Brainwashing or the Power of Media: How They Make Our Minds (Essay Sample)

BRAINWASHING OR THE POWER OF MEDIA: HOW THEY MAKE OUR MINDS.
Name
Media studies: Brainwashing
Oct 22nd, 2015
The media industry also known as the fourth estate plays a pivotal role in collecting and disseminating information to the public. Through their relayed contents, it informs, educates and entertains the target audience. In as much as the information relayed to target audience is of importance, the public should be wise. This is for the fact that there are those who control the media thus setting the agenda to hoodwink the public. The media industry though guided by ethics bend the rules as they are in business and looking to make profits for sustenance.
L. Wolfe argues that "the media is capable of reaching large audience with highly programmed and controlled information”. This he noted in his research as "the perfect controlled environment for brainwashing purposes.”1 He further argues that the media industry make sure that those who are consuming the contents are not to know about the explicit truth. The reality is that large corporations control media and this gives them the advantage to advance their agenda. The government also seeks media loyalty when there is a need to inform the public on the current happenings. They offer redacted information so the public can believe in their position on a matter that is affecting the country. This is normally witnessed during war, economic crunch and elections.
Economically, the media is to receive money from adverts for sustenance, as this is the main of all businesses. Companies produce products look upon the media to help in reaching target audience. This they do by creating enticing adverts and air on various television channels that have huge audience. Once the product is accessible in major retail chains, customers get the chance to test it. The customers are guided by the facts produced in the advert. Sometimes, the product can be defective and any customer can launch complaints and is authenticated, the producer would head back to the Television channel and launch a new advert giving out facts to deny what the complainant grievances. This is normally done to curb the growing negativity on the company. It is a damage control trick.
Frank McCoy who produced a thesis research titled THE PROPAGANDA MODEL: CORPORATE AND POLITICAL COLLUSION IN THE CREATION OF AN OLIGOPOLISTIC MAINSTREAM U.S. MEDIA submitted to the Gonzaga University in the year 2012 argues that "America corporate media in conspiracy with the government has fashioned an oligopolistic scheme whose main agenda is to manipulate public into accepting undemocratic corporate control over their lives." 2 This asserts the views aired by L wolf in his research. To be offered negative information and made to believe is totally against the rule of law. This is also well articulated in the constitution of developed countries. What more appalling is the way the government and the fourth estate is hoodwinking the public and creating a cover up.
The media is a dynamic industry that is charged with disseminating information to the public. The industry also produces educative programs fit for every audience. Every country has laws that seek to regulate the conduct of the media but due to stake by major players including the government, such directives are not adhered to. This leaves the public vulnerable to information not fit for their consumption.
Notes
1 The mass of illiterate, of feeble minded, grossly neurotic, undernourished and frustrated individuals is very considerable, much more considerable, there is reason to think, than we generally suppose. Thus a wide popular appeal is circulated among persons who are mentally children or bar...