The Good and the Bad of the Media

           The media has always played a role in popularizing events that occur in the world; however, it seems that within the past two decades the media has played an even bigger position in highlighting events. Previously in our class we learned that in the past, public lynching would be broadcast in newspapers, or on post cards. During this era, cell phones and color-print cameras were nonexistent. People would hear about an event through word of mouth and from the newspaper, which typically postponed their reportage of the events. Today, news about current events is almost immediate. Within minutes, people across the world hear the news about an event. With the advancement of the internet, cellphones, social media, and other devices, anyone can be notified about serious world issues that are happening.

            I think that this advancement in technology is definitely a benefit in shining the light on issues, but it also has its detriments. With police brutality becoming more prevalent in society, I think that having body cameras is a must. There have been multiple instances where a black life has been taken by a police officer because that police officer felt that their life was “in danger.” When these police officers go to court because they killed a person, in the past those cases have been dismissed. In our society, if a white male cop is confronting a black suspect, most of the time the white officer wins; however, as body cameras become mandatory, hopefully cops will stop taking advantage and targeting people of color. This actually makes it safer for both sides. The other day I watched a video of a white male officer pull over a black man because his car had tinted windows. The black man was an undercover officer who videotaped his experience with this white cop, who was clearly not qualified to be an officer. The white cop grabbed the man’s arm for no reason and eventually pointed a gun at his face. The black cop remained calm the entire time; he never said anything threatening or performed any actions that would have caused the officer to feel as though his life was in danger. Thankfully, the black officer taped his situation because the white officer was eventually fired and brought up on charges. This event was definitely not the first time that an officer has taken advantage of his power, and I think that in these situations technology and the media is powerful in educating society and protecting suspects.

            Unfortunately, I also think that the media is also able to do harm. This more frequently occurs to people that are nonwhite, for when they commit a crime, their full arrest record gets published. Not only that, but their story is sometimes fabricated and intensified to make them look like a threatening criminal. Having one’s name published in newspapers and on the internet makes them an outcast in society. Although the media is good at popularizing events, it can also dirty some one’s name. The main reason why I think the media (especially social media) can be a problem is because it can fictionalize stories which can go viral in minutes. I think that the media can add flame to a fire, but I also think that it is able to quell the storm by shedding light on it. Overall, without the media and technology, the world would be delayed on being informed about issues, and by that time, events would be forgotten.