The theme of the coronavirus crisis is frequently discussed in media sources by individuals and professional organizations. Some authors prefer to identify a problem and offer solutions or give recommendations, and some people like to develop critics and underline the negative aspects of the issue. In his article “Coronavirus Is Harming the Mental Health of Tens of Millions of People in the U.S., New Poll Finds,” written for The Washington Post on April 2, 2020, Achenbach shares recent findings of the virus and its impact on mental health. Winch introduced his “Loneliness, Anxiety, Grief – Dealing with the Mental Impacts of the Coronavirus” in Boston Globe on April 21, 2020, to explain personal and public responsibilities. Both authors create argumentative writings and argue the consequences of the virus on human health and relationships. To predict the growth of the COVID-related mental health problems, the authors of the two news articles discuss the pandemic and its main characteristics but use different biases and sources, which leads to diversity in judgments.
COVID-19 is one of the urgent topics for analysis because of the necessity to take actions and responsibilities, and Achenbach and Winch are the writers who build different biases around health and actions. On the one hand, “it’s normal for people to be anxious and worried amid a highly disruptive health emergency that is shot through with uncertainties” (Achenbach). The coronavirus is unpredictable and hard to control, and people have to cooperate, communicate (distantly), and exchange available information to predict the growth of complications and health-related problems. On the other hand, “anxiety, sleep disruption, irritability, drops in mood, and even depression – all on a global scale” (Winch). Therefore, people expect governmental support to solve their mental health changes. These two articles prove that the coronavirus is dangerous, and the impossibility to think about the future frustrates and challenges millions of people around the world.
To strengthen their positions, Achenbach and Winch have to address additional sources and mention different opinions, so the former uses the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) findings, while the latter is interested in developing his subjective opinion. As well as many professional organizations and experts, the KFF decides to calm down society and show that a certain decline in worries about the COVID-19 crisis is observed (from 62% to 53%) (Achenbach). The author does not neglect that the situation remains unclear and poorly investigated, but the contributions cannot be ignored. In his turn, Winch wants to know, “How much damage our closest relationships will sustain by the time the crisis is over remains unclear.” He tries to understand what governments and institutions could do to offer effective solutions but fails to refer to credible sources and recent statistics. The main argument in this article is based on personal judgments and subjective knowledge.
In general, after reading the articles about the connection between the coronavirus and mental health changes, it is possible to support and criticize the authors, their biases, and their sources. Compared to Achenbach, who presents reliable statistical data from the KFF, Winch’s position is full of personal worries and guesses that many steps have to be taken to change the situation. The government solely cannot be responsible for the crisis, and ordinary citizens should consider their contributions. At the same time, the virus is neither health nor a social problem but a combination of factors that must be managed under effective leadership. The articles chosen for this analysis serve as good motivation for the government and ordinary citizens to look at the coronavirus from a different angle and think about new ways of coping with COVID-19.
Traditional and modern media forms are important in the enhancement of communication (Center for Media literacy, 2011). They are essential in eliciting social change and promoting knowledge acquisition. Different media forms target different audiences, and their popularity differs in relation to the type of information being transmitted. Print, broadcast, and digital media forms ensure that information is communicated at the local, national, and international levels. Newspapers and magazines are types of media that have been in existence for decades. In addition, the book industry also promotes the transfer of knowledge and information. The aim of the current research is to analyze the role of the media and assess the importance of newspapers, books, and magazines as media forms.
How, what, and why we use the media
The primary role of any type of media is the transfer of information. Fog (2013) acknowledges that the media keeps the public updated on issues occurring on local and global scales. Moreover, globalization and advancement in technology has enhanced the role of the media and hastened information transfer. There are various types of media, and they range from traditional to modern digital forms. The print form is the oldest type of media in which information is printed on a medium.
Examples include newspapers, magazines, and journals, among others. Although the popularity of print media has reduced drastically over the decade, a significant number of people still read newspapers and magazines. Broadcast media encompasses radio and television forms, which are still popular throughout the world (Center for Media literacy, 2011). Some of the most famous television networks in the United States include ABC, CBS, and NBC, among others. The broadcast media has been in existence for over 50 years and has been pivotal in transmitting information about sports, politics, weather, and the economy.
Fog (2013) notes that modern digital media has overshadowed the print and broadcast media. Digital media enables the transfer of information on digital platforms such as phones, computers, and IPads. The information can be easily copied and downloaded. Additionally, the information is transmitted faster in comparison to the analog forms. Presently, social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram, and Myspace have become the most popular digital forms of communication among the youth. Social networking enables people to interact and communicate faster and more effectively.
According to UNESCO (2014), the media plays a critical role in the transmission of information regarding issues happening throughout the world. It ensures that the public is constantly updated on important social, economic, and political issues. The society relies on the media for information, which is important at the local and international levels. In addition, the media is educative as it plays a role in the transfer of knowledge to the public.
Media forms such as the televisions and newspapers mostly focus on those topics that are likely to provoke public debate. Such issues could be economic or political. UNESCO (2014) also notes that political issues communicated through the media determine the political course taken by leaders of various governments. The mass media acts as a “watchdog” and keeps the government in check with regard to the use of public funds and effective leadership.
In this regard, Dwivedi and Pandey (2013) indicate that the mass media shapes the economic and political agenda of the nation. It ensures that the public acquires information about certain issues that are important in society. In this respect, people become more knowledgeable and updated on important issues affecting them. In addition, people are able to devise ways in which various issues within the community are developed or improved to enhance their lives. In regard to governance, the presence of media enables the communities to develop ways in which the lives of the people are improved (UNESCO, 2014).
Fog (2013) acknowledges the role of the media in shaping culture. An example is a popular culture, which was popularized through televisions, magazines, and newspapers. As a result, the culture was assimilated by various groups in the United States and continues to be popular until today. Dwivedi and Pandey (2013) note that the culture of society is shaped according to what the media deems right. An example is the fashion trend, which is adopted depending on what the media represents and deems fashionable. Additionally, the media also popularized the hip-hop culture, and it became part of the cultural identity of African Americans.
Advertisements in magazines and newspapers also tend to shape the behavior and culture of society. Fog (2013) indicates that the media has played a major role in the adoption of western culture and values by other nations. Media channels such as Disney have played a crucial part in shaping the values and attitudes of children. Specifically, children depend on these channels for knowledge on what is right or wrong in the society.
There is a likelihood that the images transmitted by the media enhance sedentary lifestyles and materialistic lives. Since the society is majorly dependent on the media for knowledge and information, it is possible for people to adopt the values presented by the media. Such cultural adaptation is expected to have both negative and positive impacts on the lives of the people. Negative, because it can lead to the loss of an individual’s culture and the adaptation of a different culture.
Positive, because the media is likely to instill constructive values and beliefs among individuals in the society. In summary, the media is an integral part of the modern society and shapes its culture and perspectives. The dependency of the society on the media for information ensures the success and popularity of the various types of media and promotes knowledge and literacy.
How, what, and why the book industry is important
Stockar (2006) indicates that the book industry has been in existence for many centuries and has played a crucial part in the promotion of knowledge. The book industry consists of many subsectors that enhance knowledge in different disciplines. Some of the disciplines include; education, art, children’s books, religion, fashion and design, history, and climate. Different books have different formatting and color depending on the kind of messages being transmitted (Pearson, 2012).
An example is educational books, which consist majorly of black texts and limited images. On the contrary, children books contain colorful images that enhance their learning capabilities. Metzger (2009) indicates that the industry has been undergoing transformation over the recent decade to incorporate advancement in technologies. As a result, e-books have been developed to meet the demands of the digital era. Moreover, there have been shifts in the global production and distribution of books as many multinational companies join the industry. Therefore, the industry has been making millions of dollars annually and expanding despite the decline in production of printed media.
This is evident in the case of a company like Amazon, which makes billions of dollars annually from book sales. Stockar (2006) indicates that the existence of the education sector has played a vital role in promoting the survival of the book industry. Provided there is demand for books in the academic arena, they will always exist. Additionally, novels have made a significant impact in the book industry and novelists have been the main source of success in the industry. This is because the readers have their favorite authors and would do anything to read anything written by them.
Pearson (2012) reports that the ability of books to promote knowledge is the reason why the book industry is still a success after many years. Thus, the importance of the book industry lies on the impact that the books have on the lives of individuals. Books promote learning. Learning is a vital process in the lives of human beings as it boosts human development. This could explain why books have been present since ancient civilization.
They act as source of information that is transferred throughout history. Perhaps this is why one can read about ancient civilizations such as the Mesopotamia today. Metzger (2009) recognizes the importance of the book industry in improving the verbal abilities of individuals. Children are introduced to books at tender ages to enable them become better communicators (Stockar, 2006). The books also ensure that children improve on their pronunciation and vocabularies.
According to Stockar (2006), reading books makes people knowledgeable and smarter. This is true in the case of educational books used in school as they offer an outstanding wealth of knowledge. Academic books are based on evidence-based research and hence assist individuals to gain more knowledge on various topics. As a result, they promote the creation of exceptional professionals in the employment sector. Books are important in learning about our culture and history. In this view, future generations are able to learn and understand how and why their culture developed. Thus, they promote cultural pride in the society and enable the transfer of cultural values from one generation to another.
Metzger (2009) acknowledges the importance of books in entertainment. Books are fun to read and guarantee that time is better managed especially by young people. Books are more thrilling than modern mass media forms. In this regard, books promote the reduction of stress and encourage relaxation among the readers. They tend to provide solutions to various issues that affect the personal and public lives of individuals.
An example is motivational books, which help readers to improve on some challenging aspects of their lives. Religious books also offer spiritual guidance and motivation to the readers. The solutions provided by these books tend to shape lives and provide guidance on issues that are difficult to deal with. In reference to Metzger (2009), books are used by entrepreneurs to make them exceptional leaders. This is because they provide them with information on how to deal with their employees and motivate them better. Some of the books contain information that helps in creating strong images and maintaining positive attitudes toward leadership.
As aforementioned, the most important aspect of the book industry is broadening knowledge. This knowledge ensures better communication between individuals (Stockar, 2006). Additionally, a person’s personality is judged by his or her ability to communicate to others indicating that books are a critical part of life. Conversely, poor communication has limitations as it creates a poor impression.
In conclusion, it is clear that the book industry plays a pivotal role in the lives of human beings. In the absence of books, the industry would not have the impact that it has today. Thus, the importance of the book industry can only be assessed through analyzing the role of books in the society. In summary, it is clear that books are a form of media as their sole purpose is to promote communication and enhance knowledge.
How, what, and why reading newspapers at homes is important
Hansen (2015) explains that newspapers are forms of print media that have been around for decades. This form of media provides a host of solutions on salient issues in the society. Thus, most homes buy newspapers on a daily basis to ensure that they are always updated on these issues. The front page of the newspaper determines whether the readers will buy it or not. This explains why major newspaper agencies such as the New York Times concentrate on headlines which are controversial or are likely to elicit massive public debate.
In the United States, there are daily and weekly newspapers. In specific, there are almost 1700 daily newspapers, which are read by approximately 114 million individuals. Moreover, the newspapers are mostly published twice daily. They cover local, national, and international issues that relate to politics, economy, and social aspects. This sector is competitive and the publishers work hard to have the best headlines to ensure that their newspapers are the best.
Weekly newspapers usually target residential populations near cities or rural regions. Unlike the daily newspapers, the weekly forms majorly focus on issues affecting the target communities. Examples of the most famous newspapers include; USA Today, Times of London, and The Guardian among others. The delivery of message in these newspapers determines the kind of readers that they have. UNCP (2014) notes that newspapers cover topics that include politics, entertainment, education, and sports.
People buy newspapers in their homes despite the presence of broadcast and digital media forms. According to the University of Victoria (2015), newspapers are affordable and are crucial in promoting literacy among individuals. This is because they play a role in educating, informing, and entertaining people. They also act as mediums that inform the population about the actions of the government. As a result of the diversity of topics presented in the newspapers, they are popular among the young and the old.
Similar to the role of books, newspapers promote efficient use of language and communication. Hansen (2015) states that this form of media promotes critical thinking as it enables the readers to question the integrity of the information published. This is particularly evident during political campaigns and issues that relate to the reliability of the government. The University of Victoria (2015) indicates that newspapers have a universal presentation in which the information is first outlined, and the details explained in later pages. The headlines enable the readers to determine whether they want to read the newspaper or not.
The presence of newspapers in homes can also provoke healthy debates among family members. Moreover, individuals are able to compare the information on the newspapers with reports from the television, radio, or the internet. Hansen (2015) explains that newspapers are crucial in the dissemination of information regarding significant issues in the society. In this view, they are able to change individual’s attitudes about various matters.
They also improve reading habits and enhance comprehension of political and economic topics that may not be well understood through other media forms. As a result of the advancement of digital media, newspapers are now available in electronic forms. This has increased the number of readers and the accessibility of newspapers. In conclusion, newspapers are a form of traditional media and continue to be popular after many decades.
How, what and why the magazine is decrying
Unlike newspapers, magazines provide a more comprehensive analysis of a particular topic. The University of Victoria (2015) states that the publishing process of magazines is lengthy in comparison to that of newspapers. Moreover, this form of media has editorial calendars that give a schedule of the issues planned on an annual basis. The magazines focus on different issues depending on the emphasis of the publishing companies.
Some magazines for example, focus on lifestyle while others concentrate on cooking or sports. The editors of magazines should ensure that the materials published are worth reading and capture the interest of the readers. Despite the contribution of these media forms in the promotion of trends and values, they have been less significant in comparison to other types of media. This is because they are expensive to print and publish and most companies cannot afford the costs. However, such limitations are slowly being eliminated by the presence of digital media. The popularity of magazines has declined throughout history (UNCP, 2014).
The increased popularity of digital media, development of the film industry, and advancement of digital technology are some of the aspects speculated to cause a decline in the popularity of magazines. Despite these limitations, there are three unique characteristics of these media forms that explain their existence in the modern society. First, they easily adapt to changes in social and lifestyle patterns. Second, advanced technology has pushed their publishing cost down.
Lastly, readers tend to be attached to specific magazines and hence continue to buy them despite the decline in popularity. The editors and publishers of magazines have been known to transform their contents depending on the preferences of the audience. Additionally, they undertake research to determine the issues that are deemed interesting or important by majority of the readers. This could explain why magazines take longer to publish in comparison to newspapers.
Lazare (2014) acknowledges that various magazines have been critiqued in the past due their covers and content. Some of the most common accusations include over sexualization of the images. In this view, such images impact negatively on the readers and limit the popularity of the magazines. UNCP (2014) explains that some magazines unlike newspapers present explicit images of male and female models. Such images tend to have negative influence of the lives of young people.
The pictures of slim female models on the covers have been one of the major causes of criticism toward these forms of media. Such images tend to depict the society as being more acceptable of young and thin women in comparison to ‘plus sized’ females. In addition, young people grow up believing the contents of the magazines. This can affect their self-esteem in cases where they do not resemble the images presented. According to Lazare (2014), these media forms have been accused of creating unrealistic standards that the society is required to live up to.
The magazine publishing companies have constantly faced lawsuits due to their negative portrayal of celebrities and other influential personalities. Additionally, most of the images portrayed in these forms appear too perfect, which is unlikely to be the case in real life. However, it is important to note that the negative publicity is majorly directed toward fashion and lifestyle magazines.
Despite the negative portrayal of the magazines, they have played a significant role in shaping the culture of the society. In reference to Lazare (2014), entertainment magazines have transformed the mainstream journalism and increased the number of readers. Additionally, they tend to cover many aspects that are also presented in other media forms. Readers also buy these magazines to understand the lives of popular celebrities in the society.
One of the most common entertainment magazines is the Cosmopolitan, which has been successful for several decades due to the number of fans addicted to its contents. UNCP (2014) notes that the development of teen magazines has presented a platform that young people can relate with. As a result of the nature of some mainstream magazines with regard to their negative images, teen magazines have been developed to provide positive information that enhances the lives of young people.
The influence on younger audiences promotes the survival and popularity of the media form. The availability of different forms of magazines ensures that the interests of different readers are met (University of Victoria, 2015). An example is the sports magazine, which is popular among sports lovers. Educational magazines also promote the transmission of knowledge and language abilities among the readers. Based on this assessment, it is clear that different types of magazines play different roles among the audiences and elicit different responses.
Despite the setbacks in the past, the success of the magazine industry today is an indication that this form of media will overcome other challenges in the future. It is therefore safe to conclude that magazines like other forms of media are important as they enhance communication and educate the readers about various issues that affect them.
References
Center for Media literacy. (2011). 20 Important reasons to study the media. Web.
Dwivedi, P. K., & Pandey, I. (2013). Role of the media in social awareness. International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 1(1), 67-70. Web.
Fog , A. (2013). The supposed and the real role of mass media in modern democracy. Web.
Hansen, F. (2015). Perceived instrumentality and value importance of newspaper information. Web.
Lazare, S. (2014). TIME Magazine criticized for ‘malicious’ anti-teacher cover. Web.
Metzger, C. (2009). Books as history: The importance of books beyond their texts (review). Web.
Pearson, D. (2012). Books as history: The importance of books beyond their texts. London: The British Library and Oak Press. Web.
Stockar, D. v. (2006). The importance of literacy and books in children development. Web.
UNCP. (2014). Print Media . Web.
UNESCO. (2014). Free media contribute to good governance, empowerment and eradicating poverty. Web.
University of Victoria. (2015). Books, journals, newspapers, magazines. Web.
Newspapers have been used in different parts of the world as one effective means of communication that is widely used. The newspaper press has been in effect as early as the 17th century, with civilizations using it to pass information to the mass population. The first English newspaper was first published in England in 1622 and for the following decades, small sheets and pamphlets became the main source of passing printed information to different parts of England and America. The first newspaper to be published in America was known as Public Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestic and was mainly focused on business issues. The early newspapers later developed into concrete publications that became available on a more regular basis in different parts of the countries (Curran, 2003).
According to Routledge (2008), the American newspaper press grew significantly over the next century, and they changed their focus from business matters to the day to day political issues. The growth in the newspaper press had become significant by the end of the 19th century with the publications gaining great publicity and the advancement in technology making them more reliable and better. The New York Sun was one paper that had gained widespread readership in different parts of New York by the late 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century.
The development of more effective and quick printing methods resulted in the rise of the use of newspapers all over the world and the newspaper press was at all times prepared to capture any events that were taking place which were of interest to the readers. By the beginning of the 20th century, the press had become well versed with the appropriate ways of capturing news and putting it on print. This study focuses on the factors that led to the rise of the newspaper press and in turn caused its climax in the early 20th century (Routedge, 2008).
Reasons why the newspaper press was at its apogee in the first half of the 20th century
The beginning of the 20th century was not just significant for the print media, but also for the changes that were taking place in the society at large. The major forces that drove the press to its apogee in the first part of the 20th century were industrial revolution and urbanization. Technological development, which had been improving since the 1880s, had its major impact in the newspaper press rooms in most of the countries. The tedious and time-consuming process of typesetting manually was replaced by a more advanced typesetting machine that enabled its user to type entire lines from a keyboard (Engel, 1996).
Engel (1996) also notes that, an engraving method of converting drawings into etchings also led to widespread use of pictures in the newspapers which would be used to pass information more clearly. The process publication was also made faster and this resulted to more people having access to the papers at reduced prices. Thus, by mid 20th century, the high rate of technological achievements had given the newspaper press a productive capacity as well as great power over the lives of its readers. Printing methods continued to improve as the technology improved in different parts of the world and especially in U.S and this saw a dramatic rise in the publication of newspapers.
Technological advances in the newspaper press would not have been meaningful if there were not a mass number of readers having access to the newspapers. The development of metropolitan cities and other urbanized states through industrialization gave the newspapers a wide coverage and created their populace. In the late 19th century, the US economy, for instance, had expanded and new metropolitan states were formed, which resulted in the newspapers having a mass audience of readers. Papers like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal were established in the 20th century with an aim of informing people about the political and economic aspects of the different states in the country; all this as a result of the development and expansion of the metropolitan states and cities (Routledge, 2008).
According to Engel (1996), another factor that led to the climax of the newspaper usage in different parts of the world was the improvement in the nature of their contents. With the use of the technology, the press was able to release different types of papers that were focused more on the local issues than on international affairs. This resulted to more people developing interest in having to use the papers to become well updated on local issues. The press, with its diverse publications was able to target all regions and hence make the publications more popular.
The high levels of literacy in different parts of the world especially in the developed countries raised the number of users of newspapers and this made publication more profitable and the press was able to release more papers and reach out to more people in the different regions. With the subsequent changes in the world’s economic and political aspects, people developed the desire to be informed on the progress and since the press provided more detailed information, the high number of literate people opted for the newspapers to gather the information they needed (Routledge, 2008).
The number of papers that were printed on daily basis greatly increased as the industrial revolution continued to take impact. Engel (1996) notes that, the printing process was made faster and more effective by the industrial revolution and as the newspaper press continued advancing, it was able to publish pictorial newspapers and therefore attract more readers. The industrial revolution also facilitated more accurate news reporting on events that were taking place; the events of American Civil War in the late 19th century were accurately published in the local and international newspapers due to the industrial revolution that had made newspapers a dynamic means of communication.
The newspaper press power in the 20th century
Consciously or unconsciously, the world has been experiencing a major standardization process brought about by the print media, which many countries especially the developing are yet to adapt to. With the rise in the dominance of the use of newspapers, many countries have been made to enforce the standards that are needed in printing newspaper and this has greatly affected the free usage of the local language. Culture has been replaced with rigid standards that must be taken into consideration while enhancing the quality of newspapers (Williams, 1998).
Curran (2003) argues that, the end of the 19th century brought with it significant adjustments in the role of the newspapers in different parts of the world. Due to their wide coverage, newspapers were easily used to influence the political structure of most countries and this brought a new dimension on the perception that people had to the print media. The colonial press, for instance, had become a powerful tool in America that it was used to make the colonialists revolt against the English people. Before the beginning of the 20th century, newspapers hardly had any impact in the development of public opinion. However, after the year 1900, the newspapers became the key determinants of every public opinion. By 1900, newspapers had become the key generators of most of the world’s culture.
According to Curran (2003), the newspaper press significantly gained power in the cities and states that were developed through urbanization. By identifying the diversified way of life in the developed countries’ cities, the metropolitan newspaper press helped to make that diversity appreciated in different parts of the world. The news and stories that they covered was directed to the modern city life and people desired to have this information. Any changes that arose were brought out in the newspapers and the society became dependent on the papers to embrace any events that took place. This attitude of the society towards the newspapers made their information more plausible and gave them the means of taking control over the mass media.
In earlier years, newspapers were considered by their readers as a channel for extending and sharing ideas and information. However, with the change in the social structure of people in the urban areas, the daily papers were taken to be interpreter of the readers’ own experience. The papers seemed to have taken control of the people’s way of perceiving things. The newspaper technology had begun to omit the direct and physical aspect of life and most users became passive in their way of reasoning and creating new ideas (Routledge, 2008).
According to Routledge (2008), some areas of culture that were not directly controlled by the newspaper, like sporting events, became dependent on the press for their economic existence. The press had to come in to promote their commercial success through advertising and creating awareness to the mass audience. The newspaper resulted in the idea of enhancing public relations and through its exposure in the newspaper media, new ways of cultural and political ideas that were emerging became accepted and more clearly understood.
Impact of the newspaper press on politics during the first half of the 20th century
The newspaper development in the 20th century did not only influence the social aspect of people but the political aspect as well. With the indigenous popular culture in most parts of the world before the beginning of the 20th century, the people’s political way of life was characterized by a body of regulations and observances that had been formulated from the people’s culture. Towards the end of the 19th century, the political structures were altered by the popularization of the newspapers as people tried to adapt to the new developments. The press was able to control the way people acted towards the existing government through the information put on paper (Curran, 2003).
The persuasive power of information and ideas in newspapers was given greater force by the rise of display advertising that combined verbal ideas with pictorial illustrations. The press was able to display political events that were likely to affect the masses’ attitude towards the government in pictorial representations to make the event more real. The New York World, for instance, was used to combine both the good news and the sensitive issues in pictorial images to direct people’s ideas towards making a decision or acting in a particular manner. It focused on political news and it could cover all events including those of the America’s civil war (Curran, 2003).
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be argued that the newspaper press was able to gain formidable power in most of the developed countries in the continent and the penetration of the press into the culture of people can be seen to have had a significant impact. Before the beginning of the 20th century, not much had taken place in the press media and there was not much influence on the people’s cultures. However, with the beginning of the 20th century, industrial development and urbanization greatly enhanced the media’s power and this in turn resulted to the media influencing the political as well as social way of people during this period.
The earlier decades of the 20th century were therefore of significance for the history o media. The period saw the rise of the newspaper to a dominant state in the media industry until new forms of communication were later invented. The results of the apogee of the newspaper press in the first half of the 20th century can therefore be said to have resulted in the growth of mass media.
Works Cited
Curran, J and Seaton, J. Power without Responsibility: The Press and Broadcasting in Britain: UK; Routledge, 2003.
Crisell, A. An Introductory History of British Broadcasting: UK; Routledge, 2002.
Engel, M. Tickle the Public: One Hundred Years of the Popular Press: New York; Phoenix, 1996.
Payne, G. History of Journalism in the United States: New York; D. Appleton and Company, 2007.
Routledge, J. Chapters in the History of Popular Progress: Chiefly in Relation to the Freedom of the Press and Trial by Jury: Kessinger Publishing, LLC, 2008.
Williams, K. Get Me a Murder a Day! A History of Mass Communication in Britain: Arnold, 1998.
Newspapers are a means through which information is conveyed to the reader. However, there are different facets that are involved while conveying messages to the reader. The Washington Post is an example of a newspaper which will be used in this context for analysis with regard to “Philadelphia Escalated its Conflict with an Anarchist Group”.
The topic can make one to believe that there is a certain group trying to overthrow the government in place but, this is not the case. This is a newspaper analysis on the aspect of class differences, which apparently has been painted a different picture by the newspaper headlines.
The photograph depicts two different racial groups, the black and the whites. This is an implication that there exist two different types of classes. A photograph is an “object that has been chosen, composed, structured, worked on and treated based on professional, ideological and aesthetic norms, which are various factors of connotation” (cited in Bignell 98).
The two racial groups are a representation of the different classes that exist in Philadelphia. Price (431) has shown how the two groups suggest two types of classes: the wealthy and superior verses the poor and suppressed. This is illustrated by the white man who is neatly dressed and represents formality and authority while the three other men are a symbol of informality and submission.
Classism is also endorsed by the fact that there is unequal representation brought out by the two groups. The three black men as opposed to one white man tell it all about the inequality and injustice that prevails. The two groups are paradigms of the different cultural affiliations and social classes present in Philadelphia.
Cultural differences should not be used to point out a certain group of people as an anarchist as reported in the article. Unfortunately, this is the case in Philadelphia as the poor are seen as ‘White trash’ (Price, 431-435).
The photograph as declared by Carter in his ‘Semiotic Analysis of Newspaper Front-Page Photographs’, is used to portray a certain kind of attitude. Both groups connote lack of sentimentality. This can be attributed to the fact that there is some kind of resentment towards each other due to the differences in social class, not forgetting the conflicts involved.
The white man in the photograph is MOVE’s lawyer, a responsibility he has assumed out of obligation. He does not care about the black people who in this case are the suppressed minority characterized by poverty, illiteracy and ignorance.
The white lawyer is therefore representing the group due to the returns associated with this position and not because he cares for the black people, the poor. Robert Guzzardi has also been referred to as MOVE’s lawyer but his talk as indicated in the article, does not correspond to this role (Quinn and Flood A4).
According to the headlines, one expects to find an incomparable level of conflict between Philadelphia state and the ‘MOVE’ group. Apparently, this is not the case and the setting up of the blockade is not called for.
The demeanor of the ‘MOVE’ is one that is connoted by poverty, ignorance and illiteracy, away from the upheld perception that they rebel against the authority set in place. The cause of conflict as implied in the article can be solved through a consensus after arriving at a conclusion as implied by the photograph, despite not being the case.
The main theme of the article as observed from the headlines is that there is escalated dispute between the state of Philadelphia and the supposed ‘anarchist group’ going by the name ‘move’. Typographic coding has been used to grasp the attention of the reader.
In showing the emphasis of the conflict between Philadelphia state and the ‘MOVE’, the article has used capital letters while referring to these two groups. On the contrary, a detailed examination of the contents of the newspaper indicates that the move group is not an anarchist as reported. The difference is with reference to cultural beliefs, values and social class.
The large sized photograph and the eye catching headlines leave the reader in an indecisive status. What is what? Conflict, or there is more to the façade of conflict that has been pointed out in the headlines. The picture, contrary to the headlines, shows some dialogue taking place between two sides. At a glance, it is quite obvious that something is amiss here as the headlines and the photograph convey different messages.
The main war is on equality with regard to power and culture, and not treason. Contrary to what one may expect, there is no exchange of fire between MOVE and the blockade. This is a clear show that ‘MOVE’ is not an anarchist as stated.
Linguistically, the term ‘escalates’ and ‘anarchist group’ have been used to suggest tension and segregation thereby indicating resentment, hostility and displeasure. The article implies a connection with Philadelphia but maintains a distance with the anarchist group. Familiarity of the elite individuals in state is evident whereas details about ‘MOVE’ are lacking hence, maintaining a distance between this group and the reader.
MOVE is seen as a criminal gang and at no one time has the article supported this group in any way. Several allegations have been made and are thought to be linked with ‘MOVE’ but there is no single evidence of this.
Photographs, typographic codes and language are some of the elements that are used to analyze a newspaper. These elements can present a certain picture based on composition and appropriate structuring. However, it takes more than a mere glimpse to actually get the actual message. A thorough content analysis of any paper is very essential so as to obtain the actual message being conveyed.
Works Cited
Bignell, J. Media Semiotics: An Introduction. Manchester: Manchester Press. 1997.
Carter, Paul. A Semiotic Analysis of Newspaper Front-Page Photographs. 2000. Web.
Price, Angelina. Working Class Whites. In Readings for Analytical Writings. Farris, Christine. (Ed). Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2007.
Quinn, Jim & Flood, Ralph. Philadelphia Escalates its Conflict with an Anarchist Group. The Washington Post. 1978.
Writing is a skill with many different genres. In the case of writing an article for the Times Newspaper and academic writing, they both differ in their objectives and in the audience they cater to. Newspaper articles cater to a very heterogeneous audience, and hence it is best written in an informal matter. On the other hand, academic writing is aimed at students, scholars and researchers, and hence it is to be written in a formal manner adhering to certain norms and standards.
Thus, while writing for the newspapers means writing for the majority, academic writing is for the learned and scientific minority. The very nature of academic writing requires the writer to explore deeper underlying principles, theories and concepts, whereas the very nature of newspaper article writing requires that the reader is practically oriented or socially oriented (MU, 2008). Apart from these differences, there are also some others that differentiate academic writing from newspaper writing.
The most obvious differences are: Academic writing should never be personal writing and should stick to topics within the framework of the subject. There are no such boundaries in the case of newspaper articles. One can write about any topic for newspapers as long as it is interesting. Again, in writing newspaper articles, it is possible to include personal judgments and evaluations, which may be measured by your feelings and thoughts. This is not allowed in academic writing, where the focus is on facts backed by data.
Newspaper articles are limited by the number of words but do not have the need to stick to a particular structure, punctuation or grammar. It is typically informal, and hence it is perfectly acceptable to deploy colloquialisms, casual expressions, and abbreviations, like “that’s cool”, “by the way…” etc. To write for newspapers, it is not necessary to have a college or university education (Waters and Devlin, 2008). One must be able to write and express in a natural manner. While newspaper articles are generally written in a casual tone with lots of colourful dialogues, descriptions and quotations, academic writing is written more formally on a scientific template that allows it to include vast literature review, experimental data, and observations by researchers and findings based on scientific measures.
Academic writing needs a kind of structure such as a beginning, middle, and end or introduction, body and conclusion (MU, 2008). This simple structure is typical of an essay format, as well as other assignment writing tasks, which may not have a clearly articulated structure (MU, 2008). Academic writing in English is linear, which means it has one central point or theme and every part contributes to the mainline of argument without digressions or repetitions (Gillett, 2008). Its objective is to inform rather than entertain. As well as this, it is in the standard written form of the language. There are six main features of academic writing: complex, formal, objective, explicit, hedged, and responsible (Gillett, 2008).
The differences between writing articles for newspapers and academic writing may be studied under these six heads. In academic writing, it is important to use written language. Such language is characterized by longer words, greater vocabulary and more grammatical complexity compared to spoken language. In the case of newspaper article writing, spoken language may be used, which is fairly simple and easily comprehensible. Academic writing is relatively formal and does not allow the use of colloquial words and expressions. Moreover, the style of writing is more objective in academic writing, the main emphasis being on the information that is being presented and the arguments.
Newspaper writing needs to be entertaining, and hence informal style is best. In academic writing, it is the responsibility of the writer to make clear to the reader the various relationships in the text (Gillett, 2008). Abstract forms and their component parts must be described and their links to other abstract forms, as well as where they are positioned in relation to a general, overall system. This is not so in newspaper writing, where the writer can adopt a casual structure in the article. In academic writing, it is necessary to make decisions about one’s stance on a particular subject or the strength of the claims one is making.
On the other hand, in newspapers, it is possible to write personal opinions and general feelings that are not backed by data, and also, it is possible to write open-ended articles that do not take any particular stance on an issue. In academic writing, it is absolutely necessary to provide evidence and justification for any claims that are made. Citing the work of other authors is central to academic writing because it indicates that the writer has read the literature, understood the ideas, and has integrated these issues and varying perspectives into the assignment task (Waters and Devlin, 2008). Newspaper writing makes no such demands.
Thus, academic writing is considered more valid and reliable, though difficult to read and understand.
Bibliography
Gillett, Andy (2008). Using English for Academic Purposes: Features of Academic writing. Web.
MU (Massey University) (2008). Some Differences between Academic Writing and Other Writing Contexts. Web.
The target market for newspapers is traditionally persons 15 years and above. However, this is the generalized market. Newspaper positioning entails dissemination of information to masses. However, as noted before, this appeal is declining because of the entry of internet, which aids in quick dissemination of information. This has greatly reduced the influence of a printed newspaper (Farhoomand, 2007).
To remain relevant appropriate repositioning is required. Printed newspapers need to have particular themes that slightly deviate from the traditional role of disseminating information while keeping that role alive. The product needs to have other appeals because by the time a newspaper reports about certain events, many people will have known about them through internet (Farhoomand, 2007).
According to US census data, close to 65% of all people in the United States use internet daily for at least one purpose: check mail, communicate, and search for information, among others. A large number of those people use internet to know about the happenings around them (US Department of Commerce 2012).
The printed newspaper needs to have investigative reports, discourses on social issues such as health, fitness, crime, and government. Much overhaul should also be directed towards readjusting the newspapers to fit the urgency with which the current generation attaches to things. Additionally, instead of using traditional reporters, the newspapers may revert to engaging everyone. This participation may help in making the stories friendlier to the consumer (US Department of Commerce 2012).
Types of Research Needed to Reposition this Product
To reposition the traditional newspaper successfully, relevant stakeholders need to carry out extensive research to understand the market. First, it is imperative to understand the young generation that is more inclined towards using internet.
The age group of 0 to 45 years has the most practical understanding of internet technology. This is because they either were born in the internet age or were there when the internet revolution occurred. The characteristics that define this age group are fundamental in any meaningful repositioning.
The above qualitative research should be accompanied by relevant quantitative research to have a comprehensive outlook. For example, understanding how quickly newspapers’ readership is declining is crucial in forming a decision.
A research may be carried out to ascertain what percentage of the population still buys a newspaper and the reason for doing that. If they buy newspapers because they find business links, find obituaries, or the newspapers have information that is more credible, this is exactly how the newspaper should plan to market itself to the masses (Pew Research Center 2012).
Methods to Use to Increase Adoption Rates
Various methods may be used to shore up adoption rates of the traditional newspaper. First, it is important to ensure that there is a thorough understanding of the target market. This will ensure that the needs of that market are adequately met. Second, the newspaper as it is currently issued needs to change.
Statistics show that most people are increasingly adopting use of internet. The internet has compounded an already sophisticated consumer base. To understand this demographic, it is imperative for the stakeholders to carry out extensive research (US Department of Commerce 2012).
Third, I would make it interesting to read newspapers by deviating from the traditional role of giving information plainly. Other additional features may be incorporated to make reading a newspaper more interesting. This may include attached music CDs that are specifically tailored to a certain population whose characteristics have already been studied. For example, a CD with pictures of a cost friendly travel destination for people in college may be attractive (Pew Research Center 2012).
Fourth, as many pundits may have noted, information is supposed to be freely disseminated. Hence, I would deviate from selling newspapers and instead give them free to strategic markets segments. That way I would concentrate on selling advertising space and my selling point would be the credibility and quality associated with the newspaper. I will also bargain on the massive readership when looking for advertisers.
Last, I would concentrate on making weekend editions quite interesting with a mixture of social, political, human interest, and analysis stories. This is because, according to US Census data, people read those editions at almost twice the rate they read weekday editions (US Department of Commerce 2012). In addition, the media houses need to stop selling newspapers. Many people believe that it is less costly to have an online subscription.
Even in the traditional set up it was rare for an individual to pay for news (Pew Research Center 2012). Hence, media houses in the newspaper print business need to concentrate on other revenue generating options such as advertising and selling media spaces. They will have a more credible appeal to customers since they will tout the massive and free circulation. However, to do this the newspaper must be popular. Otherwise it may risk been labeled a hoax by people who view free things as such (Farhoomand, 2007).
Effect of New Service Component in the Interest of this Product
As noted before, traditional newspapers are quickly adapting to the rapid changes in the market to ensure that they remain relevant. Part of what they are doing is ensuring that information is availed to the audience as soon as it is available. They have created social media accounts to offer live updates of any happenings as they unfold.
However, this is not enough to generate renewed interest. The only thing that this diversification has offered is credibility and quality associated with reporters. Hence, in a situation where everyone is reporting an incident, the reporters will be trusted more than any other person will (US Department of Commerce 2012).
One of the major characteristics of a newspaper is the fact that it travels through wide geographical areas to reach the market. A new product may be unveiled to accompany newspapers as they travel these long distances to at the same cost and resource allocation. For example, a media house may enjoin delivery of packages with newspaper deliveries.
This service will be quite effective in a localized geographical location. However, it may not be effective with long distances. In addition, since it comes with the delivery of newspapers it may work towards saving costs (Farhoomand, 2007).
Although this service may not beat market leaders in courier business such as EMS and DHL, it may work for the convenience of business people with a constant need to make package deliveries across towns on a daily basis. This will create loyalty and will help to make a case to potential advertisers about the potential of the edition in the market. Hence, it will attract more business (Farhoomand, 2007).
Most Likely Distribution Problems and Ways to Address Them
Even currently, newspaper sellers encounter a number of distribution problems. The major problem is the need to create a network of committed people to ensure that the newspapers reach the target audience. These people need to be committed to ensure that they work abnormal hours. This entails waking up quite early to ensure that everyone has a newspaper at their doorstep in the morning (Pew Research Center 2012).
It is also imperative to note that distributing a single newspaper to various households every morning may be tiresome and somewhat redundant. It also comes with numerous logistical problems. For example, delivery vehicles may breakdown. Additionally, the weather is always unpredictable and may curtail successful deliveries.
In distributing a newspaper, many aspects are involved. It is crucial to keep a database of the places to deliver a newspaper. This database may change often, especially at this time when internet subscription is hype. A change in the database needs to be reflected to the men on the ground for effective distribution. This may create a logistical problem (Farhoomand, 2007).
The above scenario brings back the fact that information need not be sold. An edition needs to carry out a careful study that identifies exactly the number of people that read newspapers constantly and deliver such papers free (Farhoomand, 2007). It is important to note that no huge deviation exists in the number of occasional newspapers readers compared to those that read newspapers on a daily basis in United States. The only deviation comes about when the weekend editions are considered (Pew Research Center 2012).
References
Farhoomand, A. (2007). Strategic Repositioning of a Newspaper. Web.
Pew Research Center. (2012). State of the News Media 2012. Web.
US Department of Commerce. (2012). United States Census: Information and Communications. Web.