Thesis Statement
Media plays a central role in forming opinions of individuals, reinforcing their beliefs, and affecting perception. Despite its use of new technology, such as video cameras and bodycams, news present events in a biased manner, which falls in line with the political agendas of its creators. The influence of news coverage, presentation and narratives can be felt within the judicial system as well. The opinions and actions of active trial participants, such as judges, jury, defenders and prosecutors can all be shaped by current news cycles.
The main purpose of mass media is to provide people with information about recent events and other topics they may find relevant. With the development of technology, emergence of the television and the internet, it has become easier than ever to discover events all around the globe. Be it something that happens in one’s neighborhood, or on another continent, individuals are able to receive information about the daily happenings of the world. However, the actual accuracy of media reporting, news and other public outlets, as well as their role in shaping public opinion varies greatly.
Despite the common perception of news reporting as accurate or factual, media is able to shape existing events and facts into a specific narrative, one that which more closely aligns with said media outlet’s goals or political disposition. This is concerning when one takes the role of media in shaping public perception into account. For the purposes of limiting the scope of discussion to a reasonable standard, only American news media and events will be discussed within this work. First, the role of the media in shaping public opinion will be discussed, setting a suitable platform to consider the effect of specific tools, such as video footage, in understanding events. Afterwards, it will be necessary to consider the public view and portrayal of a number of recent events, all of which can be seen as controversial.
Role of the Media in the Public Opinion
As mentioned previously, the main role of media throughout the years is to inform the population and enhance the public understanding of events. This definition concerns primarily the stated role of media outlets, not their actual effect or the variety of other purposes they fulfill. In their essence, news media outlets work in providing people with a complete framework to understand the world. In order to navigate the complicated field of world events, inform their individual decisions and viewpoints, people need news. The media has a capability to condense events people may have not experienced for themselves in an easily digestible container, one which individuals are able to consume daily.
It is important to note, however, that each news media outlet is created by people, and is not exempt from bias. Each major news publication or broadcasting organization has its own political leaning, which often informs its reporting on certain issues. This is true of most TV media broadcasts, newspapers, and social media news groups. Therefore, a single event that is reported on by a number of different news outlets will receive proportionally wide coverage, ranging in opinion and focus. This can be seen even in the most recent case, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a monumental legislative decision. Most of the democrat-leaning news media considered the decision to be a mistake, speculating on the impact it would have on abortion clinics around the country. At the same time, republican news sources largely celebrated the change, citing it as a “moment of liberation” and a necessity. The event that news outlets are covering is the same, while its portrayal remains drastically different.
This tendency has a complex effect on the public. Various media outlets work to confirm the pre-existing biases of individuals, present new information in a way that they will find acceptable, and provide certain perspectives on events around the nation. According to current research, people are more likely to believe stories from news outlets they already know and trust, meaning those that are closely aligned with their political position. The believability of a certain story depends primarily not on its contents, but on who reports on it. This trend shows that people go to news outlets not to change their perspective, but to affirm existing biases while also keeping up with recent events.
After confirming this observation, it can be further argued that specific media individuals consume affects the public opinion. Examining studies that evaluate public perception of certain topics and events gives more insight into the capacity of media to affect individuals. According to research into American’s sentiments regarding China, more than half of all opinions expressed fall in line with the portrayal of China by the New York Times. Similarly, people also take information and sentiments from the media regarding other topics, including political decisions, crimes, and legislative changes.
Effect of Video Footage on Public and the Prosecution
Body cameras, as well as video footage, is largely understood as a step toward better law enforcement accountability, an important tool in understanding the truth of many events. However, the use of video footage as primary evidence does not guarantee a more full or honest portrayal of events. On the contrary, the reliance on body cam footage, or video footage often goes against the need to critically examine important events, and the need to pursue different perspective. With the presence of available visual evidence, both the public and the justice system become liable to dismissing further examination of a case. As discussed in the article on the topic, body camera footage only provides a retelling of events from the point of view of the police officer, which is a problem. Due to the way human perception works, viewers generally find it easier to sympathize with the person who shares their point of view. Because police officer body cams always take footage from the view of an officer on duty, their presentation makes the police more sympathetic. Another issue that is not discussed in its full capacity is the ability of police officers to turn off their cameras. In many controversial cases, such as the recent Adam Toledo Shooting, the police have turned off their body cameras, per orders, allowing them to murder a young child without any visual evidence of the crime. In situations such as this, the presence of body cameras does not effectively enhance police accountability, or protect citizens from brutality.
In addition, the use of body cameras could not fulfill its primary purpose effectively. According to past trials of police officers on accounts of police brutality, even visual evidence of unwarranted gun use or unnecessary escalation on the part of the police did not lead to successful convictions. In many cases, existing footage is insufficient in leading to a guilty verdict. Alternatively, there are also cases where
Case Analysis
Ahmaud Arbery
The Ahmaud Arbery case was among the many controvertial racially-charged murder cases of the recent years. Surrounded by unwillingness of the legal system to question the actions of two white men, both the investigation and the court case have proceeded with great difficulty. On February 23, 2020 Ahmaud Arbery was shot after an encounter with Gregory and Travis McMichael. According to reports, the men took their guns and followed Arbery on the street while he was jogging. Arbery was unarmed, and the suspicion of the two man seemed to be largely based on his race. One of the men involved in the murder was a former police officer, causing the first prosecutor to rescue themselves from the case. The second prosecutor similarly left the case, further stretching out the process of bringing the men to accountability. Local newspapers used limited and incomplete information, primarily collected from an interview with Gregory McMichael, one of the perpetrators. The lack of perspective from other parties, presented the narrative of the event from the view of a single involved party, affecting how the public perceived the event. Following the local media report, prosecution continued to be unable to assemble a case. After the emergence of a video taken from a nearby car, however, the public sentiment grew louder, prompting the continuation of legal action. After a considerable time of changes and deliberation, both men, an additional participant and a previous persecutor were all criminally charged for their involvement with the case. During the trial, much contention could still be seen in the court, as the defense attorneys remained unsympathetic to Arbery’s fate, blaming the man for his death. The case displays an egregious case of legal misconduct, news media incompetence and inaction fueled by racism.
George Floyd
The recent murder of George Floyd can be mentioned as one of the most well-known and rousing stories of police misconduct of the recent years. Starting in Minneapolis, the event has sparked nation-wide civil uproar and a chain of protests, united by the desire to end police brutality. On May 25th, police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd during detention for an alleged crime. Despite the existence of multiple eye-witnesses, the police force attempted to minimize their involvement and deny accountability, issuing a statement claiming Floyd’s death was caused by a medical emergency. After the emergence of bystander video evidence, a wave of public outrage and scrutiny came on the police force. As a result, the three policemen associated with the murder were fired. 4 days after the initial event, former policeman Chauvin is arrested and charged with murder. Amidst the growing protests, news media reports on cases of protest looting, fires and destruction. Legislative change is initiated in Minneapolis, banning chokeholds and increasing police transparency for the public. People all across the US continue to protest for police reform and structural change.
Kyle Rittenhouse
Rittenhouse’s case has emerged during one of the many police brutality protests across the US. Having arrived in Kenosha, Rittenhouse took it upon himself to aid local businesses and the police in managing the consequences of protests. Carrying a semiautomatic rifle, the man engaged in an altercation with 3 of the protesters, who reacted negatively to his presence. After being chased to a car and being attacked with a plastic bag, Rittenhouse proceeded to fatally shoot Joseph Rosenbaum and run away. Upon being confronted, he shot again, killing another individual, Anthony Huber, in the process. Rittenhouse attempted to willingly surrender to the police, who did not take him for the active shooter and left. The morning after the shooting, Rittenhouse was arrested. Faced with homicide, misdemeanor and felony charges, the man is sentenced with weapon possession as a minor and misdemeanor. Being presented with the charges, Rittenhouse pleads not guilty, beginning the trial process. After much deliberation as well as continued polarizing discussions within the media, Rittenhouse is acquitted of all charges. News media remains divided on the case, with conservative outlets standing in support with the teen, and democratic ones condemning him.
Robb Elementary
The Robb Elementary school shooting was among the many events that have called into question the efficiency of the American police force. Salvador Ramos, an Uvalde high school student, bought two AR-15 style rifles after turning 18, going on to commit a school shooting in a nearby elementary school. The man’s concerning behaviors and posts on social media have prompted no further investigation in the days prior to the shooting. Entering the building with two rifles and ammunition, Ramos killed as many as 21 people. The police response to the case has been widely criticised for its inefficiency and impracticality, which was recorded both by the news and passersby’s. Media has widely reported on the case, and questioned the decision-making skills of the police. Many officers were called onto the scene, yet failed to either locate or neutralize the perpetrator before the situation escalated. For a major part of the event, the police were struggling to coordinate their actions, bring out the necessary equipment, and open a door the shooter hid behind. After nearly 400 police officers were unable to properly fulfill their obligation, the police department has issued a public statement reflecting on their inaction.
Topps Grocery Store
The mass shooting in the Topps grocery store in Buffalo exists as one of the many examples of the danger white supremacy presents. Payton Gendron, an 18-year old at the time of the crime, shot and killed 10 black people in a predominantly black neighborhood. After being apprehended, the authorities examined the actions of the man who broadcasted the mass murder on a livestream. According to currently present information and media discussions, Gendron’s crime was racially motivated. The perpetrator plead not guilty to all charges. Much like other examples of mass shootings, the Topps shooting sparked new waves of gun control debates within the nation.
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