Functions Of The Media

The media has an enormous influence in the lives of many and functions as a means for establishing and maintaining established mindsets of the society. The media is a tool for communication and the ones in charge of the media has control of what they want the audience to believe. Television, radio, magazines, advertisements, etc all persuade us to consider their account of truth, their description of reality. In spite of these, the media plays certain key roles in our societal setting. The level, volume and rate of information communication in modern society are all of an unparalleled level. As a key carrier of information, the media is claiming a more imperative role in addition to its central function of information transmission. Some political, economic and social functions of the media will be discussed in this essay.

To begin with, the political function. Along with the brisk development of information communication technologies, the progress of people’s cultural alertness and the hastening of democratization, the media have been involved on different levels of politics and have brought about insightful influences on varied political aspects. The media, most significantly through its news, coverage, scrutiny and analysis, affects what and how we learn about politics and our own political view. The media is at the core of evenhanded growth in a large sense. The media can expose corruption, bribery and sleaze. They can keep a check on public policy by throwing a fuss on government action. They also let people voice various, sometimes varied opinions on governance and reform, and help build public consensus to bring about change.

Secondly, the economic functions of the media. The media help markets work healthier even in difficult economic crisis like the credit crunch fuss that enveloped the world in 2008. They smooth the progress of trade, transmitting ideas and modernization of business transactions across borders. A person’s insight and sensitivity of matters as the mining sector, transport, immigration and health related issues like the National Health Insurance Scheme which form imperative parts on an economy are affected by the manner, scope and degree of media coverage. The media also serves as an avenue for work for the unwaged.

To end with, we would take a look at the social functions of the media. The media is important for human development, bringing health and education information to remote villages and sensitizing the local folks on important issues of the society. It is also a mouthpiece of the people, that is, it’s through the media that the people get to put across their views on national issues.