Among the 7 media theories that we have learnt in class, I would like to mention the media agenda setting function. Agenda setting involves media gate keepers who select issues that they feel are most worthy of coverage and give those issues great attention. They also choose issues to ignore. Priming occurs as the media attend to some issues over the other and change the standards by which people evaluate the issues.
I would like to relate media agenda setting function to the Fox Channel in the United States. I find that Fox channel has distorted the actual truth of various issues and viewers actually believe them. For example, the Fox channel reported on news showing Iraqis leading happy and peaceful lives because of the Iraq War. Their economic performance improved and standard of living also increased. However, how is it possible to have good economic performance and peaceful lives when a war is occurring a country? War usually result in confusion, fear, death, damaged houses and unstable economies. If we refer to news coverage by more reliable news channel such as the BBC, we would realize that Iraq is in chaos and people are actually leading difficult and insecure lives. Hence, the Fox channel is in fact propagating the message that Iraq War is beneficial to justify US War on Iraq. Most viewers who watched the Fox channel actually believe what they see and hear from Fox channel. In my opinion, it is very important for the viewers to be critical and open to different viewpoints reported by the media.
