Media :

Media refers to mass media such as broadcast media, print media and the web
media. Television and radio are considered broadcast media while newspapers,
magazines and journals are known as print media and internet news, the web
media. The media is an important source of information through its news
segments, entertainment and allows for exchange of ideas, suggestions and
comments.
Consumers nowadays have a variety of media outlets compared to a few decades
ago. The advent of the Internet and services provided through it, has enabled many
of us to gain access to instant and a variety of news and entertainment. In fact, the
presence of Internet also has led to creativity among the young consumers with the
latter setting up personal websites, blogs and others. It has inadvertently led many
students to take advantage of the prevalence of information by copying and
plagiarizing writings from the internet news. While the internet has been hailed as
the most important advances humankind has made in the 20th century, it is
nevertheless open to abuse and exploitation that presents danger to humans.
However, although most of us get our news through the media as many of us have
little time to read books or journals, the news presented to us can be biased and one
sided. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003 by the United States and its allies,
casualty figures of their military personnel were highlighted and hardly any news
on the figures for Iraqi civilians and its military personnel. News reported on
websites appears more reliable and transparent though one has to be careful about
the accuracy of the facts reported. the media news too can misrepresent
information to serve the objectives of certain people or authorities in power.
In many Asian nations, there are limits to press freedom. Although the media is
allowed to present news and its views as well as perspectives, it is barred from
providing news that can potentially create unrest and violence. The government
has instituted the Official Secrets Act and Internal security act that allows it to
detain anybody including those working in the media for inciting racial or religious
violence. However, there is still a degree of freedom in these countries' press
compared to other more conservative countries. we have access to news from all
around the world and readers are invited to send their views and contributions to be
published in the media.
The media is not only an important source of news and opinions but also
entertainment. Most young people usually turn on the television for movies, MTV
and other entertainment programs. the adults however, prefer news and more
educational programs.
Thus, the media plays an important role in our lives as we cannot envisage a life
without the daily reporting of national, regional and international news. It would be
like returning to the Stone Ages. However, consumers must ensure the news
reported in the media is accurate and not one-sided by looking at its contents
critically and voicing their views on certain issues