Effects Of The Media On The Individual

Media effects, as defined by CommGAP, refers to “the many ways individuals and society may be influenced by both news and entertainment mass media, including film, television, radio, newspapers, books, magazines, websites, video games, and music.” The media in modern times have a major influence on the lives of individuals. This researcher wanting to know how factual the statement above is talked the effects of the media with a study group who were present at the Tema Community Library.


Nearly every teenager growing up in the Ghana is subjected to copious encounters with the media on daily basis. And this study group, being mainly teens, gave out these thoughts about the effects of the media.


The media may not affect what people think, but may affect what they think about, through the choice of which topics to cover and what to give emphasis to. Avid television viewers may drop the attitudes, beliefs or customs of their traditional heritage and cultures in favor of those they see frequently on television and hear on radio. The researcher who spoke to Desmond, leader of the study group from Creator International School, said he had unwittingly uttered his sense of dressing because he become such a big fan of the western style of dressing as he saw in the music videos were on TV and on the internet. He added that, he would spend hours reading about new clothing lines of music artist instead of normally doing his assignments.


Media consumers may become so snowed under by negative portrayals of hostility and crime that they may begin—either cynically or sadly—to believe the real world is a mean and unkind place. Jessica, probably the youngest member of the 8-member study group, gave thumbs true to this assertion. Having spent her early years in the United Kingdom, she always had a bizarre image of Africa as her eyes always met horrific and ruthless scenes of Africa on BBC, CNN and ITV2.


Media messages sometimes arouse recall of stored ideas, data, opinions, or experience associated in some way with the message content. For example, news stories about the Ghana presidential election triggered views and thoughts about the Ghanaian economy, health sector and mining industry. Nathaniel was quick to jump on this assertion when mention was made of it. He had little idea about the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) until when debates were held by the Institute of Economic Studies during the general elections in Ghana. Jessica, in an almost cheerful manner also said same.