Election fatigue is already setting in, and we still have a few elections to go. As we are making our way through the 64 national elections happening in 2024, it is clear that the media will forever be connected to politics. But what role does the media play in shaping the political landscape? Find out here!
Every time a major election rolls around, we find ourselves looking to news channels and other forms of media for updates.
But in 2024, elections all over the world had more plot twists than a season of Grey's Anatomy. Now, we are all constantly checking our phones and jumping from news network to news network in the hopes of getting a view from all angles.
We discuss the political happenings of various countries with family and friends in the same way we discuss the newest episodes of House of the Dragon — and it is starting to feel just as racy and intense.
With all this Emmy-worthy drama taking place, the media is doing its part within the global political machine.
‘What is that?’ — You may ask. Well …
media update's Alrika Möller is laying out the media’s role within the political scene.
What is the purpose of the media?
In this context, I am going to focus on traditional media organisations and outlets. That means I am talking about:
Social media is not really on the list; however, social media accounts belonging to these publications or outlets do fall under the umbrella. Sadly, the neighbourhood lady on your mom's Facebook feed did not make the cut this time around.
The main purpose of the media is to inform and educate — with a possible twist of entertainment.
What does that mean?
As things happen in the world — or in this case, across the political landscape — news outlets have an obligation to inform the public. Along with the information they provide, they then educate their respective audiences on what it means — occasionally in an entertaining way.
It goes like this:
A political party takes a strong stance and makes a bold statement during a speech at a rally. The people at CNN or BBC News, for example, then rush to add it to their little ribbons running at the bottom of the screen.
At the same time, two journalists sitting in front of a bright backdrop talk about the bold statement while getting insights from an expert on the matter about what the statement means, as well as how it will affect the election — and possibly the country.
Later that night, a talk show host will probably take to the stage and inform his audience about the same statement in a way that is very funny but definitely not objective.
How does the media affect politics?
We have already established that the media is tasked with informing the public. Politics — and more specifically, democracy — are built on the concept that the people elect the officials that end up in power.
That is just a fancy way of saying that citizens get to choose. The important thing here is that people make an informed decision, even if they don't realise it.
So, you have an entire industry with the purpose of providing information and an entire country using the information at their disposal to make their decisions.
Do you see where I am going with this?
Media outlets have major influence over the political views and decisions of their audiences. That is a lot of power to have — and with great power comes great responsibility.
Still, a lot of people have their favourite or go-to news outlets. Some only like the news outlets that echo their already-established beliefs. They are not easily swayed.
But most people want news sources that provide them with full, unbiased facts. Those are the people that allow these facts to influence their political decisions.
When the media reports on a party's controversial post-election plan and how it will impact the average person, audiences decide how they feel about it. The media is not supposed to tell you how to feel about various political personalities or parties.
The media's responsibility to inform and educate the public in whichever way it chooses can influence the public's political views and decisions. The media ultimately holds politicians accountable for their actions when it discusses them and their actions on the local news.
The reverse is also true. Members of the media have the option to omit certain things. This also impacts public opinion.
This situation is not a one-way street. Politicians often use the media as a way to get their message out. That is why we sometimes see politicians on the same talk shows as actors promoting a new film or doing interviews for magazines. They want to reach the masses.
The media — more specifically journalists — and politics have a tumultuous relationship, but it is an important one. People need to know the facts about the people hoping to govern their country, as well as what elected officials do when they get into office.
But within this political circus, the public has the responsibility to do research and check the biases of their news sources. With that being said, it is also fun to grab some popcorn and watch it all unfold.
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*Image courtesy of Canva