Category: Television

In modern society, the media is one of the leading channels of socialization of children and adolescents that serves as an alternative to school and family. The impact of the media on the personal and intellectual development of the child, his or her psychological and mental health and emotional status is very significant. Numerous studies show a correlation between the time children spend watching violent films or programmes on TV and the level of violence they exhibit. This paper hypothesizes that there is a direct correlation between violent scenes on TV and the level of violence children and teenagers find acceptable in real life.

There are several factors that directly influence a childs or a teenagers violent behavior, among which are biological disposition, socio-economic factors, the level of violence in the family and many others. However, it is impossible to deny the role of TV in forming childrens perspectives on the level of violence they find justified. A serious consequence of the constant observation of aggression scenes by children is the formation of an attitude to violence as a norm of behavior and a way to resolve problematic situations. Children become insensitive, unable to experience someone elses pain and easily use violence in their games. As Zafar & Chaudhary state, children, who are regularly exposed to the shows having very realistic, frequently repeated, or unpunished violence, are more likely to imitate what they see (2018, p. 63). Thus, children begin to manifest antisocial and aggressive behavior and see the world as cruel and unfriendly. Moreover, they begin to consider violence as an acceptable means of conflict resolution.

On the one hand, children have an increasing fear of becoming a victim of violence, and, on the other hand, they tend to believe violence is acceptable in real life. In other words, there is a serious deformation of the personalitys perception of the world. Al-Ali et al state that exposure to violent media is associated with physical and psychological problems, including aggression, bullying, fear, depression, nightmares, and sleep disturbances (2018, p. 592). The negative consequences of watching violent scenes on TV find their way into the behavior, emotional state and cognitive image of the childs world. Thus, exposure of children to TV violence leads to steady or episodic imitation of models of aggressive behavior in real life in relationships with peers and adults. Moreover, studies show the correlation between watching television shows depicting scenes of violence and the emergence of fear and anxiety in children aged three to 11 years old (Al-Ali et al., 2018). Preschoolers experience a stronger fear from the very fact of aggressive behavior of the characters, and younger schoolchildren  from details and images. The fear experienced in childhood, caused by media violence, can take hold and manifest itself in adulthood.

Moreover, watching violent films may lead to a loss of sensitivity and aggression. It serves to change childrens perception of the world when violence begins to be seen as a real, necessary and natural norm of relations between people in society. Children may refrain from restraining aggressive impulses at an older age when violence is presented as socially sanctioned. In modern society, where virtual reality becomes a reality, this trend persists until adolescence.

To solve the problem of childrens exposure to media violence, ratings should be given to certain programmes differentiating between the ages of children who are allowed to watch specific programmes. Other initiatives include watching adult programs in an environment where there are no children, allocating time for children, letting children spend time with educating activities and thus, keeping the duration of watching TV under control (Öznacar et al, 2018, p. 81). If all these measures are implemented, there is a good chance that the impact of violent scenes in the media on childrens psyche is diminished.

References

Al-Ali, N. M., Yaghy, H. S., Shattnawi, K. K., & Al-Shdayfat, N. M. (2018). Parents knowledge and beliefs about the impact of exposure to media violence on childrens aggression. Issues in mental health nursing, 39(7), 592-599.

Öznacar, B., Kan, ^. G., Besim, S., & ^ensoy, ^. (2018). Assessment of the effects of TV programs containing violence on children in the pre-school period through the views of parents. BRAIN. Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, 9(4), 77-82.

Zafar, A., & Chaudhary, U. G. (2018). Effects of violence shown in media on children: A study of parents perspective. Journal of Early Childhood Care and Education, 2.

Introduction

From time immemorial, men and women have communicated using slightly different languages. This observation is accurate for almost all cultures and throughout human history. In some parts of the world, women and men have entirely different styles such that they cannot converse directly with each other (even though they belong to the same tribe). In most instances, the differences between the language that men and women use have been taken as indicative of the social strata that exist in every culture. Specifically, some people believe that women and men use different languages because they are unequal members of society; with men being the dominant players while women have always been the submissive and the inferior players. In this regard, cultural issues and considerations shape the language that individuals use for communication. In places where men and women have clearly defined roles, communication styles among the sexes show significant variations.

The term genderlect refers to the different styles of communication that men and women have. It is a kind of language dialect that is shaped by the sex of an individual. For example, in day-to-day face-to-face communications, women tend to be more relational-oriented and men more task-oriented in their conversations. Therefore, by looking at discussions in natural settings, one can identify issues that are indicative of the masculinity and femininity of the people engaged in those conversations. In mens discussions, evidence of status and independence abound. On the contrary, the language that women use tends to show intimacy and connection. Part of the reason for this is that while men have been trained to take the lead, women are mostly dependent on men.

Review of Literature on the Genderlect Theory

The genderlect theory was proposed by Deborah Tannen, a linguistics professor, in 1990. Having specialized in the conversational rituals that men and women have, she published her first best-selling book in 1990, launching the theory (Blair, 2000). The title of the book is You Just Dont Understand: Women and Men in Conversations. Following the successful launch, other scholars have done some work reviewing and providing additional information about the theory. For example, Blair (2000) agrees that when it comes to conversations, men and women have different approaches because they have different desires. The focus of a mans talk is to show assurance, independence, and leadership in most communities. For women, the focus of conversation in most places is to show respect, dependence, and the willingness to take direction. Part of the reason for this is that in most communities, men are the ones tasked with the responsibility of guiding the family.

For a man to guide his family, he must make crucial decisions affirmatively. Such decisions can only be made unwaveringly. Not surprisingly their communication style has evolved over the years to affirm the changing roles. In many cases, people love to listen to decisive men talking because they seem to know what they say. After all, firmness is characterized by an authoritative diction and status assertion (Galvin, Dolly, & Pula, 2013). The vocabulary used is also firm and decisive. For women in most cultures, the opposite applies. In most cultures, women are expected to talk less and ask for permission from their husbands or fathers before making decisions. Over time, their language has evolved too to reflect these cultural practices (Borry, 2018a). However, as the community continues to change, the vocabulary that men and women use changes too.

People in contemporary society are no longer affected intensely by cultural practices. Increased globalization is one of the reasons for the waning influence of culture on language styles. Globalization has not only brought many different cultures in contact, but it has also eroded individual cultural practices (Blair, 2000). Today, many children are born in foreign lands where they have exposure to new languages distinct from their parents. For instance, Chinese parents can give birth to a child while living in the United States, and the child might grow up speaking fluent English and little or no Chinese. Another aspect of the differences between cultures is intermarriage. As people live in different parts of the world, they may fall in love and marry people from different races and tribes. The children born into such marriages will have no access to an influential culture, and this will show in how they communicate.

Existing literature indicates that the Genderlect theory plays a vital role in understanding the changing circumstances of contemporary communication. According to Tannen (1990), gender is not a determinant of language use per se; it is reflective of roles that people play and the languages they should speak. Since communication is used to express cultural issues and stereotypes, ones gender will ultimately influence how one goes about conversing and communicating with others. In the past, most communities valued intricate relations and cohesion. Therefore, they did everything possible to ensure a cohesive and collaborative society. One of the ways of ensuring this was creating standards for every member of the community depending on their status. For example, leaders had different standards, and men and women also had their standards. In most cases, such stereotypes were affected by language use.

Today, thanks to globalization, requirements for individuals and organizations to converse in specific ways have been reduced. As women have also become more independent, their language has changed. Today, it is not uncommon to hear people talking about women who use a masculine voice and men who use a feminine voice. The changing language among men and women shows that how men and women speak is influenced by their role in society; mens and womens parts have continued to change in the contemporary world. In other words, if a woman plays a dominant role in society, her language will be indicative of this role (Price, 2017). Similarly, if a man plays a less dominant role in society, his speech will be symbolic of the same issue. Therefore, the observation that men and women have different language rituals is accurate to some extent. However, the leading cause of this language variation is individual responsibilities within the community. Even in the contemporary world, which is more permissive, it is still possible to note a significant difference between men and women in their conversations.

Review of Literature on the TV Show Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation was a funny political satire that aired from 2009 to 2015 on NBC. The sitcom depicts the ridiculous antics that public officials in Indiana town use as they pursue various projects to improve the cleanliness and appeal of their town. Greg Daniels and Michael Schur created the series. The sitcom starred Amy Poehler, Jim OHeir, and Nick Offerman among others. According to Barry (2018a), the sitcom is a hilarious and absurd depiction of reality in the current political scene in America. The actions of the main actors and the script followed by them were developed with a clear understanding of contemporary politics and how issues of public interests can be mixed with personal wishes. Although the film uses a subtle example, its focus on political absurdity in the context of American society is evident. The film also shows that while politicians can be friends, their connections and loyalty can be severed by differing political interests and disagreements about the use of public funds.

In the show, language use is used for two specific purposes. The first one is communication with satire. Throughout the show, characters utilize funny language. The satirical nature of the conversations that the stars of the series use ensure that peoples interest in it remains unchanged. For this reason, the series aired for six years. Without a doubt, Parks and Recreation illustrates that keeping peoples interest in a TV show takes more than just an exciting story (Borry, 2018b). The language must be catchy; it must have interesting twists and turns. Speech is not just about communication; it is also about the way of passing ideas from one place to another; how one selects his or her words to determine his or her effectiveness in communication. However, it is essential to note that some language choices are wrong because they hinder communication.

As an example, the use of satire can be entertaining if people get the joke. However, it can hinder communication if participants fail to understand each other. Therefore, although there is no guarantee that people will realize the exciting twists and turns in a satirical statement, it is possible to reduce confusion that may emerge from such communication by using non-verbal cues (Galvin et al., 2013). The actions or gestures will indicate that specific comments in a conversation are satirical and should be treated as such to enhance communication. It will help the listener to understand jokes and improve intimacy among individuals. Without the use of different figures of speech like irony and satire, conversations will be dull. In the show, there is an attempt to ensure that every conversation is interesting not only using creative stories, but also an interesting choice of words. The use of provocative language makes people look differently at issues. Therefore, exciting style not only makes people laugh but also stimulates their mental capabilities,

In Parks and Recreation, the language used is not only satirical but also influenced significantly by peoples roles and status in society. For example, men and women in this show tend to have significantly different language preferences. Given the same idea to express, men and women in the show will use words and phrases that are entirely different because they have been programmed by society to look at life differently. Ones attitude in life and perception of things changes their communication approach in significant ways. It also influences their choice of words. However, the assumption here is that men and women have the same vocabulary. Men and women cannot have the same vocabulary, and this means that the choice of words they make during conversations is due to individual language proficiency. The more fluent an individual is at a given language, the better he or she is to express himself or herself. If some form of language barrier exists, the choices that an individual makes in conversation will vary greatly.

Parks and Recreation also show that people in leadership positions and those not in leadership positions use different language approaches. For a leader, ones words are critical because people take them seriously. Therefore, the leader has to learn how to say things that endear them to people. In most cases, such words have to be neutral for purposes of political correctness. If a leader is careless with his or her words, he or she may get in trouble. For example, a carelessly talking leader may be accused of inciting community members or insulting others. Leaders have to be careful without compromising on their desires and aspirations. A leader can still stand firm and address issues that concern them without worrying about being politically correct.

However, it was also noted that even among leaders, the language that a man uses differs from the one a woman uses. These dynamics show that gender roles over millennia ended up changing how men and women talk in most communities around the world.

Methods

For this study, data was collected by watching Parks and Recreation. The series has 125 episodes in a total of seven seasons. In the study, the researcher watched all the seasons, carefully analyzing how men and women use language. To ensure increased effectiveness, the researcher considered the language choices, non-verbal cues, and the surrounding conversations. A particular emphasis was placed on specific instances where emotions are involved. For example, how men and women use language during a happy or sad moment was noted. After that, the collected data was analyzed. The analysis looked at the masculinity and femininity of the phrases used by different individuals. Notably, the study of the words was done using semantic approaches. It was difficult deciding the masculinity and femininity of a word.

Analysis

Analysis of the words followed immediately after the collection of data. Men and women use different languages because of the way men and women are brought up. Even in the contemporary world, men and women still have different roles in society, and this shapes how they build and use their vocabulary. The analysis was based on a review of six relevant groups of issues. They are connection and status, emotion and rapport, private and public, listening and interrupting, jokes and stories, and conflict. In these six issues, several typically men and women behavior were observed. For example, under the status and connection group, men are seen as using language that affirms their status while women use language that shows a connection. This was observed throughout the series. Always, women were seeking relationships (even in their conversation) throughout the series while men were seeking status. For this reason, some men in the series boasted several times of their achievements, heroic acts, and development. On the contrary, women hardly used language that showed them as being boastful of their economic successes.

Regarding emotion and rapport, it was observed that women were emotional and men focused on rapport. The language that men used in the series tended to avoid challengeable intangibles and embraced solid facts. On the other hand, women talked more about feelings, emotions, relationships, and people. For men, avoiding language that shows emotions was important if they wanted to appear strong (not weak). After avoiding emotions, men throughout the series showed a preference for objectivity, authority, and expert stance so that they were above others. Meanwhile, women were comfortable sharing ideas and connecting emotionally with each other.

To do they, they may use intensifies like so, as in, I am so happy to see you.

Regarding the private and public groups, the main difference between men and women is in their conversation. Throughout the series, women tended to talk more about private issues like relationships. These private issues, when discussed, helped women to have a connection with each other. On the other hand, men talked more about public issues like relationships in general, politics, and the weather. Men also talk more when in public forums and women less frequently in these such settings. Women prefer to have small, private, intimate conversations with their friends.

In listening and interrupting, women in the series were attentive to their colleagues. Empathy lets them find hooks for connection. In this regard, women in the film tended to listen for an extended period without interrupting the talker. On the rare occasions when they do interrupt, women do so to show support or provide additional information to help the speaker express himself or herself more clearly. The women also interrupted less frequently to ask questions that clarify ambiguous responses or information from the speaker. On the contrary, men throughout the series interrupted conversations so often that at times it was difficult to follow what they were discussing. Seemingly, interruption is a power play that men use to grab peoples attention so that they can demonstrate their status. Men also avoid asking questions because they hate seeming weak and ill-prepared. It was also noted that men could jump from one topic to another as each tries to take the lead in the conversation. For women, a single conversation could continue for a long, establishing connections.

Men in the series, men also tended to use stories and jokes more than women. It was also observed that men that use stories in conversations always have themselves as heroes. Humor is used to trivialize issues and stories are used for emphasis. About jokes, men tended to put others down as if doing so raised their status (as it did sometimes). Women only use jokes and stories to enhance their connections with friends. For example, a woman can tell the story of how she has been hurt, and this approach was evident in the series. Men and women in the film also handled conflicts differently. For a woman, it was observed that the period of conflict represented an opportunity to reduce connection with others. For men, dispute gave them a chance to prove their status.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, men and women use different languages in daily conversations. The differences in how men and women use vocabulary are caused mostly by cultural issues. Since diction is used to enhance relations, men utilize it to prove their status while women rely on it for emotional connections. Throughout the series, men were using language that tried to affirm their status while women used it to connect with others. The series also uses satire throughout. However, the approach that the characters used varied depending on their gender. For women, jokes and stories are meant to benefit individuals by creating more connections. Men use banters to prove themselves; it was evident in the series.

References

1. Blair, H. A. (2000). Genderlects: Girl talk and boy talk in a middle-years classroom. Language Arts, 77(4), 315-323.
2. Borry, E. L. (2018a). Teaching Public Ethics with TV: Parks and Recreation as a Source of Case Studies. Public Integrity, 20(3), 300-315.
3. Borry, E. L. (2018b). Linking theory to television: Public administration in Parks and Recreation. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 24(2), 234-254.
4. Galvin, S. M., Dolly, M. R., & Pula, J. J. (2013). Genderlect and participation in the college English classroom. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 79(2), 22.
5. Price, P. (2017). Parks and Recreation: Pilot. Childrens Book and Media Review, 38(2), 23.
6. Tannen, D. (1990). You just dont understand: Women and men in conversation (p. 42). New York: Morrow.

Introduction

The TV show selected for this assignment is The Office. It is a mockumentary that portrays the daily lives of several employees and a manager in a small, marginally unsuccessful branch of the Dunder Mifflin paper company (The Office (TV Series 20052013)  IMDb, n.d.). The show is characterized by its distinctively inappropriate workplace behaviors, each being a satirized version of some of the fundamental issues employees and supervisors face. Some notable characters in the series are Michael Scott (the manager of the branch), Pam Beesly, Jim Halpert, and Dwight Schrute (the employees).

Behavior in The Office Show

As a supervisor, Michael Scott is largely conflict-avoidant, which is explained chiefly by his strive to earn love and popularity. For instance, he tends to physically hide in his office whenever an issue requiring him to step up arises, hindering his performance as a conflict mitigator or manager (Daniels, 2005-2013). Regardless, I learned from Michael that supervising could be a process of finding and using the best abilities of every person on the team, even if he did it due to incompetence.

Pam Beesly and Jim Halpert are the characters that are socially adaptive and relatively reserved. Throughout the series, they gradually overcome shyness as a communication barrier: for instance, Pam has learned to speak up in meetings and ask for a promotion. In contrast, Dwight Schrute is an incredibly career-driven character; his assertive behavior is beneficial in situations where direct communication is needed. However, his lack of interpersonal ethics or social awareness hinders his progress. These interactions taught me that appropriately voicing ones thoughts and concerns is valued in a workplace.

The shows message is that there is no single morally perfect or universally right approach to solving issues, overcoming difficulties, or addressing others. Every character in the show has a combination of good and bad traits, which shine through in different circumstances. And thus, everyone deserves some empathy and understanding since everybody is simply trying to live their best lives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, by creating a satirical yet relatable image of the daily problems, The Office successfully shows how one should not behave. However, I think the satire also demonstrates that under certain circumstances, all people may show their best or worst sides, adding humor and depth to the message. Overall, this show effectively conveys the memorandum of understanding, adapting to the collective, and making the best out of the given circumstances.

References

Daniels, G. (Producer) & Dutton, E.P. (Director). (2005-2013). The Office [TV series]. In B. Silverman, G. Daniels, R. Gervais, S. Merchant, H. Klein, K. Kwapis, P. Lieberstein, J. Celotta, B.J. Novak, M. Kaling, B. Forrester, D. Sterling (Executive Producers). NBC Universal Television Studio.

The Office (TV Series 20052013)IMDb. (n.d.). Web.

Introduction

Arabs started to pay attention to media in the Middle East after the establishment of Al-Jazeera. Prior to this, they considered the information they got from the media in their own nations biased as it only provided speeches of their prominent leaders as well as the reports of their activities. Consequently, they turned to Western media for rather concrete information not only from the Arab world but also from other parts of the world.

They relied on news from three major broadcasting stations (in Arabic) which included The BBC based in London, The U.S Voice of America and the French radio Monte Carlo. However, they considered the three as foreign sources of information since they believed that their ultimate goal was to serve the specific interests of their own countries.

It is with no doubt that the Arab community needed its own news channel(s) based on their land which would give a comprehensive coverage of all aspects form their own point of view. It was not until the establishment of Al-Jazeera television network that the Arabs gained a sense of pride in having a genuine Arab channel. This paper explores the history as well as the effects of the Al-Jazeera network in the Middle East as well as the rest of the world.

The history of Al-Jazeera

When Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa gained power in the Qatar, he brought about many reforms in the nation. One of the most significant reforms that he initiated in the communications and media sector was the abolition of the ministry of information. By so doing, he abolished censorship over the media in Qatar. This led to the freedom of the press, television and radio in Qatar paving the way for Al-Jazeera.

Historians argue that Shaikh Hamad wanted a television station that would reflect the new image of Qatar that he would create during his rule to the entire world. His quest led to the establishment of Al-Jazeera since he decreed the introduction of the station in the communication sector shortly after he assumed power-less than a year (Bahry 89). His initial idea was to modernize Qatari TV to be able to broadcast via satellite but later changed this for a new television station.

The Emirs plan for the Al- Jazeera station was to air both news and entertainment. However, he later decided that the station would air exclusively news from not only his nation but also from other regions in the world. He appointed three professionals to be part of the committee that was to work to ensure that the station was functional within the shortest time possible.

The committee comprised of Adnan Al-Shariff who was a journalist, Muhammad Suhlaw, a financial advisor to the Emir and Hamad Bin Thamir Al Thani who worked under the secretary of the ministry of information (Bahry 90). Their first responsibility was to prepare a pilot program, which won the Emirs approval. The committee began recruiting professionals to work for the station.

The process of recruiting employees for the station was easy. During that time (1996), there was a major dispute in another television station. The Saudi owned satellite station based in Rome had entered into a contract with the BBC Arabic TV station. However, the contract did not last long due to a dispute between the two parties after the BBC station covered events that did not please the Saudis (Ziauddin 53).

One of the broadcasts that annoyed the Saudis covered a leading Saudi dissident. Additionally, the BBC Arabic television covered a funeral procession of a Saudi Princess, which deeply offended the Saudis since it was contrary to their conservative Wahhadi beliefs (Rubin 212). This Saudi-BBC dispute coincided with the establishment of the Al-Jazeera network. Following the dispute, hundreds of media professionals became jobless.

Al-Jazeera signed a contract with 120 of them among which were well-trained professional Arab Journalists, media administrators as well as broadcasters. Some of the factors that attracted many of the trained media professionals include better salaries and freedom of expression in the new television station-Al Jazeera (Marash 47). Among these new recruits were two reporters who played a pivotal role in the establishment of Al-Jazeeras most popular programs namely Fassal Al-Qassim and Sami Haddad.

In the same year (1996), the Qatari Council of Ministers made a decision to appoint a board of directors, which comprised of seven members that would oversee the overall running of the station. The station began it operations in 1996. Initially, it broadcasted for six hours a day, which later increased to twelve hours.

It took approximately two years for Al-Jazeera to attract the attention of the majority of the Arabs not only in the Middle East but also in other Arab nations such as Libya and Egypt (Tischler 62). In January 1999, the station began its twenty-four hour broadcasts.

According to Miles, by 2001 Al-Jazeera had built up and grown exponentially with 497 employees, 38 foreign correspondents and 11 offices in other nations around the globe (37). As the popularity of the channel grew, many of its viewers mostly Arabs, continued to access in-depth information about several aspects in the Middle East.

It did not take a long time before Al-Jazeera began to broadcast its programs in English. It enabled people from all over the world especially Arabs to access information from the station. This was particularly important for the Arabs who are not familiar with Arabic (language) to access information from the Middle East and other Arab nations.

However, had it not been the for the September 11 terrorist attack in the United States, Al-Jazeera may have well remained solely of the interest of the Arabs especially those in the Middle East (Kessler 28). Their broadcast of the terror attack drew the attention of a huge audience especially in the West that led to the expansion of its network. Al-Jazeera international aimed to reach 40 million homes in the world through cable and satellite on launch.

Late last year, Al-Jazeera English began broadcasting to approximately two million cable subscribers in the US (Ackerman 113). Some renowned American leaders have praised the network for its news coverage. For instance, Secretary of state Hillary Clinton refers to its broadcast as real news. Additionally, John McCain is very proud of the way the station handles the Arab Spring (Kessler 30).

In the Arab world, Al-Jazeera is among one of the leading stations with a daily reach of 25%, which is equal to that of the joint market leader MBC (Johnson 31). Al-Jazeera English/International broadcasts to nearly 250 million homes in 130 countries. On the other hand, Al-Jazeera Arabic has captured the attention of approximately 70 million homes in North Africa and the Middle East. With its vast coverage, Al-Jazeera has a great effect not only to the Middle Eastern society but also to the global society.

The effect of the Al-Jazeera Network

Aljazeera has brought about several positive changes in the Middle Eastern society. It has empowered people by providing them with knowledge, information as well as ideas. This has been possible through its constructive shows/broadcasts. Among the constructive shows is the Islamic Law and Life which is a weekly program presented by one of the renowned personalities in the Muslim circles.

This show concentrates on certain topics such as the compatibility of Islam and democracy as well as the position of non-Muslims in a Muslim society. Such topics help in building the society as they provide information about what is required of the various parties in a society for the smooth running of a nation. Other programs have also been instrumental in clarifying some of the controversial issues within the Arab community.

For instance, it was during one of the shows when Qaradawi, a presenter, declared publicly that it is acceptable for women not to wear headscarves (hijab) in certain circumstances especially if they visit or live in a secular country. Such clarifications enhance unity as well as cohesion within the Middle East region. Al-Jazeera has led to reforms in some of the countries in the Middle East by criticizing all forms of inhumane acts.

For instance, it constantly opposed and criticized Saddam Husseins brutalities in Iraq that led to the events, which brought down his regime. It also criticized the autocratic transfer of power in Syria bringing about the desired changes in the nation. According to Austin, Arabs all over the world love Al-Jazeera due to its ability and willingness to criticize various regimes in most Arab nations and present views that dissent from official lines (36).

It regularly addresses issues that are considered forbidden by Arab standards such as the torture of prisoners, sex, polygamy, womens rights and Islamic fundamentalism. As a result, the radio, TV and internet Al-Jazeera programs have united the Middle Eastern society.

To the global community, Al-Jazeera has also been a fundamental source of information. For instance, their interview with the exiled Saudi billionaire and terrorist Osama Bin Laden was pivotal for the American government in shaping its tactics in the fight against terrorism in the world.

Additionally, it promotes democracy since it insists that it is important for Muslims in the west to participate fully in the political processes in the countries that they live in. This ensures that every person in a democratic nation exercises his/her democratic power enhancing cohesion in all nations as far as politics are concerned.

On the other hand, Al-Jazeera has led to the propagation of enmity between different nations, which in some instances have led to violence in such nations. For instance, the late Libyan president Muamar Qadhafi used Al-Jazeera to cause embarrassment on the rest of the Arab leaders especially those in the Middle East.

He provided a leakage of a draft of one of the statements of the Arab League Summit on the Palestinian intifada in an attempt to expose what he believed were some of the weaknesses of the Arab leaders, which offended the Arab community (Bahry 91). In addition, it has also played a pivotal role in the propagation of the war between the Arab nations and America. For instance, in 1999 Iraqi president Saddam Hussein used Al-Jazeera as the medium to call upon the people of Egypt and Saudi Arabia among other Arab nations to rise up and overthrow their leaders. He accused the leaders of being stooges of US imperialism-hate speech (Bahry 92).

According to Hassan, people watch Al-Jazeeras confrontations of irreconcilables at their homes as entertainment and then go out to spread conspiracy theories in the streets (100). This has been evident in New York, Cairo, London and Rijadh. At times, the protests have led to massive loss of property as well as lives.

Some people argue that Al-Jazeera network for news broadcasts has led to the formation of many Islamist groups not only in Middle East but also in other parts of the world since it provides a platform for airing their views to their target groups. Its broadcasts have also caused heated debates over several issues due to some of the exclusive information they provide. For instance, it aired the bombardment of Baghdad during the Desert Fox operation in December 1998.

Conclusion

Al-Jazeera International and Arabic television dates back in 1996. Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa played a pivotal role in the establishment of the television station in his country especially through the abolition of the censorship over the media in Qatar. Over the years, its network has gained massive audience not only in the Middle East but also in other parts of the world. Al-Jazeeras values, its championing of democracy, freedom of expression, civil liberties dissent and criticism are having profound influence on its audience.

It also addresses and tries to solve some issues within the Muslim faith fostering understanding at different levels. On several occasions, certain leaders have used it to propagate enmity between nations as in the case of Saddam Hussein and Muamar Qadhafi. Its involvement in Arab politics both domestic and regional as well as its shaping of public opinion has challenged political taboos and created new spaces for political and media freedom. This has led to the several Arab revolutions.

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Tischler, Linda.  Al Jazeeras Global Mission. Fast Company 104.1 (2006): 60-63. Print.

Ziauddin, Sardar. A Voice of Reason. New Statesman 15.273 (2002): 53-54. Print.

The element of ESPNs coverage that seems to stand out is its sensationalist approach. Many of the articles, discussing either recent sporting occurrences, future games, or overviewing analytical articles  all seem to have the approach of making the news a sensation. While understandably clickbait headliners are commonplace in news media, ESPN uses them to an extreme. Perhaps the most memorable is some of the jargon it uses, some of it is popular in the sports genre but at times it attempts to capitalize on the slang of the younger audiences to draw attention. Some distasteful coverage was present in the form of articles addressing rumors or personal relationships or grievances between sports figures, largely based on assumptions and written to fuel feuds. ESPN does attempt to cover major sports, particularly the NFL, NBA, and MLB alongside some less popular sports and college sports in great detail, including all scores, statistics, shifts in teams, and coach/player/pundit commentary. However, in addition to this, it goes further into territory of sensationalism and some of the articles place it in the territory of yellow journalism, only aimed at the sports industry.

The positioning, coverage, and detail of the articles on ESPN is targeted at sports enthusiasts actively engaged in following their respective sports and other associated activities ranging from strategy to predictions to individual players. The coverage oftentimes goes beyond a basic overview of games, matches, or sports events, it is in-depth and analytical. This type and amount of detail is beneficial to those who are either significant fans of the sport or are engaged in activities related to it. This may include elements such as sports betting or fantasy leagues among others that require the tedious amount of details or strategic analysis, not only to describe a recent event, but to predict performance of teams and players for the future.

The sites coverage does seem fitting for the previously described audience. It is a sports news network which offers highly patriarchal, politically biased, and at times potentially conflicting coverage. Despite offering statistics and some objectivity, many of the articles seem to openly demonstrate bias and lack coverage for key events in female sports (Brady, 2017b). ESPN itself has also been involved in a number of disputes regarding its coverage practices and potential conflicts of interest, with the very same sports betting and fantasy league organizations (Brady, 2017a). In some way, it is reflective of the audience, the passionate, mostly male sports fan base which often engages in the activities of betting and fantasy league alongside typical cheering for their teams. There is little interaction on its website itself as articles do not offer comment sections, but in terms of journalistic integrity or promoting equality, the network does not respect the widespread sports audience that goes beyond the traditional young adult and middle-aged males.

References

Brady, J. (2017a). ESPN navigating uncharted political, social and controversial waters. ESPN. Web. 

Brady, J. (2017a). ESPN shows progress, faces challenges, regarding women in sports. ESPN. Web. 

Losing weight is increasingly becoming a concern for the general public across all walks of life. Many sources offer unprecedented ways and tips on losing weight. Particularly, the media boasts of effective criteria for losing weight. However, this recommendations and tips apparently may have positive or negative influence on the general perspective of losing weight. This paper will examine the effects of the weight loss based television series such as, The Biggest Loser and I Used to be Fat on the general perspective on losing weight.

Such television shows serve as proof to the dejected dieters that losing weight in the real sense is a state that is achievable. These shows use individuals whom have had problems with losing weight on their own. It basically requires personal motivation, determination and commitment to the task. In addition, an understanding of the biology of weight gain and loss will help the dieter sufficiently in his or her efforts in losing weight.

Usually the contestants in the show are subject to physical instructors who help them achieve specific goals, while the dieter at home is not under any supervision. This depict to the viewer at home that s/he needs to exercise serious discipline with regard to putting weight loss goals and executing them, although they also need to know the basis behind rigorous exercise and dieting, which the television shows often do not offer.

Because of the lack of understanding for the essence of exercises, the dieters at home can push themselves beyond the limits and end up worsening their fitness. Also, the home viewers lack the help accorded by nutritionist to the contestants in the shows, such that they adopt some ineffective dietary measures that may deprive them of the essential nutrients for a sound health status. In support of this conviction, Pillinger (2009) argues that the body requires gradual changes in regard of diet and physical exercise.

From psychological perspective, such shows can create a false impression on losing weight. The rates at which the contestants are losing weight are so drastic so that the viewers at home get demoralised when they compare their outcomes with those of the contestants. In so doing they fail to understand that their conditions are different from those of the contestants. The contestants are purposely set for showing the useful aspect of losing weight, such that their time and effort are dedicated on losing weight at all cost to attain a predetermined reward. On the other hand, the dieters at home barely have challenges balancing their spare time between executing domestic responsibilities and exercising.

Also, the dieters may lack access to dietary tips for weight losing, such that they may start abruptly to starve themselves and indulge in diets that strictly restrain calories which can lead to deficiency in the necessary nutrients and vitamins (Pillinger, 2008). Thus, when they do not achieve practical outcomes they may give up the holistic of losing weight, which may render them exposed to risks for chronic diseases.

Although these television shows underscores the key factors of losing weight, they fall short of elucidating the understanding of the theme. The ordinary dieter need to understand the rationale behind exercise and dieting to avoid unnecessary detriments. For instance, Pallinger (2008) argues that an individual has not exercised for long time should not plunge into pounding the treadmill or jogging miles a day. This will not only leave him or her feeling discouraged and demoralised, but also at risk of injuring oneself and worsening owns fitness status.

I disagree with the first viewpoint because, the reality shows has negative impact on the general perspective of healthy weight loss. This is because some of these shows diminish the complexity of obesity to mere simplistic depictions usually with strong moral and decisive implications (Rich, 2011). The simple answer provided by the experts who seldom seem to fully comprehend the reality of the contestant lives. They do not understand the economical challenges associated with perhaps implementing a healthy diet. This point is supported by the following dialogue (Rich, 2011):

Jamie returns to Natashas house to find that she is once again feeding her daughter cheese-chips. Sorry, Im just embarrassed, Natasha says eventually. I dont know how it gets like this. I really try with money, I do. Jamie, looking confused replies Look, he begins, Im not going to say to you that I understand, because & well, erm, I dont. Natasha gets tearful, and explains that during the week she had spent all of her benefit money on bus fares and overdue bills, and had little left to buy the ingredients for the recipe that Jamie had taught her. As Jamie stands in the kitchen Natasha cries. Come here, he says, moving towards her to hug her. Get off, she says, pushing him away.

The messages depicted in such television series are often at odds with the facts surrounding the dieters live when health is detached from the societal circumstance that determines it. For instance, the class connection of food preference is given minimal consideration in Jamies Return to School Dinners. They do not regard the cultural value that certain foods such as chips might have for the home viewers, in the sense that they might be cheap and substantial thereby satisfying his or her financial requirements (Rich, 2011).

These shows do not pass as entertainments especially for persons faced with challenge of losing weight challenge; rather they destruct the viewer from focusing on the weight losing measures. Moreover, Rich (2011) argues that their dietary and exercise tips are stated without accredited scientific basis, which are argued to be inconclusive or inaccurate. Thus this modality of educating the public on losing weight is indeed threatening the health status of the general public, unless strict dietary and exercise measures are implemented by individuals.

The fact that these shows do not portray the reality of the situation from the viewers perspective is enough evidence to serve as the basis for detracting the viewers from such shows. The contestants spend most of their time and energy working their weights, which is not the case with the dieter at home. The viewers have very limited time at their dispose for exercising. However, they can be taught how to make use of the limited time for their benefit.

It does not take a dramatic change of lifestyle to achieve sufficient weight lose. In fact small changes can make a big difference. Pallinger (2009) argues that single extra biscuit per week can produce a 5lb gain a year. Foregoing that biscuit, translates to loosing the same amount a week.

Possibly it is important to consistently remind oneself that still the best-intended television series should capture the concerns of the viewer at home. In fact what is good tv is not always perfectly accurate science (Sharma, 2011).

Reference List

Pillinger, J. (2009). How to lose weight the healthy way. NetDoctor. Web.

Rich E (2011). I see her being obesed!: Public pedagogy, reality media and the obesity crisis. Health (London, England : 1997), 15 (1), 3-21 PMID: 21212111.

Sharma, A. M. (2011). The pedagogy of obesity reality shows. Web.

The Hulu original series, The Handmaids Tale, tells the story of a dystopian version of the United States, renamed Gilead. The television series, created by Bruce Miller, is based on the novel originally written by Margaret Atwood. When a political group named the Sons of Jacob overthrows the US Government, they create an extremely religious world of turmoil, especially for women, using similar ideas from the Old Testament. The Handmaids Tale is told from the perspective of June, a wife and mother from New England, who is captured while trying to escape to Canada. Some former citizens of the US conform to the totalitarianism of Gilead, while others combine forces to fight for the freedom our forefathers gained. June echoes the theme of the resistance to comply with absolutism and gender roles throughout the series and is determined to stage a strategic rebellion.

In the beginning scenes of The Handmaids Tale show, June, her daughter, and husband, Luke are in their car, frantic to outrun the Guardians, Gileads version of police officers. June is captured, her daughter is ripped from her arms, and she is beaten unconscious and transported to her new home. Throughout the entire series, this image replays in her mind to remind viewers of her motivation to get back to her daughter.

The next time we see June, she is referred to as Offred. She is in her room contemplating escape and battling the idea of conformity. Throughout the series, the audience is privy to her inner monologue, making the viewers feel more connected to Junes character. She is daydreaming of her previous life, trying to remember who she is, her family, and her life before Gilead. The creators ensure the audience can understand the daily turmoil June is experiencing. The thought of rebelling seems nearly impossible due to the heavy surveillance and extreme violence used against those who attempt freedom. The Handmaids Tale often uses flashbacks to piece together the womens journey in Gilead.

As the newly captured women are brought to Gilead, they are taken to a room and told what their new duties would entail and the rules they must follow. June sees her friend previous, who warns her to comply with the Aunts due to their extreme violence toward those who deny their new role. Further reminds us of the former United States citizens willingness to comply with the leaders of Gilead. During this meeting, one woman gives a dirty look to Aunt Lydia, the head Aunt, and has her eye removed. This further incident fuels Junes resistance but does give her qualms about her freedom. Offred was different from other Gilead members as she rejected the rules and began to calculate her plan of rebellion meticulously. The Handmaids must do many daily tasks together, including grocery shopping, where they often remained silent and accommodated to their role.

The small gesture of using a forbidden word brought smiles to their faces as they felt normal again, even if it was just for a second. Offreds first advance at finding alliances was the gesture as she began sparking conversation and forming friendships with the other Handmaids.

Although it was difficult for her to tell the peoples true intentions in Gilead, she formed a strong bond with many women and the Guardian who lived on Nicks property. Junes resistance gave the other women a feeling of strength, power, and comfort. They believe she would lead them to freedom.

The Handmaids encountered heinous torture and were forced to ridicule or even kill their peers. In one scene, Ofwarren, a friend of June, is brought to the middle of a circle of Handmaids. They are instructed to pick up rocks and stone her to death, but June revolts. Again, she rejects conform to this society and shields Ofwarren with her body, resulting in her abuse and torture of June. Another fire is lit under Offred as she learns her friend Moira tried to escape and was sent to the colonies, which is a place where women are sent when they can no longer conceive or try to escape. The colonies are a land of chemical waste where the women are forced to dig until they die from the toxic fumes.

Once June hears of Moiras fate, she is immediately enraged, filled with the fire that burns within. Her determination and resistance reflect the need to remain independent and avoid accepting customs subject to women by society. Waterford was Junes first commander; a powerful man who seemed to form feelings for June, naturally making him want to protect her. She later learned that Hannah is in Gilead and has been given to a family there. Offred uses flirtatious advances to ask Waterford to check on Hannah and make sure she is alive, safe, and cared for. Waterford takes June to the forbidden club, the Jezebels, similar to a brothel. Offred expresses to her doctor that her Commander may be sterile at the end of the first season, causing the Waterfords to orchestrate a ceremony between Nick and Offred. They formed a romantic relationship during her stay in Gilead. While pregnant, June makes her first escape with the help of Nick. She hides for two months and is returned to the Waterfords, where she experiences far worse torture and violence, fueling her determination for freedom.

With the help of her friends Commander, she is transported to her escape vehicle. It is here where she selflessly gives the Handmaids her baby and orders them to leave and gain the freedom they deserve. In an emotional goodbye, they beg June to go with them, but she cannot fathom the idea of leaving Hannah in Gilead. At the request of Mrs. Waterford, June is reassigned to Commander Lawrence. He refuses to complete any ceremonies and turns a blind eye to the group of Handmaids and Marthas orchestrating their escape in his home. He respected June and wanted the best for all of them, Lawrence carried guilt for having a hand in forming this new totalitarianism, and that was his way of receiving a sort of penance.

June formed a close relationship with the Commanders wife, Eleanor, who was ill and resented her husband for creating such a despicable society. Eleanor purposely overdosed after they were forced to complete a ceremony, driving Lawrence to help June with her plan to free the children of Gilead. The viewers finally get a sense of justice during this scene. June was able to free 86 children from Gilead with the help of the Marthas, Handmaids, and powerful revolutionaries. While the plane full of children departed, June was shot trying to run, but a group of Handmaids brought her to a safe house and attempted to save her life.

The closing scene opens with disgust and worry as evidenced by Junes husbands face who does not understand the trauma that his wife has experienced over the last couple of years. Although the women have escaped Gilead, they are still embedded with the atrocities they had to face while being held against their will. The writers used this scene to bring the viewers back to normalcy. Their actions seemed so justifiable after watching what the people of Gilead had to endure endlessly. The directors gave the viewers many different perspectives of each characters life, making it easy to differ how they feel about each character throughout The Handmaids Tale. Junes volatile behavior resulted from the pent-up anger toward these people she once viewed as she had captured. She experienced killing so often in Gilead that she had become numb to it. They were always told, Gilead is in you. They forced a Stockholm syndrome, in a sense, as some of the captures begin to have an emotional connection to the captors.

Junes reluctance to abide by their laws and her ability to save the lives of so many women and children, including herself, displays a key hand in bringing down Gilead. She helps enlighten the surrounding countries to the obscenities that took place at the time. The creators use of dull saturated pictures and flashbacks, failed escapes, intermingled with success, gave a realistic idea of life in Gilead, and continued to gain the viewers attention.

Work Cited

Miller, Bruce. The Handmaids Tale. Hulu, MGM Television, Web.

The topic of poverty and the portrayal of people living in low social and economic conditions are not so popular among TV series creators and producers. Although the number of people who lives beyond the level of poverty and suffers from social inequalities is rising annually, they are either underrepresented or demonized on television. Unfortunately, it is hard to find poor or working-class families represented on the small screen even nowadays, in the era of freedom of speech and high tolerance. Although the working-class makes up the majority of the US population, the issues they face and the challenges they encounter are not evenly portrayed.

However, there are several TV series that demonstrate the lives of blue-collar workers and the population with low socioeconomic status. One example is the American comedy-drama TV series Shameless by John Wells, which was aired from 2011 till 2021 on Showtime. These TV series consist of 11 seasons, 134 episodes, and tell the story of Gallaghers family that lives in poverty and rarely makes both ends meet. Frank Gallagher, a single father with six children: Fiona, Philip, Ian, Debbie, Cart, Liam, who spends all his days drinking alcohol and taking drugs, and making his children take care of themselves. This story does not describe a blue-collar class but rather people who live in a much graver level of poverty. According to the producers, the aim of these series was to show Franks substance abuse affected the whole family. Abandoned and neglected by both of the parents, Monica and Frank, the eldest sibling, Fiona, raises all her siblings on her own. They have to go through difficult situations on the way of their maturing, dealing with discrimination, inequality, poverty, and mental disorders in their family. They have to steal money and food to live while their selfish father only rakes everything from them.

In these TV series, the family with low socioeconomic status is shown as highly dysfunctional and prone to many misadventures. The main characters are represented as people who are unable to have a stable emotional condition, lack taste and ability to learn and not able to survive without breaking the law (Weber & Hunt, 2020). In every episode, one of the six Gallagher siblings gets into a trouble that their eldest sister has to deal with. The topics raised in the show are quite stressful and a way far from being entertaining, even if it is created in the comedy genre. It highlights a class inequality and problems of capitalism in the American society (Weber & Hunt, 2020). Being not healthy and wealthy enough to find a stable job, members of Gallagher have to get money for living by committing illegal acts. Moreover, the fact that they are living in the South part of America, Illinois, where the majority of population is Black and lives in similar conditions as the Gallaghers has its impact. Characters that Gallaghers family interact with are also from low socioeconomic conditions or from sexual and ethnic minority groups.

Another important topic that is portrayed in this show is familial relationships. Children in the Gallaghers family are raised seeing the mistakes that their parents made, and try to avoid them in their adult life. Despite all the difficulties, they try to work together to overcome their fortune, survive and create a better life for themselves.

References

Weber, J. B., & Hunt, P. M. (2020). Shameless sociology: Critical perspectives on a popular television series. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

My greetings to everyone, who decide to spend some time near own TV-sets and watch our program! Today, we will talk about our history, our past that has an unbelievable impact on our present and certainly on our future.

At the end of the 19th century, lots of American farmers faced numerous financial problems. Poor treatment from governments side and desire to discuss and improve the conditions, farmers lived and worked under promoted a rapid growth of one significant party, nowadays known as the Populist movement.

To get a clear understanding of what the essence of that movement was and how influential the activities of its representatives were, it is better to stop on three major points right now: key people, events, and issues. When we talk about the Populist movement, we have to remember such names as James Weaver, George Wallace, Willis Carto, and William Jennings Bryan.

These and many other populists made a significant impact on the development of the party that supports farmers rights and interests. William Jennings Bryan was the brightest representative of the Populist movement at the end of the 19th. Do we know who the Great Commoner was? Of course, it was Mr. Bryan due to his unbelievable faith in goodness that should be inherent to people.

If George Wallace did not abandon his passion for the populist ideas, he could be easily compared to Mr. Bryan because of his desire to help and trust to people. The Populist movement may be considered as a voice of farmers, who were eager to unite and make this world and their own lives in particular better (Brexel, 24). The late 19th century was the beginning of the development of the Populist movement.

When farmers moved to the Great Plains, farming life became rather difficult: isolation caused numerous depression and lack of human contact. People just needed a kind of stimulus to reborn and became a significant part of this life. At the beginning of the 1980s, populist actions considerably decreased the gap between poor and rich people.

In 1982, the Government already knew the demands of the populists and could not resist their desire to get an opportunity to own and improve the land. And in spite of the fact that the Populist Party died within a short period, its goals and intentions were supported and developed during a long period after.

Right now, the guest of our program, Mr. William Bryan, is going to share his ideas as for the development of the Populist movement and the reasons why this party still crashed in spite of strong beliefs and actions.

I: At the beginning of the 1900s, L. Frank Baum created his famous The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and lots of critics and readers found that novel as a kind of allegory to the Populist movement, and you, Mr. Bryan, is compared to the Cowardly Lion. Can you agree to such an offensive comparison?

Mr. B.: In fact, I did not have powers to control the creations of really great masterpieces, which amaze the reader during a long period. To be a part of this story is good indeed.

Of course, it is not that pleasant to realize that my actions and my blind trust in people were regarded as cowardice. I had all the chances to win the vote of Eastern Labor. However, my words and intentions did not impress people, and I did not find enough powers to prove to them that they should believe in me.

I: If you had a chance to ask the Wizard for something like the lion did, what it would be?

Mr. B: If I got such a chance, the first thing I would ask for is to improve my communication skills and my actions. It is not enough just to present ideas and involve people. To achieve success, ideas should be proved by actions. The Populist movement died because of the abundance of talks and ideas, but lack of actions.

I: Thank you for such an answer. Unfortunately, it proves once again that the representatives from the Populist Party just did not have enough power and abilities to organize their demands properly and convince the Government to support farmers ideas and intentions.

Works Cited

Brexel, Bernadette. The Populist Party: A Voice for the Farmers in the Industrialized Society. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2003.

Introduction

Modern technology has enabled people to communicate effectively and this aspect has revolutionized how they conduct their daily activities. The entertainment industry has benefited from improved technology and television stations have earned public recognition through their programs.

Media personalities have advanced their careers and this move has created room for them to expand their coverage and improve the quality and reputation of their employers. Oprah G. Winfrey is a famous personality in the media industry due to her contributions that revolutionized talk shows and introduced a new dimension in TV entertainment. This paper explores how Winfrey changed network TV.

Background

Oprah Winfrey was born in 1956 in Mississippi and she spent most of her early life with her poor grandmother (Oprah, 2014). Later, she moved and stayed with her mother who had little time for her, as she was a housemaid. Her teenage life was full of abuses from her close family members and friends (Oprah, 2014). Poverty frustrated her early life, but this aspect did not deter her from identifying her talent in the media industry. She joined her schools speech club and participated in several beauty pageants where she won most of them.

Her admission into the Tennessee State University to study communication introduced her to a new life of media practices. She used this opportunity to cultivate her talent in public speaking, which later landed her at WLS-TV station, hence the opportunity to air its morning shows (Oprah, 2014). She introduced The Oprah Winfrey Talk Show in 1986 and opened her own television house after two and a half decades. Today, she is a famous media personality with a net worth of 2.9 billion US dollars (Forbes, 2014).

TV Network Transformation

Westernization influenced individuals to follow lifestyles that portrayed the states of their financial positions and this aspect means that some things could not miss from their homes. First, television sets became necessities in homes, and thus every family had to have this electronic device for entertainment, news, and education. The need to be informed about modern affairs influenced people to watch their televisions on a daily basis, especially during prime times.

However, media houses realized that the attention of viewers was glued to their televisions during news anchoring time. Therefore, they had to introduce programs that would ensure that people remained glued to their television sets throughout the day and night. This move led to the introduction of soap operas that filled all local and international channels. People became very interested in these programs that they started identifying with some of the themes and personalities portrayed by actors.

Oprah took advantage of the fact that most soap operas had themes that expressed different issues about sex, poverty, human rights abuse, and women emancipation. She had experienced most of these tribulations, and thus her confession about her past life was not a surprise to her. In addition, she started airing The Oprah Winfrey Talk Show in 1986 and it initially discussed issues concerning marriage, poverty, and education (Oprah, 2014).

She was very reluctant to introduce sex discussions in this show due to the conservative nature of the audience that existed at the time, but she later introduced these topics during the day (Osborne, 2011). In addition, media houses were still considered as family entertainment forums, and thus some issues could not be discussed in the presence of children. Lastly, media houses had not shed their traditional beliefs and there were policies that regulated their contents.

Therefore, it was not time for her to start discussing sex on a national broadcaster. However, she started realizing that people were interested in her programs. She was getting many invitations for interviews and this aspect enabled her to open her eyes wider. She was reluctant to follow her heart, but the requests she received from her audiences motivated her to launch her show that addressed all issues that affected people in society.

She started inviting celebrities and interviewing them. This move enabled her audiences to understand their celebrities. These interviews overcame taboos as she talked about issues to do with personal sexual abuse, racism, and personal secrets, which opened up the American society to discuss these issues in the open (Clifford, 2011).

Secondly, she started focusing on reconciling couples and ensuring that forgiveness played important roles in healing members that experienced strained relationships. The meanings of love and compassion have been transformed by this show as she invites counselors to guide victims that have experienced frustrations in their relationships.

She has played major roles in ensuring that television shows introduce confession and reconciliation programs that help people to overcome their past predicaments. In addition, she allowed people to share their experiences especially on rocky childhood experiences coupled with how they managed to overcome such challenges (Edwards 2011)

Thirdly, she introduced educational programs, which ensured that her audiences understand various issues. She has aired various shows that feature nutrition, diseases, education, agriculture, and animal husbandry among others. This aspect has enabled her audience to perceive these issues properly and eliminate misunderstanding. Therefore, this move has increased the traffic to her shows and ensured that she develops quality and appropriate programs to improve the credibility of her shows.

Conclusion

Oprah Winfrey is a famous personality in the TV industry and her prowess enabled her to start the show, The Oprah Winfrey Talk Show in 1986. She has a website, which ensures that she keeps in touch with her fans coupled with promoting her programs. Modern television talk shows derive their origins from Oprah Winfrey and her efforts to revolutionize this industry cannot be underestimated.

References

Clifford, M. (2011). How Oprah has changed the way we live. Web.

Edwards, A. (2011). How Oprah Changed Television. Web.

Forbes: The Worlds Billionaires- #600 Oprah Winfrey. (2014). Web.

Oprah: Oprah Winfreys Official Biography. (2014). Web.

Osborne, D. (2011). How Will Television Be Changed Without Oprah On It. Web.