Disconnect from news and events reported by the media is real, only being cut off from civilization. The means of mass media existed always, and in the 21st century only improved, thanks to new technologies. What the media call the "fourth power" has already become customary and the explanation of this "title" is simple.
The fourth power - what is it?
The fourth power is a term that denotes not only the media, but also the journalists themselves, their influence, because the fates of many people often depend on the publications and reports of specific specialists. It is believed that the realization of this power should be combined with modesty, a sense of duty and respect for the rules of fair play. But not always it is so.
Why is the media called the fourth power?
The fourth power is the media, but today not all media fall into this category, yet they have a great influence on public opinion. Officially, the media include:
- TV - in the first place in popularity in the society;
- radio;
- Newspapers and magazines, whose circulation exceeds a thousand copies.
Stenheads, forums and blogs on the Internet do not fall into this category, but, given the public interest in this type of communication, their influence is often not inferior to official ones. The fourth authority is called the media because they not only inform, but skillfully manipulate people's minds through propaganda and propaganda materials.
The main goal of the fourth power
The media, as the fourth power, has an extensive list of functions:
- Observation of events in the world, selection of the most significant and their text processing.
- Formation of the point of view of society.
- Strengthening the role of national culture.
- Political agitation of the population.
- Bringing people to important information from the main branches of government.
The main goal of the fourth power is to inform and educate. A special role for the media is that journalists are directly drawn from newspapers and magazines or television screens. And how public opinion depends on how information is delivered, with what accents and political priorities. Knowingly politicians call information war more terrible than real. Since agitation and propaganda can very quickly turn friendly relations into frankly hostile.
The role of the fourth power in society
The media, as the fourth branch of power, declared themselves also because:
- They are an important aspect of politicians' life, and not only during the pre-election race. In fact, journalists form the opinion of the public about these or those figures permanently, covering their activities.
- They help investigative work in investigative work, working in close contact.
- Find and disclose materials that compromise those or other figures from politics or art.
- Affect the decision of voters with competently selected materials and plots.
The media - the fourth power: "for" and "against"
The fourth branch of government forms public opinion and the mood of the society, which is the work of the responsible. The main theories of the press are 2:
- Authoritarian . It is the oldest, since it originated in Tudor times, when kings believed that journalists obey the decrees of the king and adhere strictly to his interests.
- Libertarian . Media, characteristic of a democratic society, which controlled the power in critical materials.
Journalism and the theory of the fourth power justify themselves in the 21st century. Most people unreservedly believe in the materials of the press, not reflecting on how truthful they are. As reality shows, along with the positive aspects of the media, negative ones often appear:
- The submission of information goes through the prism of the author of the material, he puts emphasis in sympathies and antipathies, which are not always fair.
- The publication of false or poorly verified data, which leads to a distortion of the general picture of the situation described.
- Disclosing of compromising materials that do not correspond to reality. It is done by inexperience or for money.