NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Michael Schudson and Matthew Robinson Thomas Jefferson once said that people cannot be safe without information. When the press is free, and every man is able to read, all is safe. These words are the best acknowledgement that if citizens dont know the real information a country may have the unfortunate state of affairs. Michael Schudson and Matthew Robinson are political philosophers who state that the lack of political and civic knowledge of the Americans threatens the democracy of the country. It is especially noticed during the period of elections.
From the early times skilled persons (such as oracles in Greece) were able to ask questions or make certain interpretations which imposed people certain point of view that was favorable for certain political leaders. Later people became more conscious about their role in the society and their political and civic knowledge was pledge of their civil rights and freedoms. In his book, "Mobocracy, " Matthew Robinson told about the role of the media in American political life, comparing them with the Greek oracles. Robinson pointed the fact that especially during election skilled media pollsters make questions that imposed people the voters to choose necessary answers. Most of all, news in the media do not give well-grounded information for people because they news, as a rule, created not for citizens' knowledge but for their impressions. Robinson emphasized that such approach makes people (the voters) more apathetic and ignorance.
Matthew Robinson in his work pointed that, historically, newspaper, magazine and television journalists have never been "objective." Most of all, Robinson emphasized the great role of the media on the formation of peoples points of view. A lot of Americans live busy lives and they have little time to search out or check information that is given in television news or in newspapers. From the media they get information about the main aspects of their life: how government works, about economic and social costs, learn more about candidates. It means that a lot of Americans have to accept the point of view of the certain interested parties. But Matthew Robinson is sure that the decision of the problem is the internet. It gives easy access to necessary information.
The internet educate Americans help them take seriously their civic responsibilities and duties. The Founding Fathers spoke about free people who are capable of governing themselves. It is the main principle of democratic society. From the other side, the well- known scientist, Michael Schudson, makes a conclusion that media and political communication at their present state even threaten the conscious of the people.
He pointed the evidence of "media malaise that lead to the reduction of civic activism and diminish trust in government. Michael Schudson mentioned the work of Patterson, Out of Order. In the work the author emphasized that the U. S. news media had became more negative and more cynical during the past two or three decades. It has caused a general disengagement from civic life.
There are different purposes of the situation. First of all, American newspapers have no competition in most markets. The other problem is that many European countries have strong tabloid readership. It raises newspaper sales. American newspapers have not. Most of all, there is no strong public-service broadcast sector in America.
It is known that people who are interested in news take more active part in political campaigns and discussing politics. They want to take an active part in the life of their country. Michael Schudson is sure that better informed and more highly educated [citizens] may well become increasingly critical of governing institutions. But they should get information from different sources with the purpose to make an unbiased sampling.
So, it is evident that uninformed citizens are a threat to democracy. A lot of should be done in terms of better educating American voters. It is for sure that there is no one certain way out of the situation; but the government should take different ways into consideration such as to raise civic conscious of the youth in the public schools and colleges; reconsider the work of the news media and improve the system. And nowadays, modern people have the other more powerful source of information the internet. Bibliography: Mobocracy by Matthew Robinson. (2002). Peggy Whitcomb.
Retrieved 5 March, 2007 from web Schudson, Michael. (2000). The Myth of Media-driven Malaise. Columbia Journalism review. Retrieved 5 March, 2007 from web
Free research essays on topics related to: point of view, march 2007, 5 march, news media, robinson
Research essay sample on Michael Schudson And Matthew Robinson
