Category: Entertainment & Media 1830

Introduction

False information on the Internet spreads more easily and quickly than accurate information because it usually does not require much knowledge to become aware of it. Creating fakes and misinforming the audience is relatively easy, creating panic in the community or lobby. If done well, fake messages are hard to distinguish from real ones, and many people take them at face value. The question arises as to why people spread such messages and whether there are factors that stimulate this process. Buchanans article brings credibility to the information by providing an in-depth analysis of why fake information spreads.

The Authors Persuasiveness

The essays author is Tom Buchanan, who is social science researcher at a university in London. He has a degree in philosophy, which is vital for the analysis of the essay. It can guarantee additional credibility, as those with degrees go through a long study process and know how to work with different information. Buchanan appeals to an audience willing to learn or already knows how to process information and look for truth in it. The article is needed for people trying to figure out why there is so much fake information. The paper was written in 2020: the premise was the prevalence of false information about the pandemic.

As part of the paper, Buchanan researches three variables that potentially influence the spread of misinformation. These included the influence of message attributes, viewer characteristics, and interaction. Buchanan claims that people disseminate information based on heuristics: this process is spontaneous and fast (Buchanan 3). He points out that this leads to disseminated information without reflection and analysis. Buchanan conducts four studies to support his claim based on the consistency, consensus, and authority of potentially false information.

Having modeled studies that do not involve complex language is credible to the reader because they see a clear and understandable demonstration of the process. Buchanan makes a statement about which people are spreading false information and how, so the reader looks for these signs in himself (4). If he does not find them, the information in the article is more likely to be perceived positively by him.

Buchanan makes four hypotheses for each element of the probability of spreading false information as part of the research. Buchanan believes that the main reasons for spreading are the degree of trust in the information and alignment with personal beliefs (28). The results of simulated studies with statistical calculations support part of the argument. Buchanan emphasizes his point based on statistics; the article is persuasive and effectively communicates his position to the reader (9-10). He clarifies the characteristics of personality traits that influence the transmission of fakes. The reader understands which elements of personality occur more often than others and unconsciously evaluates oneself. The article positively affects the reader, pushing him to solve the problem about which it tells.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of the essay, it can be concluded that Buchanan, Tom is well-versed in information, provides references to sources, and gives complete work results. Trust is born due to his education and simple language that bribes the reader to dig in and try the text. Nevertheless, the results of the essay raise additional questions, which may encourage the reader to seek further information. Buchanan probably should have added more connection to real-world phenomena familiar to the audience. Adding examples of knowingly false information and its dissemination would have made the article more persuasive.

Works Cited

Buchanan, Tom. Why do people spread false information online? The effects of message and viewer characteristics on the self-reported likelihood of sharing social media disinformation. PloS one, vol. 15, 2020.

During the last 20 years, the Internet and digital technology significantly impacted the approaches to information distribution. Development in technology and societal changes led to a decline in print newspapers in the UK (Curran and Seaton, 2018). Recently, the global economic recession added to the popularization of online media. Starting from the early 2000s, digital information carriers became cheaper and handier than paper ones and many leading newspapers went online. This paper aims to study how the development in technology and societal changes impacted the consumption of print newspapers in the UK.

Problems of Publishing Industries

In the last decade, the newspaper publishing industry in Europe has been going through a difficult period of intervention of online media in the world of news. New formats determined changes in readers habits due to the growing role of the Internet (Björkroth and Grönlund, 2018). The latest studies report on trends of further reduction of readership of newspaper brands. Thurman and Fletcher (2019) note that time spent with newspaper brands has decreased by 40 percent, even as online platforms have made access easier and cheaper (p. 543). The researchers note that individual newspaper brands show differences in the reduction of readers, which may be the result of a more interesting format. In other words, the shift in the focus of readers attention to online platforms has forced newspaper publishers to change their approaches to presenting information, and this trend will continue.

An alternative analysis of audience preferences conducted within the framework of the British National Reader Survey completes the picture. According to the data, which analyzed 11 UK newspaper brands, 88.5% still come through their print editions, 7.49% through mobile devices, and only 4% through computers (Thurman, 2018, p. 1410). Interestingly, according to these data, The Mail occupies about 30% of the market. The author emphasizes that circulations of printed publications are falling rapidly, and the fortunes of newspapers are falling (Thurman, 2018, p. 1411). Therefore, Thurman (2018) advises attracting readers of printed publications by improving those qualities that make them attractive: the quality of paper, ink, layout, and the quality of information submitted. The authors fear the decline in consumption may lead to negative social, cultural, and political consequences.

Democratic Function of Newspapers

The meaning of the word newspaper or gazette comes from the Italian language. It was used to denote a small coin, which was the cost of a printed sheet of news. This form of information was popular in the 15th century, when the first newspapers appeared, replacing announcements on bulletin boards (Temple, 2018). Later, publishing houses appeared in Italy and other European countries, adding new functions to newspapers. Since the late 18th century, the format of the printed newspaper has remained unchanged. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the 20th century, with the advent of radio, television, and later the Internet, many consumers changed their tastes. But such a massive change in preferences can lead to a rather dangerous phenomenon of reverse democratization of society (Temple, 2018). Historically, publishing houses were centers of the political and cultural avant-garde. They had considerable influence on public opinion and could decide which political players the readers would prefer.

Such trends persisted until the middle of the 20th and early 21st centuries when newspapers began to lose their share. Thurman and Fletcher (2019) note that the mass media, which have diverted the attention of readers from newspapers, do not fully assume democratic functions. They emphasize that certain online advertising platforms, such as Craigslist and eBay, which have lured away most of the advertisers who previously worked with newspapers, do not feel obliged to combine the advertising with the news and information that performs democratic functions (Thurman and Fletcher, p. 545). Scholars believe that the financial problems of newspapers arising from the reduction of circulations are socially dangerous due to the democratic function of newspapers. The democratic function implies the observance of democratic duties by citizens and the function of checks and balances against those in power.

Social Sustainability

Interestingly, despite increasing pressure from online media, some print newspapers maintain popularity among readers. Scholars comment on this phenomenon of social sustainability, which is explained by the factors of social participation, sustainable social change, and the printed newspaper communication model, which remains sustainable (Fortunati and OSullivan, 2019, p. 137). Equally important, the growing influence of online media has put considerable stress on local publications, which derive most of their income from print sales (Jenkins and Jerónimo, 2021). It is noteworthy that local media contributed to the adaptation of editorial and business strategies that would consider the digital world. The strategies include three types of approaches  national, aimed at diversification, i.e. creating several online editions from one brand, regional, which implied strengthening positions in certain regions, and local, where the focus was shifted to smaller geographical areas (Jenkins and Jerónimo, 2021). Such ingenuity in adapting strategies could serve as an example for those publications that suffer losses.

Hyperlocal journalism is a phenomenon that arose as a result of the desire of newsrooms to adapt to changes. Such journalism more closely examines community news, and when newspapers are closed or replaced by digital media, communities usually lose an important element of self-governance, a culture of social relations, and levers of local government control (Hess, 2019). The phenomenon of hyperlocal journalism is characteristic of northern Europe, including Norway. Halvorsen and Bjerke (2019) studied the emergence of hyperlocal media start-ups that successfully competed with existing print media and brought substantial income. Such information indicates the possibility of revival of the local press in case of decline. It is noteworthy that the majority of start-ups followed a low-cost business strategy and economic approaches of self-sufficiency and self-exploitation. No less interestingly, Halvorsen and Bjerke (2019) introduce the concept of white spots or blind zones in the news ecology that makes it impossible to fulfill the democratic role of the media at the local level (p. 122). These concepts are very apt and can be used in developing national initiatives to support print media.

Interestingly, changes in business models are taking place in Great Britain and other European countries. Jenkins and Nielsen (2020) note that local and regional newspapers in Finland, France, Germany, and Great Britain continue to cherish the economic value of print, even with declining advertising and subscriptions. Editors also recognize the possibility of using new approaches to online monetization, such as using analytics to personalize content and implementing a convenient payment system.

News Consumption

Given the above, the overall strategy of print media is aimed at adapting to pressure from online media through the adaptation of editorial and economic strategies. Interestingly, Ya (2018) notes the influence of the consumer markets, depends on the type of democracy and statehood. The scholar also emphasizes the cost of paper, and the promotion of digital reading, seeing the situation as an industrial revolution, and approving of the advantages of electronic reading. Boczkowski et al. (2020) note that the majority of readers consume print media due to the combination of news content, its materiality, routinization, and the role of this artifact in everyday life. At the same time, Yanardaolu (2021) emphasizes the trends of increased access to news from mobile devices, through social networks, and irregularity in consumption among young people. Understanding such trends can help modern print media survive under the pressure of adverse economic circumstances.

Digital Industry

Scholars are exploring the potential of digital journalism for media of all sizes. Othman et al. (2019) emphasize that circulation is among the main risks of printed media. Threats and impacts from bigger industry players like Google are considered. The latter adverse impacts may include adding to the speed of news spreading and false news. Bhuller et al. (2020) note that the increase in access to the Internet led to a sharp decline in the audience of print media, and this trend may persist. The scholars admit a reduction in costs, labor costs, and the physical size of newspapers, which are negative consequences. Leveling out tabloids and turning to more serious news has reduced negative trends. Jenkins and Jerónimo (2021) observe a chaotic development of digital media when readers receive the same information through e-mails, mobile notifications, podcasts, and video suggestions, which creates clutter, confusion, and further dissatisfaction. Scholars recommend online brands produce high-quality content because paid news sites operate in a mode of fierce competition.

Thus, it was studied how the development in technology and societal changes impacted the consumption of print newspapers in the UK. Despite the strong pressure of digital media and the decrease in consumption among readers, online resources do not demonstrate a high-quality performance of the democratic function. Print media should use business and editorial strategies to maintain audiences and spheres of influence, as this will contribute to the strengthening of social, cultural, and political development of citizens.

Reference List

Bhuller, M., Havnes, T., McCauley, J. and Mogstad, M. (2020) How the internet changed the market for print media. Memorandum.

Boczkowski, P. J., Mitchelstein, E. and Suenzo, F. (2020) The smells, sights, and pleasures of ink on paper: the consumption of print newspapers during a period marked by their crisis, Journalism Studies, 21(5), 565-581.

Björkroth, T. and Grönlund, M. (2018) Competitive pressure and profitability of newspaper publishing in 12 European countries, Journal of Media Business Studies, 15(4), 254-277.

Curran, J. and Seaton, J. (2018) Power without responsibility. London: Routledge,

Fortunati, L. and OSullivan, J. (2019) Situating the social sustainability of print media in a world of digital alternative, Telematics and Informatics, 37, 137-145.

Halvorsen, L. J. and Bjerke, P. (2019) All seats taken? Hyperlocal online media in strong print newspaper surroundings, Nordicom Review, 40(s2), 115-128.

Hess, K. (2019) Hyperlocal Journalism: The decline of local newspapers and the rise of online community news, David Harte, Rachel Howells and Andy Williams, Australian Journalism Review, 41(1), 135-136.

Jenkins, J. and Jerónimo, P. (2021) Changing the beat? Local online newsmaking in Finland,

France, Germany, Portugal, and the UK, Journalism Practice, 15(9), 1222-1239.

Jenkins, J. and Nielsen, R. K. (2020) Preservation and evolution: Local newspapers as ambidextrous organizations, Journalism, 21(4), 472-488.

Othman, S. S., Nayan, L. M., Tiung, L. K. and Hassan, F. (2019) Issues and challenges of future newspapers, Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 1(2), 12-19.

Temple, M. (2018) The rise and fall of the British press. Abington: Routledge.

Thurman, N. and Fletcher, R. (2019) Has digital distribution rejuvenated readership? Revisiting the age demographics of newspaper consumption, Journalism Studies, 20(4), 542-562.

Thurman, N. (2018) Newspaper Consumption in the Mobile Age: Re-assessing multi-platform performance and market share using time-spent, Journalism Studies, 19(10), 1409-1429.

Ya, K. and Berger, P. (2018) The cross-cultural impact on the newspaper publishing industry and how it affects marketing strategy, International Journal of Social Science and Business, 3(2), 23-31.

Yanardaolu, E. (2021) Just the way my generation reads the news: News consumption habits of youth in Turkey and the UK, Global Media and Communication, 17(2), 149-166.

Media violence has been a growing concern for many decades. Most concerns revolve around how it may affect children. Such fears are valid, because of issues, such as school shooting, violent conflicts between minors and physical bullying, are still relevant to this day. Unsurprisingly, people are questioning whether a childs interest in violent movies or shows could be somehow related to their negative behavior, if it is prevalent.

The problem of this issue is that the effect of violent media on children is a rather ambiguous topic. Some believe that it is not the cause, while others see a connection between such content and a childs aggressive behavior. Past research has shown that witnessing someone perform violent actions encourages children to play similarly (Psychology Today). This implies that the children had become ignorant to the negative nature of their actions.

Another research, which was conducted over half a century later, has demonstrated more unsettling details on the matter. It differentiated between the children who had previously watched a movie with gun footage and those who hadnt. The playroom of the experiment had a gun hidden in the closet cabinet, which was found by most of the children (Psychology Today). As a result, the ones who had watched the movie were more likely to pull the trigger than the ones who had not. What makes the research even more concerning is that children have trouble differentiating between real and toy guns. This emphasizes the concern surrounding offsprings and violence in media.

However, some people find this discussion to contain more nuance than one might assume. They believe that the cause of a childs aggressive behavior lies more in the combination of being exposed to various kinds of violence, including certain risk factors. The perception depends on the childs age, sensitivities and environment as well (HuffPost). This implies that children need parental guidance after having watched such content, so as to avoid possible negative effects.

Nonetheless, even the opposing side acknowledges the underlying factors in their viewpoint. Witnessing violent media very frequently may desensitize children to the idea of violence. According to a research by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, the parents who consumed such content were more likely to support younger children watching media with higher age ratings (Common Sense Media). It is important to note that while it is impossible to completely avoid violence in media, there are some works that do not contain it and may be suitable and interesting for children to watch. Thus, it will be easier to expose children to harsher sides of life when they are old enough to handle it.

In conclusion, it is not surprising that children being exposed to violent media and its effect on them are a prevalent concern. One research has shown that children were more likely to play aggressively after being exposed to such behavior in media. A more recent study has demonstrated that the children who watched a movie with gun footage were more likely to pull the trigger of the modified gun than the ones who did not. While the opposing side believes that this topic is far more complex, they acknowledge that there are some concerning factors. Children may be desensitized to the idea of violence and may not be old enough to consume such media properly. Thus, offsprings need parental guidance for them to properly understand this issue.

Works Cited

Common Sense Media. Heres How Different Types Of Violence In Movies Affect Kids. HuffPost, 2019. Web.

Common Sense Media. Whats the Impact of Media Violence on Kids? Common Sense Media, 2020.

LoBue, Vanessa. Violent Media and Aggressive Behavior in Children. Psychology Today, 2018. Web.

Introduction

Jared P. Scott is the director of The Age of Consequences, a documentary that discusses how climate change can be a catalyst for further conflicts. The film is produced by three distinguished creators, Sophie Robinson, Jared P. Scott himself, and Kelly Nyks. The films actors played themselves, and their interviews formed an essential part of the film. The Age of Consequences was released in 2016 and won the award for the best environmental movie at the New York Film Festival.

Body

The films director convincingly shows that wars and migration are directly related to climate change. The United States national security depends on the security of the environment. This is the directors position, and it is impossible to disagree with him. Especially in light of the escalating military conflicts in different parts of the world, the arguments of the movies speakers seem particularly convincing. The passage in which Christian Parent explains that opium poppies are grown instead of wheat in Afghanistan because of the countrys unprecedented drought is fascinating (The Age of Consequences 05:50-06:12). This example clearly demonstrates the connection between crime and climate change.

In addition, the director consistently convinces the audience that the fight against global warming should be an issue to be addressed by the current generation of people. The consequences of global warming can already be seen, as the film shows in numerous shots of areas that are on the brink of survival. The future of the earth depends on whether society is willing to take action to prevent the devastating effects of human activity.

The authors idea that climate change is always related to pre-existing problems is noteworthy. The three-year drought in Syria, for example, prompted the countrys residents to engage in a full-scale civil war (The Age of Consequences 8:45-10:45). Syrian men had to leave their homeland and move to big cities. The emergence of so many unemployed young people in the big towns could not but lead to a deterioration of stability in the region. This, according to the authors of the film, is the mechanism by which various conflicts arise, the root cause of which is climate change. What makes the narrative even more compelling is that the speakers emphasize that global warming is not the only factor (The Age of Consequences 11:22-11:33). It is impressive to see how the movie demonstrates the causal link between global warming and wars with the help of individual examples, such as the Syrian example.

Conclusion

Overall, the persuasiveness and consistency of the arguments in the documentary analyzed are what convince the audience of its credibility. Indeed, this is not the first film in history to discuss global warming. Years of Living Dangerously or Thank You for the Rain also were dedicated to this topic. However, what makes The Age of Consequences unique is its focus on the relationship between warming and U.S. national security.

Work Cited

The Age of Consequences. Directed by Jared P. Scott, performances by Michael Breen, Sharon Burke and Stephen Cheney, Gravitas Ventures, 2016. Tubi.

Introduction

Cable News Network (CNN) and Fox News are the two largest news sources in the United States. They play a critical role in many political events, leading to a strong association with either liberal or conservative viewers (Linden et al., 2020). Their comparison can reveal how popular opinions among the U.S. population are strengthened by the tendency to prefer a single channel over examining different takes on each subject. This essay will analyze Fox News and CNN to highlight their similarities in narrative functions. Both news sources are politically polarized and use similar convincing techniques in order to attract a particular audience.

Channels Political Parties

First of all, the apparent feature of both media outlets is their affinity toward diametrically opposite political views. CNN is known for its liberal viewer base, which results in many topics appearing biased in favor of a single party (Iacono & Cruz, 2022). A single subject can be presented in a negative light by CNN, while in right-leaning media, it would be praised. For example, the continuous negative portrayal of Donald Trump by CNN led to an overwhelming presence of articles related to him during his presidency in left-leaning media, with over 83% of all mentions stemming from these sources (Linden et al., 2020). Such a representation of opinions that is transferred to audiences further polarizes U.S. political parties. CNN has a solid platform in U.S. society with a reach for millions of households, making its statements an essential part of the political landscape in the country.

Unlike its primary competitor, Fox News leans toward conservative views and may present the same topic from an entirely different perspective. For example, this outlet has a tangible connection to the COVID-19 outbreak, as its consumption is linked with a decreased chance of abiding by lockdown policies (Hoewe et al., 2020). Such an impact on society reveals the influence that Fox News has on the followers of this political party. The right-wing opinions are apparent in Fox News articles, as this channel often promotes political preferences of Republicans, such as gun rights, through its content (Hoewe et al., 2020). It is critical to understand the influence of this media on the public discourse. Conservatives who receive their news through Fox tend to perceive police activities in a positive light and rarely side with civilians (Iacono & Cruz, 2022). Beliefs among this audience are echoed by Fox News and further divide the population into two camps. Such partisanship is indicative of diametrically opposite views on critical issues in the United States, and Fox News ensures that its viewers receive reports that they want to see.

Persuasive Techniques

The second key feature that must be reviewed is the persuasive techniques both news sources utilize. CNN is known for misrepresenting statistics to instill a sense of urgency in its viewers (Mehta & Guzmán, 2018). In favor of its rhetorics, this channel may appeal to its audiences emotions rather than reason. For example, a sarcastic tone is commonly utilized in CNNs articles regarding Republican statements on critical social issues (Al-Rawi, 2019). This tendency causes people to interpret the presented data through a fake lens that does not reflect reality. Gyamfi (2021) states that CNNs appeal to ethos can be explicitly seen in a report that shows a young American boy praying for his school during a hurricane (p. 29). Such an image is bound to attract the publics attention to the topic and increase the viewership numbers for the channel.

Fox News also has an inclination to prioritize sensationalism and emotional news pieces over factual articles. Its reports often avoid providing viewers with a complete picture by using the words hundreds or thousands when intending to highlight a subject as drastic through statistics (Mehta & Guzmán, 2018). Such an approach gives the audience a distorted image of real-life events. It is also revealed that Fox News uses the word hate at a higher rate than its liberal counterparts (Hoewe et al., 2020). Such negativity plays on conservatives emotions and gives this channels articles a better chance to be shared among people with strong opinions on the topic. Fox News further fuels this discord by ensuring that public personalities that do not align with its narrative are

Conclusion

In conclusion, Fox News and CNN focus on different political sides through their rhetoric yet utilize a similar strategy based on sensationalism and emotions to keep their viewers engaged. Political partisanship is a common aspect of both news channels, as they disproportionately target their opponents through negative depictions of their political and personal beliefs. Moreover, these two media sources have a similar approach to highlighting information that may be critical to their viewers. Both channels show a tendency to avoid showing a complete picture in favor of a narrative that suits their intended audience. Moreover, Fox News and CNN both have a goal of eliciting an emotional response in order to connect with their target populations. These questionable strategies that increase viewership numbers are widely utilized in these media outlets and create a distorted vision of reality for Americans.

References

Gyamfi, P. A. (2021). Comparative analysis of CNN coverage of weather-related disasters in USA, Japan, and India. Media Asia, 48(1), 21-33.

Hoewe, J., Brownell, K. C., & Wiemer, E. C. (2020). The role and impact of Fox News. The Forum, 18(3), 367-388.

Iacono, S. L., & Cruz, T. D. (2022). Hostile media perception affects news bias, but not news sharing intentions. Royal Society Open Science, 9(4).

Linden, S., Panagopoulos, C., & Roozenbeek, J. (2020). You are fake news: Political bias in perceptions of fake news. Media, Culture & Society, 42(3), 460-470.

Mehta, R., & Guzmán, L. D. (2018). Fake or visual trickery? Understanding the quantitative visual rhetoric in the news. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 10(2), 104-122.

The history of some news publications demonstrates how innovation can keep a business competitive for several centuries. One such example is the Financial Times (FT)  a financial newspaper established in London in January 1888 by James Sheridan and his brother (Financial Times [FT], 2022). The first issue of the FT came out in London on February 13, 1888  the newspaper had only four pages (Kynaston, 2018). The description read: a friend of The Honest Financier and The Respectable Broker, the enemy of The Unprincipled Promoter and The Gambling Operator (Kynaston, 2018, p. 2). Thus, the intended audience included financial experts, brokers, economists, and other professionals in business and economics based in London.

However, the FT did not limit its focus to the UK, expanding its outreach and readership. In 1945, the FT merged with another paper with similar interests the Financial News (Kynaston, 2018). As a result of this merger, the new FT was quickly becoming one of the leaders in the financial media segment (Kynaston, 2018). In 1957, the FT was purchased by Pearson, a British publisher focused on media, oil, and education (Kynaston, 2018). This acquisition allowed the newspaper to expand to the global market and become known worldwide.

As a result of these acquisitions and expansions, the FT also changed its approach to content with time. For example, in 1994, it introduced its award-winning luxury lifestyle magazine, How to Spend It, which became a benchmark in FT history (Kynaston, 2018). In 1995, the FT was among the first newspapers to launch their own website, and in 2002, the newspaper introduced an online subscription service  a standard for online-based media today (Kynaston, 2018). Thus, the publication changed more than the topics it covered  it grew into a large organization with offline and online products and a global approach to news media.

The FT has reached its international status both in readership and ownership. In 2015, a Japanese holding company, Nikkei, purchased the FT from Pearson (FT, 2022). The FT is a publication with multiple headquarters in different parts of the world, and it continues to be a major player in print and digital media. Its online newspaper has more than one million subscriptions, which helps the FT to support its website (Kynaston, 2018). Since 2017, the FT functions under the new slogan, We live in Financial Times (FT, 2022). This phrase demonstrates that the FT now has a global outlook on media.

The FT is easily recognized in online and print forms  the text is printed on salmon-colored paper. The newspaper consists of opinion columns, special reports, political cartoons, readers letters, book reviews, technology articles, and global politics. Most FT readers live outside the UK and predominantly work in finance and politics (Kynaston, 2018). Therefore, the influence of the FT on American readers is substantial, as the FT is considered a trustworthy economic publication (FT, 2022). The global audience of the newspaper is approximately 31 million, and more than 10 million readers come from North and South America (FT, 2022). Moreover, it is stated that every third subscription to the online newspaper belongs to a reader from the United States (FT, 2022). Thus, the FT can be considered a major source of information for Americans and a significant part of American culture.

Throughout the centuries, the FT grew from a city-focused newspaper into a global media corporation with a vast international readership. The history of the FT shows that the business is not resistant to innovation and change. The newspaper effectively uses print and online media, having expanded its focus to politics, technology, climate, and other topics (FT, 2022). Furthermore, the readership of the FT continues to grow, enduring such crises as the COVID-19 pandemic (FT, 2022). Based on these aspects, one may argue that the FT will continue thriving as a strong competitor in the media market.

References

Financial Times. (2022). Financial Times: An overview [PDF document].

Kynaston, D. (2018). A brief history of the Financial Times [PDF document].

Fake news is defined as news items that are deliberately and indubitably untrue with the aim of distorting public views of facts, events, and assertions. It concerns news that is promoted but that the promoter knows to be false because it is based on clearly inaccurate facts, unverifiable assertions, or untrue occurrences. Therefore, the logic of the argument will be weakened by fallacies, which are frequent errors in reasoning. Fallacies can be irrelevant or illegitimate arguments, frequently recognized by the absence of evidence to support their claims.

Analysis

In recent times, fake news has become prevalent, making it ever more challenging to discern the truth of an announcement. The common understanding is that fake news appears to be real news, but it is not. Even though there may be some gaps between documented facts and truth, fake news is considered news that seeks to hoodwink at least a segment of the audience. Duffy et al. state that 59% of fake news contains neither fabricated nor imposter information but constitutes reconfigured misinformation that includes manipulated content (10), misleading context, and misleading content. Identifying specific categories of misleading information is a subject of debate. However, we must be aware of many kinds of fake or deceptive news when assessing online stuff.

Evaluation

Today, people predominantly rely on different kinds of media to understand happenings across various parts of the world daily. The same media is used to spread and propagate fake news. In particular, the evolution of digital media has made it arduous to specify an authors deliberate action to mislead others. For example, any information spread through Facebook is tightly coupled with filter protrusions. Still, the sociability of online users plays a critical role in circulating fake news (Duffy et al. 5). Additionally, traditional newsrooms have employed skilled and experienced actors who take time to deliberate on the process of news construction. However, the editors may modify the original title of a news article to make it more clickable and boost its visibility over important information. As a result, the alteration may well result in unintended, misleading information.

There has yet to be an agreed-upon method for recognizing and categorizing various types of disinformation. This flaw also has to be explained in light of the circumstances, making it more critical than ever to recognize fallacies when determining the truthfulness of a claim. According to Duffy et al., a fallacy is a belief or claim based on flawed reasFallacies must be avoided (3). To make a lot be avoided since they are intended to undermine the argument. Ad hominem attacks, appeals to ignorance and authority, bandwagon fallacies, false dilemmas, red herrings, hasty generalizations, and slippery slope arguments are a few of the frequent varieties (Duffy et al. 2). Even though new ones appear every day, there are many different types of fallacies. However, several fallacies that are immediately recognizable are frequently employed.

Ad hominem fallacies focus on the person being attacked rather than the significant point of the argument. A claim that something is accurate simply because there is no opposition or the claim has not been refuted is known as an appeal to ignorance. An allegation that uses the advice of a respected individual as justification for it is called an appeal to authority and is false. Bandwagon fallacy results from a claim professed to be true because many others believe it. False dilemma fallacies appear as a statement offering no more than two ops. There are more than tare two options available. The red herring fallacy is used when a claim is made based on unimportant information to divert attention from the primary point of the conversation (Duffy et al. 12). When a statement is primarily based on hypotheses that have not been sufficiently supported by evidence, it is considered hasty generalization. Typically, it results in the development of stereotypes. The slippery slope fallacy is founded on the idea that a small action could result in an extreme result that might not be possible to control in the middle.

An instance of a piece containing errors appeared during the coronavirus pandemic when people were worried about their health. Based on SkyNews, a report titled Cancer Cases Surge Amid COVID-19 Lockdowns was published in Australia. It is immediately apparent that the statement from the news contains a fallacy known as the hasty generalization. When the article was released on August 13, 2020, insufficient research was done to conclude that COVID-19 lockdowns were to blame for the rise in cancer cases ((Duffy et al. 13)). The articles first sentence states, Hundreds of Australians are in danger of cancer and other major ailments because many have been delaying seeking medical attention due to fear of COVID-19 and the current lockdowns. The claim incorporates the bandwagon fallacy since it assumes that most people believe it is true.

According to the report, Chief Medical Officer of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre David Speakman predicted that a wave of cancer diagnoses and many other medical issues that were overlooked or neglected due to the COVID-19 epidemic will likely occur. (Cancer Cases Surge Amid COVID-19 Lockdowns 12). The article includes a Chief Medical Officers opinion, which presents a fallacy based on the use of authority. The fact that the officer offers an opinion to back up the news helps to make his testimony credible. The assertions made in the paper were unreasonable since there was no proof that the COVID-19 lockout contributed to the rise in cancer cases. It attempts to convince the audience that COVID-19 is at fault for the increase in cancer cases, which is often a bogus claim. Nevertheless, given the communitys dread of the alleged effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the author effectively used fallacies to push the story.

In conclusion, fake news has become prevalent in present-day society that seeks to mislead people into believing false opinions. Even as people rely on different media for news, the same media has been used to spread fake news despite existing controls. Fake news is spread through fallacious statements that contain faulty logic. There are many different and varied kinds of fallacies that can be used in spreading fake news, and more keeps developing. The article by SkyNews.Com propagated fake news using hasty generalization, bandwagon fallacy, and appeal to authority. The author succeeded in spreading fake news that ended up damaging society, given that fear was created in society regarding the COVID-19 disease. Therefore, the media has a role in spreading the truth to the population, not to harm. However, the media houses that take part in spreading false information need to pay the fine or rather suffer a jail term.

Works Cited

Cancer Cases Surge Amid COVID-19 Lockdowns. Skynews, Web.

Duffy, Andrew, et al. Too Good to Be True, Too Good Not to Share: The Social Utility of Fake News. Information, Communication & Society, vol. 23, no. 13, 2019, pp. 115, Web.

Introduction

At midnight, Siddhartha left the palace and was never heard from again. His young wife, son, and father all survived him. Giving up his cushy and comfortable life was Siddharthas first move toward enlightenment. Siddhartha gave up his material possessions and transformed into an ascetic (The Life of the Buddha [ Full BBC Documentary HQ] With English Greek Catalan Subs). Siddhartha traveled and looked for the truth, working with numerous teachers, learning meditation and yoga, and ultimately transitioning to teaching.

Challenges Siddhartha Faced in His Quest to Find Enlightenment

Siddhartha has a long way to go before achieving his ultimate enlightenment objective. He meets numerous new individuals while traveling, and they have a variety of effects on his life. Siddhartha encounters desire, greed, and heartbreak, among other things, throughout his journeys. A heros journey begins with them being challenged to conquer challenges in their everyday life to advance to bigger things. Siddhartha is prosperous in the everyday world, yet he is dissatisfied with his life.

The Middle Way of Peace and Harmony

Siddhartha was curious about all there was to understand about pain. Long stretches of fasting were observed by him, along with further self-inflicted agony. He continued to fast until he was almost dead, concluding that his demise would be useless (The Life of the Buddha [ Full BBC Documentary HQ] With English Greek Catalan Subs). He was aware that accurate fulfillment or pleasure could only be realized on a path of tolerance.

Conclusion

I believe that numerous individuals currently adopt this method of practicing mindfulness throughout the world since the Buddha became awake when he understood that everything in existence, from crawling ants to dying humans, is bound by pain. The Buddha realized this and found the best approach to deal with pain. In todays world, people should not wholly abstain from food and comforts or take luxurious baths. Still, they should exercise moderation instead to fully concentrate on gaining sympathy for others and enlightenment.

Work Cited

The Life of the Buddha [ Full BBC Documentary HQ] With English Greek Catalan Subs. archive.org, Web.

Introduction

Black operations 3 is the third installment of the black ops episodes, apart from other Call of Duty series like the modern warfare plot line. Black Ops 3 occurs in 2065, forty years after the incidents of Black Ops II, in a dismal dystopia. Multiple nations throughout the globe have built high-tech air defense systems that made air attacks ineffective. Therefore, the majority of battle among countries is conducted by clandestine operators fighting beside enemy territory. Science and technology have drastically altered both the terrain and the fate of the human species, with society aggressively rebelling and seeking to block further improvements hailed as progress by researchers.

The game demonstrates that military technology has become so advanced that robots play an important role in the fighting, and special soldiers have been created on the battlefront. Humans are seen as more mechanical than flesh and blood at this stage. Consequently, there is conjecture and dread around a potential robot invasion. As in past Black Operations chapters, the game features a squad of black ops troops with special soldier skills (Inderst and Schollas 212). Even though Call of Duty Black ops 3 is a game that has some drawbacks, it is considered to be a successful warfare game that utilizes science and technology to predict the future.

Why Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Is A Success

The Call of Duty Black ops 3 utilizes brain games. The six-hour drama is set in the coming years and, like other comparable science fiction works, features its technobabble. This pervasive technology enables humans to engage mentally with technology, weaponry, and other people. It introduced fantastic new skills and significant restrictions that altered how people experience playing Call of Duty. For instance, the player cannot utilize adversaries lost weapons since they are assigned to another persons brain; consequently, Black Ops 3 emphasizes innovative new fighting abilities (Inderst and Schollas 223).

The narrative maintains Treyarchs distinctive psychological horror approach but with a sci-fi twist. Beginning with the characters interactions with the ramifications of technology and the benefits it provides is intriguing. Black Ops 3s most significant alteration is the addition of specialized classes and baseline character layouts with extraordinary capabilities. This special skill may be a weapon that, when used properly, can be very lethal or a capability that typically offers the player a tactical edge over the opponent. This ability, along with Call of Dutys customary vast arsenal of weapons, allows for highly diverse gameplay that may be a little daunting initially (Inderst and Schollas 214).

Another success is the ability of human beings to interact psychologically with supercomputers, weaponries, and other individuals. This game may be the most extensive work of military fantasy ever created, which lends its campaign features a sheen they would not otherwise possess. This game is significant because the style the developers chose to depict the military reveals much about the connection between American society and the army. It represents and responds to human perspectives with a mixture of ideals and concepts on the military-industrial sector, planned to the sounds of explosives. At one moment, the character tears off a ladys hand for biometric scanning and then put the same woman into a blaze, a bionic limb pressing nonchalantly on the face of a dying human. Extreme dissonance is present whereby the machine often prevails in man vs. machine. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 explores, in fantasy epics, what it would be like if humans could cross the gap. This game raises the question of whether humans could escape dying using the right technology. This discovery would lead to the development of magnificent and terrifying troops (Hama 45).

Bio-augmentation, also known as human enhancement, includes using different neuro-technologies, such as brain implants, to enhance humans mental and physical capabilities. Bio-augmentation is a central motif in Black Ops 3, in which the player joins a squad of enhanced spec-ops troops that can sprint quicker, leap further, and analyze battlefield intelligence more rapidly (Inderst and Schollas 217). Every soldier has a Direct Neural Interface (DNI), a subdermal technology that goes directly to their nervous system and spinal cord and ties them to a software system. This innovation is reflected in the game as a tactical mode that enables co-op players to share data like the whereabouts of opposing forces and critical goal sites (Hama 70).

In the game, due to the additional abilities, eliminating more machines and other opponents is pretty enjoyable: you can either destroy things, rough them up, or manage the opponents and have them destroy things for fun. Every power tree supports a distinct way of playing, and the player cannot upgrade all three pathways without sacrificing bonus perks, weaponry modifications, and other benefits. Even at that, players can often only employ one kind at every level, so choosing a route is essential. In addition, this provides sufficient points to bolster the trusted primary weapon that appears more crucial than before. The chosen weapon will probably stay in the players possession for the whole level (Blundell et al. 34).

Drawbacks of Call of Duty Black Ops 3

The games release was met with overwhelmingly excellent reviews that bolstered peoples belief that Black Ops 3 could present one of the finest Call of Duty sensations in years, despite some setbacks. The narrative lacks intrigue. Black Ops 3 swiftly flails at themes of AI awareness and the bad things of interconnection, and its filled with expected plotlines. There are situations that I am sure were intended to be provocative and ethically ambiguous, but instead, they consist of excessive cursing and staring. Another drawback is focusing on violence, swearing, and foul language. Most children can not handle such violence because of the gruesome incidents, including burning, killing, or torturing (Stuart).

Conclusion

Black Ops 3 imagines a tomorrow wherein every soldiers combat experiences are promptly sent to a command center and other troops, not like in todays helmet cameras, but through the direct link to their central nervous system and optical capabilities. Indeed, this is an issue that military experts are currently considering. Black Ops 3s single-player narrative contains coarse words and sentences, but in the frantic online multiplayer fights, cussing is not the only concern. As an unpleasant consequence of online anonymity, name-calling, criticizing, and humiliation are commonplace. Nevertheless, if the negative is eliminated and the game is played by people who respect each other, this game delivers startling positive psychological effects.

Call of duty is an excellent game, but it includes a lot of smoking, violence, and swearing, but most adolescents can manage it. I would suggest the multiplayer mode for teenagers and the zombie mode for ages above 20 years. Parents must also be aware that material like blood and profanity may be disabled in the options. Nonetheless, there will be many gunfire and explosives that could scare children. Yes, there is violence and profanity, but its no more violent than most films that children usually see and contains no less profanity than present-day society. Black Ops 3s campaign also features a new difficulty level that could enhance the brain development of young people, and this is because it is realistic and quite challenging. In play activities, teammates may restore someone if injured, which could reflect in the players real life.

Works Cited

Blundell, Jason, et al. Call of Duty: Zombies 2. Dark Horse Books, 2019.

Hama, Larry, et al. Call of Duty  Black Ops 3. Dark Horse Books, 2016.

Inderst, Rudolf, and Sabine Schollas. Let Peace Be upon You. Krankheit in Digitalen Spielen, 2020, pp. 211230., Web.

Stuart, Keith. Does Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Predict the Terrifying Future of Warfare? The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, Web.

Historic Overview of the City

The foundation of the City

The City of Santa Clarita is one of the largest cities in California that is considered to be a bright example of edge city due to its rich history and favorable conditions for living. Although Santa Clarita was incorporated only in 1987, its foundation dates back to AD 450 marked by the advent of the Tataviam people, the Native American tribes that have successful trade relations with other neighboring communities (Boston and Santa Clarita Valley Historic Society, 2009, p 35).

The city is often called the navel of the universe because it was the ancient center of Native American trade (Boston and Santa Clarita Valley Historic Society, 2009, p. 10).

The second half of the eighteenth century witnessed a considerable clash of realities and peoples when Santa Clarita Valley community encountered Californias first governor Gaspar de Portola, the first white person who visited these lands. Since that time, the SCV territory had been considered as a tidbit for numerous invaders due to the resources it was preserving.

A major event

The City of Santa Clarita faced a lot of important events taken on its territory that considerably changed the course of history. One of those events is the discovery of gold in California on the Oak of the Golden Dream. In 1842, Francisco Lopez was the first who managed to document this discovery (Boston and Santa Clarita Valley Historic Society, 2009, p. 38). Therefore, this place has become the center of numerous disputes and stories concerning gold mining and people hunting for glory and wealth.

City Statistics

Ethnical/racial composition

The total population of Santa Clarita is 168.008 as fixed in 2006. It increased by 11.1 % in comparison with the 2000 statistics showing that the city population equaled to 151.088 (US Census Bureau, 2010). According to the US census 2000, the ethnic/racial ratio of people is predominantly composed of 79.5 % White population and 2.1 % Black people.

In its turn, the White population consists of 20.5 % Hispanic of any race, 5.2 % Asian people, 0.6 % American Indian and Alaska Natives, and, finally, 0.1 % Native Hawaiians. 8.5 % belong to other races (US Census Bureau, 2010). The rest of the white population (approximately 59 %) refers to Non-Hispanic Whites (US Census Bureau, 2010).

Household income

There are 50.787 of households in Santa Clarita where each person possessed approximately three household units. An average household income makes up $ 66, 717, and money income per capita is $ 26.841 (US Census Bureau, 2000). Judging from the results, the presented percentage is a bit above the average level in comparison is household income in California (US Census Bureau, 2000). The level of poverty in Santa Clarita is 7.8 % lower than that in California.

Cost of living

By the data submitted in December 2009, the cost of living index equals to 136.1. Taking into consideration the fact that the US average cost of a living index makes up 100, Santa Clarita has quite high standards of living. This information can also be proved by the level of poverty, which decreased by 1 % within 2000-2008 by the US Census Bureau (2000) and City-Data com. (2003).

Age/sex

About recent records provided by Data.com (2003), the percentage of females and males in July 2009 makes up 50.5 % (83.713) and 49.5 % (85.461) correspondently. This is a relatively ideal ratio, and it coincides with the average gender ratio in California.

Analyzing the statistics submitted by US Census Bureau (2000), the City has 7.8 % people whose age is under five years, 7.1 % people whose age is 65 and over, and 30.3 % people belonging to the age category of fewer than 18 years old. Consequently, those people whose age ranges from 18 to 65 occupy the largest ratio, which is 54.8 %. The average resident age equals to 33.4 years (City-Data.com 2003).

Educational Attainment

The situation in the sphere of education is relatively good in comparison with that in California. In particular, Santa Clarita has 87.6 % high school graduates whose age is 25 and over.

This category involves people who received a professional or specialized diploma from a college or university (US Census Bureau, 2000). 29.1 % belong to that population group who obtained a Bachelors degree being at the age of 25 and over (US Census Bureau, 2000). Comparing these figures with those provided by the US Education Statistics in general, Santa Clarita fits in the norms.

City Attractions

Interesting neighborhoods and their unique attributes

The City of Santa Clarita is one of the largest recreational centers with outstanding neighborhood parks, recreational facilities, and neighborhood programs. It also controlled five swimming pool centers located in residential parks until 2003. In 2002, the city decided to create an aquatic center, which consisted of three swimming pools (Gould, 2005, p. 27).

This recreational center offered various programs and learning-to-swim courses for different kinds of water activities. There are also other types of recreational activities and programs, and one of them is Neighborhood Leaf Out Program consisting in overall greening of Santa Clarita through educational programs, tree plantings, and proper maintenance of trees (City of Santa Clarita, 2010).

Attractions

The City of Santa Clarita has a lot of outstanding attractions. Among them is Six Flag Magic Mountain, the most well-known spot known by tourists (Wai, 2005). It is a theme park known for the collection of extreme rides. Aside from the recreational facilities, the city has a lot of museums and parks, historical and natural spots.

A special consideration deserves William S Hart Park and Museum, a mansion including an outstanding collection of the actors furnishings, Native American artifacts, and elements of Western art. Rancho Camulos Museum is National Historic sightseeing displaying the history of California. The landmark preserves the originality of Santa Claritas rural style environment.

Unique features

The major part of Santa Claritas buildings was erected in the 60s of the past century. However, the 90s saw another housing boom. Because housing prices are relatively reasonable, Santa Clarita is considered to be one of the fastest growing cities due to its rural location. The city also refers to one of the safest places to live in California (Wai, 2005, p 74).

Zoning

The City of Santa Clarita is composed of the following zones (See Appendix 1):

• Open Space;
• Residential Estate;
• Residential Planned Development (involving Residential Suburban, Residential Moderate, Residential Medium High and Residential High);
• Commercial Neighborhood (Brotzman and Webber, 2010).

Economic Activities

Major employment sectors (retail shops and manufacturers)

The employment is mostly concentrated in recreation zones where the major part of profit comes from the tourist business. In this respect, Six Flags Magic Mountains is in the lead of the employment, counting 4.500 workers (Santa Clarita.com, 2010). Other profitable zones are affiliated to Touring company Princess Cruises, Hero Mayo Newhall Hospital, HR Textron, etc. (Santa Clarita.com, 2010).

Major corporations

The city is also proud of aerospace manufacturing, bio-medical production, entertainment, and technology businesses. The former is one of the leading industries in California, providing prestigious jobs and high salaries (Santa Clarita.com, 2010). The aerospace production includes such branches as B & B Manufacturing, Woodward HRT, and Aerospace Dynamics International.

Biomedical production is divided into several prosperous biomedical businesses, including Advanced Bionics, Bioness, Apex Medical, Boston Scientific, and Neotech Products (Santa Clarita.com, 2010). Entertainment and technology segments can also be considered as highly developed zones of the city.

Tourism

Magic Mountain

As it has been mentioned before, the Magic Mountain is the main attraction and the main employer in Santa Clarita. It is regularly visited by tourists from all over the world (Wai, 2005).

Golf Courses

The City of Santa Clarita and neighboring districts, including Los Angeles, have numerous golf courses. In particular, it provides a Play Putt-Putt course at Mountasia Family Center (Santa Clarita Guide, 2005).

Resorts

Most of Santa Clarita resorts are often associated with recreational programs designed for tourists. Those resorts include Magic Mountains, Disneyland, and other recreational complexes (Santa Clarita.com). However, there are some fishing spots located in the Santa Monica Pier, in the Northern part of Santa Clarita (Wai, 2005, p. 228).

Appendix 1

Reference list

Brotzman, P. D., and Webber L. M. (2010). City of Clarita Staff Report. Master case 10-048. pp. 1-9.

City of Santa Clarita (2010). Neighboring Leaf Out Program. Web.

City of Santa Clarita (2010). Santa Clarita Attractions. Web.

City-Data.com (2003). Santa Clarita, California. Web.

Gould, R. (2005). Santa Clarita, California. Public Management, 87, p. 27

Jonson, B., and Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. (2009). Santa Clarita Valley. US: Arcadia Publishing.

Santa Clarita Guide (2005). Golf. Web.

Santa Clarita.com (2010). Major Employers in Santa Clarita. Web.

US Census Bureau (2000). State and County Quick Facts. Web.

Wai, J. (2005). Newcomers Handbook For Moving To And Living In Los Angeles: Including Santa Monica, Pasadena, Orange County, And The San Fernando Valley. US: First Book.