My earlier media experiences used to impact my worldviews and values. When I was younger I was more vulnerable to the stories in the media. It’s like the saying, “don’t believe everything you hear”. As I’ve gotten older, I realize that not all media presents creditable information. Many newscasts offer stories and information that is biased and/or misleading. Government and sponsors may play a part in what information gets the spotlight. It’s important for us to be media literate. Instead of just taking the media’s word for it we should be able to understand and critically analyze news reports. I think that having the ability to do this will expand and challenge our worldviews. We’re not challenged if we just believe and adopt everything we are told. The book gives many great examples on bias and misleading information. The one I thought was interesting was American media reporting that biological weapons laboratories were found in Iraq. This was never fully investigated before the press release. It’s believed the information was intentionally misreported to gain American support to invade Iraq.
I definitely agree with your post and think that when I was younger I would believe everything I heard on the news and if I heard it once, I assumed it to be true. I thought that because a story was being reported on TV, that there was no way it could be made up. Now that I am older and more aware it is obvious that not all sources are credible. I also agree that we need to be able to understand and critically analyze news reports and to double check facts and sources because it is so easy for them to be falsified or exaggerated
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