Nowadays, newspapers hold a supreme power over shaping the public’s perspectives and ideas. This is mainly driven by deliberately set agendas, articles’ style, and information filters, with the media deciding what should be publicized and restricted to the general public. In my view, periodicals ought to act primarily as an information transmission; hence altering people’s outlook is by no means a welcome development.
The compelling reason why newspapers shape modern citizens’ ideas is not restricted to mere information transmission. First and foremost, the way information is framed is crucial, as it dictates how the readers should feel and think. Two articles, for instance, may cover the same social or political event, yet the voice, arguments and the choice of words alter the reader’s perception; hence, it results in two groups of people holding contradictory viewpoints. Moreover, the media frames not only how news is presented, but also which ones. Newspaper editors are entitled to select events and focus on certain topics, consequently persuading the general public what the pressing issues are in society, while turning a blind eye to inconvenient ones for the government. The absence of the whole picture, in turn, leads to biased opinions.
Newspapers play a crucial role in contemporary society by raising awareness about social issues, changes in legislative frameworks and international affairs, yet the main purpose seems to have shifted to imposing their viewpoints. Individuals should analyze, process and form opinions themselves, and the media’s primary objective should be keeping society informed about issues they otherwise have no direct access to. Therefore, I believe that hindering independent opinions yields no positive outcomes.
In conclusion, newspapers significantly alter citizens’ perspectives on pressing issues in terms of data selection and articles’ framing style. Thus, it ought to be considered a negative development, as it deprives society of the opportunity to form independent outlooks.