I think subconsciously I have always know that the media influences the way we view events. But media framing is serious stuff. I do not think that until this lecture I really realized just how far it goes. Framing is how a problem or issue is displayed or talk about in public. This is how events are named and then how that name sparks public opinion. In the Matthew Shepard story, every news article made sure to mention in the headline that Shepard was gay. So even if no one read any further into the article everyone would know that Shepard was gay and that Shepard was murdered.
This act of framing not only influences us in cases like Matthew Shepard's but in smaller news stories as well. Recently I had a friend post a news article on Facebook from the Guardian in the U.K entitled "American Sitcom How I Meet Your Mother finale: A Major Disappointment."
Now let me break some hearts by saying I am one of the few people who are not a fan of HIMYM. I know, I know crazy. I don't even really know anyone who watches it. Because I know nothing about HIMYM other than it is a highly popular comedy, I was like man that's a pity. The article basically just talked about the downsides of the episode. Granted I do not know much about Ted and Robbin's story but the article almost made it sound like a bad thing.
After doing some more research I learned that this article did not portray Ted & Robbin's relationship in an ideal light. If I had only went off how this article had framed the finale and their relationship I could of gone my whole life thinking Ted & Robbin were awful people and that they show made everything suck.
This has made me realized that I should be more carefully about what I believe. True, most media sources seem to be on the same page most of the time. But I need to try and seek out that second source, that second viewpoint to try and get the whole story.
This act of framing not only influences us in cases like Matthew Shepard's but in smaller news stories as well. Recently I had a friend post a news article on Facebook from the Guardian in the U.K entitled "American Sitcom How I Meet Your Mother finale: A Major Disappointment."
Now let me break some hearts by saying I am one of the few people who are not a fan of HIMYM. I know, I know crazy. I don't even really know anyone who watches it. Because I know nothing about HIMYM other than it is a highly popular comedy, I was like man that's a pity. The article basically just talked about the downsides of the episode. Granted I do not know much about Ted and Robbin's story but the article almost made it sound like a bad thing.
After doing some more research I learned that this article did not portray Ted & Robbin's relationship in an ideal light. If I had only went off how this article had framed the finale and their relationship I could of gone my whole life thinking Ted & Robbin were awful people and that they show made everything suck.
This has made me realized that I should be more carefully about what I believe. True, most media sources seem to be on the same page most of the time. But I need to try and seek out that second source, that second viewpoint to try and get the whole story.
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