Question

Read the following essay from Becoming a Critical Thinker:

How the  media distort reality tv and movie apologists are forever telling us that we have no business criticizing them because they are only holding a mirror up to reality. Many people buy that explanation, but they shouldn’t. It would be more accurate to say the media hold a magnifying glass to carefully selected realities—namely, the most outrageous and sensational events of the day, such as the tragic deaths of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Princess Diana, or the trials of celebrities such as O. J. Simpson, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jackson. Consider how this happens. The first platoon of media people reports the latest sensational story as it unfolds, squeezing each new development for all the airtime or newsprint it will yield. Meanwhile, agents and attorneys are negotiating the sale of movie and TV rights to the story. The sleazier the story, the greater the payoff. After the movie is produced, every situation comedy, detective show, and western drama builds an episode around the successful theme. In this way a single despicable, disgusting act—real or imagined—can generate months of sensational media fare. In short, the media exploit our social problems for ratings, feed us a steady diet of debasing material, celebrate irresponsible behavior, and then have the audacity to blame parents and teachers for the social problems that result.

(Base on the W.I.S.E approach) Look for errors in thinking and explore viewpoints that are different from those expressed in the essay.

Answer 1

By using W.I.S.E Approach we make use of reflective, creative and critical thinking in context to an argument.

In any evolved society media plays a very critical role of bring transparency across day to day operations in the context of business, Government, Social and political spectrum. Many societies and countries believe that media is contributing significantly in terms of guarding Executive, Legislative and Judicial proceedings.

In this passage of social context, the argument put forward is un-wise and irresponsible act of media personnel and industry in many occasion where in apparently it seems media has been engaged in cheap and sensational act. The argument seems inductive and incorrect too some extent.

Consider the basic premise, of celebrity, high end political personalities and corresponding unusal event has been ponder upon. Surely such events are not generic in nature and surely attracts traction from all spheres, may it be from general public or other stake holders. As a result media would definitely work around to bring forth the events as early as possible and as much as possible.

The reasoning: Even if mistakes or exaggeration are possible in such instances, this is just one consideration and it does not immediately follow that all media activities are irresponsible act.

The conclusion: The conclusion drawn from such specific discrete incidents doesnot hold solid ground. instances where Media has blamed parents and teacher are quite rare. Also this statement has no connection with the earlier points laid down. Also there's an equal onus on to us to filter the right information from the plethora of news and incidents around us.