that WE should doubt everything it feeds our minds. WE should not remain passive. And always remember that the truth will and shall always prevail.
