美国社会与文化期末论文.docx

It Is Time to Change: Let the Freedom Be FreeAbstract: These conglomerates control several types of media. “freedom of the press” was enshrined as a cornerstone of American society. Freedom of the press is only guaranteed to those that own one. In most instances, the ethical journalist has been replaced by that which best addresses the desires of the media owner. It is an age when profit trumps public interest. What appears as news is shaped by the need to make money. Even more destructive to the citizen’s needs of a free press is that such giant conglomerates are unattached to any communities. There is a mechanism of bias in news with the rise of propaganda. Because of Americans’ self-involvement, when foreign affairs are presented, it is in the trademark snappy headline followed by a superficial, short recitation that again, includes no context in which to place the story. We should clearly realize the challenges America are facing whatever in the freedom of speech or in the freedom of press, and how to minimize the bad influence becomes a priority for America.(173 words)A free society is dependent upon the press for information, plain and simple, as few individuals have firsthand access to what their government and other public bodies are doing. For most of us, information about those powers that directly affect our lives is learned through the press and we rely on that profession’s integrity to do so in a truthful and neutral manner.These conglomerates control several types of media. Presently, there are fewer than 1,500 daily papers and 1,200 commercial stations in the United States. At the turn of the millennium, Gannett owned 93 daily papers, 15 television stations, and 19 radio stations. Cox Broadcasting owned 11 radio stations, 3 television stations, 4 cable vision systems, and nine newspaper companies. The New York Times Company owned 35 daily newspapers, 8 weeklies, 2 radio stations, five television stations, and numerous magazines. Disney (following the