Blog task: Media Factsheet 147 - Issues and Debates

1) Write a one-sentence answer to the initial questions in the factsheet:

• Do fashion magazines contribute to the occurrence of eating disorders?
• Do games make people behave violently?
• Does advertising work?
• Does social media generate misogyny?

- Yes, in the sense that it influences others to believe that a certain appearance is desirable.
- No, as people are aware that the consequences of the game are not the same as in real life.
- To an extent. People may be interested in the product however others may realise that the product advertised is being made to seem better than it already is and notice the repetitive pattern.
- no because it is already a problem, however social media provides a platform in which these opinions can be voiced more easily and discretely.

2) Having read the two sides to the discussion, what is your opinion on the effects debate? 

- I agree more towards the fact that there is no direct cause and effect relationship between the media violence and real world violence and that despite this fact media still has some influence but it is mainly based on the personality of the individual. This is because I believe that the personality of the individual plays a part in how they process certain information. Just like for example, when we want to watch a movie we chose to watch something that we like. However, there has indeed been cases where media has been a direct like but those cases have been rare.

3) Summarise the two sides of the example issues and debates on page 2 of the factsheet:

• Twitter's influence on the news
• New technology, privacy and Wikileaks
• Social media and racism, sexism or threats online

- It gives voice to regular people and their thoughts and concerns and it means that it is no longer defined to a selective elite group. However, the general public may have misunderstood information and also certain people may still have a larger advantage at vocalising their opinions than others. 
- Technology allows speedy and efficient communication and storage of information. however, nothing is entirely private as it can be easily tracked by government agencies which shows how open our information really is. for example, Ashley Madison publishing sensitive information in which users were not pleased to find out that their affairs were on display 
- Social Media allows people to publish their views and opinions and can be see as an extension of freedom of speech. however, this can also encourage negative comments such as racism and threats. Social media sites do not claim rights to censoring such contents as they are not the publishers and that we self-publish this information.

4) What is your opinion on the growth of transgender issues in media debates?

- I believe that the growth of transgender issues in media debates have had an effect on society nowadays as there has been an increase in the acceptance of the idea. This is shown with their being an increase of it being shown through social media for example content creators on youtube showing their journey, Caitlyn Jenner and also films and TV shows. 

5) Complete the MIGRAIN table below (also on page 4 of the factsheet) linking media products to issues and debates. For each question, you need to write two or three specific media products (e.g. a film, TV programme, a particular newspaper or news story, a certain music video etc.) that you could use when discussing that media debate.

MIGRAIN		Media Product
Media Language	How is digital technology changing the media language of moving image products?	-Tangerine (award winning movie shot entirely on iPhone) -News coverage of London Bridge attacks - citizen journalism.
	Does the language used in tabloid and broadsheet news media shape the meaning of news stories differently?	-Obama’s Secrets - Inquirer -Cops raid X Factor star’s home
Ideology	Does the political persuasion of the news media have an impact on the politics of a culture?	- Muslims hand out 3,000 roses at London Bridge in show of solidarity after terror attack -
	Do ‘twitter storms’ reflect dominant cultural values?	-The Blackberry email outage -The Topman T-shirt slogan controversy -The John Lewis Christmas TV ad campaign
Genre	After 100 years, is it possible for horror films to generate fear?	-The conjuring -Insidious
	How real is ‘reality TV’?	-Keeping up with the Kardashian - X Factor
Representation	Do marginalised groups have the power to self-represent?	-Fresh Prince of Bel Air -Meagan Good stars in Fox’s serial adaptation of ‘Minority Report
	Are mainstream media representations of marginalised groups reinforcing or challenging traditional stereotypes?	-Ill Manors music video -Ill Manors TEDx Lecture
Audience	What gratifications does interaction provide for an audience?	-Star Wars Merchandise | StarWars.com -Justice League Trailer #1 (2017) -Kingsman: The Golden Circle Trailer #1 (2017)
	What relationships do audiences have with media institutions?	-Fan Art on DeviantArt -Friends – views - 65.9m -NBC
Institution	What are institutions doing to offset ‘the culture of free’?	- -
	Do streaming and on demand services alter audience behaviours?	-Taylor Swift changes her tune and returns to Spotify - Financial Times -Kodi add-ons shut down in illegal streaming crackdown
Narrative	Why do some modern films and broadcast fictions use non-linear narratives?	-Blue Valentine -The Tree of Life
	Does it matter that newspapers structure stories using narrative roles such as ‘heroes’ and ‘villains’?	-Newspaper headlines: Senior Tories 'urge   Boris to topple May' -In office, but not in power – The Sunday telegraph