Is it necessary to control the media?

     The word ‘media’ refers to all the organizations, such as television, radio and newspapers that provide news and information for the public.  As such, it can be seen that the media wields great power over the populace, as it can influence and shape public opinion.  Other than providing serious information such as news, the media is also responsible for entertaining its consumers, whether it is in the form of television serials, magazine articles or even books for that matter.  Power can be abused, and as such, I believe that the media must be controlled for several reasons. 

     Firstly, due to the cut-throat competition within the media industry, it is naturally tempting for the media to sensationalise their content so as to increase their ratings.  Take the newspapers for example.  If left uncontrolled, most of them will go on a downward spiral, preferring to sensationalize content rather than reporting the facts as they are.  By sensationalising the content, they appeal to the baser instincts of people who would opt for gossip and grapevine banter rather than the truth.  As such, to ensure that the media fulfils its basic function of a truthful and unbiased messenger, it is essential that the media be controlled. 

     Furthermore, to increase its ratings, the media might resort to using inappropriate content.  It is not uncommon to see sex, gore and violence galore on television. This is a far cry from the earlier days of television, where content was more wholesome and healthy.  Constant exposure to such content desensitises the viewer to the content, and while it has never been conclusively proven, overexposure to such content can cause someone to be predisposed to crime.  Without control, the trend towards such content will continue, and it is only a matter of time when we have a population of youngsters who grow up on a staple of such gory programmes.

     The media should also be controlled as it is an effective instrument that shapes public opinions.  Politicians and businesses know this, and they are all too eager to make use of the media to their advantage.  The media, on the other hand, is driven only by profits, and thus, a combination of self-seeking parties is hardly the perfect duo to help shape the public in the right way.  Without real control, the media will be a tool which unscrupulous individuals use to further their own agenda.

     Critics often decry media control of any kind, citing reasons such as the loss of the freedom of speech and the press.   What I want to say is, power should be balanced with responsibility and media control is the only way that the powers behind these forms of media can be made responsible.

     As such, the media must be controlled, and the best body to do this would be the authorities

                                             (470 words)

1. wields  - uses

2. populace - popular people

3. cut-throat - competitive

4. sensationalise - make it interesting

5.opt - choose

6. unbiased - neutral

7. resort - choose

8. gore - bloody

9. far cry - very different

10. wholesome - good moral

11. desensitises  - insensitive

12. predisposed - prone

13. baser instinct - a subconscious instinct

14. staple - attach

15. unscrupulous - dishonest

16. galore - in large numbers

17. decry - criticize

18. citing - mentioning

19. downward spiral - worst situation

20. grapevine - rumours

21. banter - teasing/joking