Writing Task 2 - Sample 4: Media

Topic: News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news, and would it be better if more good news was reported? 

The contents broadcasted by mass media (the television and the printing press in particular) is believed to have a significant effect on people’s thoughts and behaviour. Hence, various individuals and groups take interest in what appears in the media, but the ultimate decision lies with the news editor. This essay seeks to understand the pressure and the motivation that drives the editors. Furthermore, it is argued that people have become desensitised to negative news and it would be beneficial if positive news was reported more often. This stand point is also explored in this essay. 

There are inter-related influences that factor into a news editor’s decision, namely large corporations, the government, the audience and personal interest of the news editor. Firstly, it is often the case that large corporations have stakes in media companies. This serves their profit-making and political objectives. By releasing certain information the media can be a powerful tool to sway the public opinion in certain directions. Hence, political campaigns often involve a large amount of corporate and media contribution. In turn, the government does to some extent restrain the operations of media. News editors face pressure from these group on daily basis and their decisions are likely to be affect by this factor. Moreover, news editors are too certain extend compelled either on subconscious level by their education and background or purposefully by their personal stakes, such as career opportunities, which may compromise their objectivity when faced numerous opportunities to express their opinion publicly. Another factor is the audience interest, which varies from seeking knowledge and information, looking for interest and entertainment. Overall, news editors need to evaluate the consequence of news against the value of the news on the public.

There is a concern that people’s level of tolerance for bad news has increased, which might have negative influence over their mind. It is even suggested that people have developed a taste for negative press that causes shocking and sensational gossip. Nevertheless, it is impertinent to ask the question where the bad news comes from, whether it is mere manipulation of the media to attract audience or the reports correspond to major events around the world. Although gossip magazines and tabloids do use negative press to attract audience, serious journalist focus on reporting important news. At the moment there are a lot of worrying developments around the world such as wars, recession natural disasters and climate change. The people that seek out negative press are only a minor group in the audience. People have become utterly desensitised to bad news, but that negative news is the natural outcome of the deteriorating development around the world making people more cautious and worry.

Some advocate that the promotion of good news will have a positive impact on the society. For some people positive news may counteract the effect of negative news and help them to overcome the sense of pessimism. There is a large audience for positive and productive news that is not being adequately satisfied at the moment.

All in all, there is a number of inter-related factors that have an impact on a news editor’s decision whether to publish something or not. Negative news is making more frequent appearance in the media, which has not diminished its profound impact on the audience’s mind and hence more positive news should be reported in order to counter this force.

(562 words) - This is a very good sample written by student Ha Ly at Pathways. 

TRUNG TÂM GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO PATHWAYS
Số 74 Kim Mã Thượng, Ba Đình - Hà Nội
ĐT: 043.7621242 * Fax: 043.7621242
Website: http://pathways.com.vn
Facebook: http://facebook.com/PathwaysET
Email: enquiries@pathways.com.vn