POLI 330 Wk 2 Discussion Political Science

Name

Chamberlain University

POLI-330: Political Science

Prof. Name

Date

POLI 330 Week 2 Discussion: Political Science

Experts frequently argue that the media tends to exhibit bias, often shifting its focus toward infotainment. Consequently, a growing number of individuals are turning to social media networks as their primary source of news, rather than traditional outlets such as CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, and others. What are your views on this shift? Do you believe news coverage is impartial or skewed? Should there be stricter regulations for news stations?

I align with the experts’ view that media often displays bias and leans towards infotainment. As Chamberlain (2021) notes, “The power of the news media has increased dramatically.” I often find it challenging to trust news outlets for consistent and accurate information. Historically, the media has acted as a watchdog, informing the public about policy debates, emerging societal issues, and other concerns (Greenberg et al., 2018). However, during Donald Trump’s presidency, the relationship between the media and public trust deteriorated further. Trump frequently criticized the media, labeling CNN as “fake news” and suggesting that negative coverage of him was inherently false (Greenberg et al., 2018). Social media platforms, like Twitter, offer spaces for individuals to express their views on various topics and engage in public discourse.

Shift from Traditional Media to Social Media

Before the rise of social media, people predominantly relied on television, radio, and newspapers to stay informed about global events. During this period, news sources were trusted, and people depended on them for reliable information. Over time, however, with the emergence of new social media platforms, providing a variety of opinions, many people turned away from traditional news outlets in favor of social media. In my opinion, this is not necessarily problematic, given that social media platforms are integral to modern life. However, it is crucial for individuals to cross-check the information they receive by consulting multiple sources before forming opinions or accepting it as truth.

According to Tankovska (2021), Facebook ranks as the most popular social media site, followed by YouTube, as primary sources of news for Americans. In fact, social media now plays a more significant role in political discourse than traditional news channels. Many Americans believe that news organizations blur the line between fact and opinion, prioritizing content that generates higher ratings and profits, which only reinforces perceptions of media bias.

Stricter Regulations for News Stations

For these reasons, I believe that news stations should be subjected to stricter regulations concerning the information they broadcast. They should verify their sources and acknowledge errors when they occur, rather than obscuring the truth. Additionally, news organizations should disclose where they obtained their information, so that viewers can independently verify it if desired.

References

Baron, C. (2021). Most used social media 2021. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/

Chamberlain University. (2021). Week 2 Lesson: Structural foundations of American government and politics. Retrieved from https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/87406/pages/week-2-lesson-structural-foundations-of-american-government-and-politics?module_item_id=12896491

Greenberg, E. S., Page, B. I., Doherty, D., Minkoff, S. L., & Ryan, J. (2021). The struggle for democracy. Pearson.