Introduction
Media prejudice entails the passion for arguments, information, rumors, facts, lies, and half-truths to influence opinion from the targeted audience. As such, instead of merely disseminating information, propaganda actively attempts to alter the thoughts or actions of its audience. The slogan is generally employed in the political context in media, advertisements, and education. It is unlikely that propaganda will stop being used to indoctrinate populations in quasi-nations for the foreseeable future. The United States of America has experienced the strong influence of propaganda, thus influencing its political, social, and economic growth. This paper shall elaborate on the causes of media bias, its impact on the public, and possible measures to eliminate propaganda.
Instances and Effects of Media Propaganda in the U.S.
In the United States, prejudice is brought about by media ownership, such as a concentration of ownership, the biased hiring process, or the assumed preferences of a target audience. Several local, national, and worldwide watchdog organizations document media bias. In America, propaganda became widely used throughout World War I because propaganda materials like posters and movies against the enemy increased soldier recruitment and influenced public opinion. To persuade people to support the war, the United States made films, ordered eye-catching posters, wrote pamphlets, and enlisted the help of regular people to sell the war. These initiatives inspired the 20th-century advertising industry while also aiding in creating contemporary American war propaganda. Moreover, propaganda in modern politics has helped the nation garner support among various groups. U.S. presidents have used the media to conduct their campaigns while selling their manifestos to the public to suppress voter turnout.
The majority of states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories are under the regulatory authority of the Federal Communications Commission, which also governs interstate and worldwide radio, TV, wire, satellites, and cable communications. This body has, in most cases, regulated information being passed in the media houses; as such, the report has always been influenced by political or self-interests, whereby critical details on the public are not aired. Such discrimination on information in the United States has resulted in adverse societal outcomes whereby political segregation has been realized. As such, the Republicans and the Democrats have different beliefs concerning the functionality of the government. Moreover, Intolerable opposition and polarization of groups have intensified racism have also been witnessed due to media bias in the United States of America.
Solutions to Counter Media Propaganda
To overcome media bias, the U.S. government has developed policies and regulations to govern media production and ensure ethical conduct is followed. The government should allocate enough funds for the journalists to enable them not to get influenced by politicians. Enhanced training for the journalists should also be conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the content providers. Moreover, the U.S. government should scrap illegal broadcast advertisements on public television, just like in the case of Spain and France. As a result, commercial content bias and competition pressure on promotions shall be reduced. Additionally, the government transfers advertising earnings to private media, supporting initiatives to subsidize media entry and consumption.
Conclusion
In conclusion, media prejudice in the U.S. has influenced public opinion toward various political, societal, and economic activities, and this is through prejudiced advertisements. Political bias was mainly seen during the World War when our media produced films and promotions to influence their rivals. Moreover, media bias has also led to political segregation, group polarization, and intolerable opposition from the public. More funds should be channeled to the media to curb this menace to ensure effective production. Policies, professional training, and the subsidization of advertisements should also be prioritized.