Nacua, Vincent John December 5, 2015

AB POSC IRFS E
Batestil, Wenzl TTH 1:30-3:00 PM
AB POSC LPS
Malagad, Kate
AB POSC LPS
LEARNING ACTIVITY NO.3
‘BIAS IN MEDIA OBJECTIVITY’

 Discuss the role of media in public opinion.

According to Walter Lippmann, the main point of “Public Opinion” is to demonstrate
the problem facing democracy in its original form “because the pictures inside people’s
heads do not automatically correspond with the world outside” and to suggest a remedy
based on organized intelligence and “representation of the unseen facts” of public affairs.
‘Media’ is defined as the production and distribution of knowledge, information, and
entertainment. And its concrete role in public opinion is to become an instrument for the
people or individuals in expressing one self’s opinion. Nowadays, the world is modernized
and people tend to gather information through different types of media.

 What does it mean to be ‘objective’?

A specific result that a person or system aims to achieve within a time frame and with
available resources. In general, objectives are more specific and easier to measure than
goals. Objectives are basic tools that underlie all planning and strategic activities. They
serve as the basis for creating policy and evaluating performance.
Being the object of perception or thought; belonging to the object of
thought rather than to the thinking subject

 Should the media be objective?

All news or part of media should be objective. It is because if your work is to report
news especially if you are a national anchor, you must state the fact without any addition or
subtraction of the information you gathered. The intent should be to inform and to present
the facts. You can edit it for some instances so it might be sound wonderful. But we must
remember we are not the one who is also having an opinion about on the said issues. News
should be neutral so that everyone can view their on perspective on the said topics. And
news it will remain neutral. And the one who reported it, especially media, they will not face
the consequences like when someone might file them libel.

 How does media objectivity ‘strengthen’ and ‘threaten’ the Political System?
The media are essential to democracy, and a democratic election is impossible
without media. A free and fair election is not only about the freedom to vote and the
knowledge of how to cast a vote, but also about a participatory process where voters
engage in public debate and have adequate information about parties, policies, candidates
and the election process itself in order to make informed choices. Furthermore, media acts
as a crucial watchdog to democratic elections, safeguarding the transparency of the
process. Indeed, a democratic election with no media freedom, or stifled media freedom,
would be a contradiction in terms.
Through media people will be aware with the happenings with their political system,
positive or negative happenings. The objectivity of the media strengthens the political
system where the people need to know all the facts that they needed to know. But not all the
time its objectivity helps. Sometimes it causes dilemma to the people so as the persons
involved in the political system such as politicians and government institutions. There are
some issues that does not need to be in media and for it may cause conflicts to the society.