Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Nowadays, the mass media do not report the news; they make the news.
Discuss this with references to recent events.
What exactly is recent news? It is a report of late occurrence providing information of what is happening around the world. Mass media is a large number of means of communication, such as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines that reaches or influence people widely.
So, has media been making up stories? I think, only the media know themselves.
I suppose there are news that are made up of purely facts. For example, the reports on health would be true. There are quotes from professionals and experts. Recently, there is a news about certain cancer being easily prevented. A forum is also held to urge countries to try to avert cancers which are preventable. Singapore’s Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan was also present in the forum. Since the forum is indeed held in Singapore, the information are given from the experts and involvement of Singapore’s Health Minister, I believe that these are facts.
However, there will also be news that contain stories made up by media or anyone being interviewed, especially entertainment news. In the news ‘’Prince William and girlfriend break up’’, the reasons given on why they split up are provided by their friends. Will their friends be able to know what is the exact situation Prince William and girlfriend is in? media might be making up stories just to earn publicity.
Media has been influencing people in this world in many ways. Advertisements, convincing people to buy their service or product. Magazines, mostly made up of entertainment reports, might be exaggerating to make their news interesting. Like what one of the reviews in Straits Times stated, “If media could publish just 50% rather than 10% of what you actually know,” media will not be replaced by blogs, which is another medium to get information. Are they really publishing so little of what they know?
Answer this honestly: will you read news that contains merely facts? Or will you rather read news that not only contain facts, but also opinions?
While writing a report, people tend to add in their own opinions. Many might mistaken that they are making up stories. Adding opinions might not be wrong, as long as it is clearly stated, and all the facts are included in the report. People can then gain knowledge about the world as well as getting to know how people living in the same earth thinks.
In conclusion, it is of human nature that we don’t pass the fullest 100% of what we know to other people. So, with the access to many different forms of media allows us to get a few percentages of information adding up to form the whole picture. Since media has been so influential, do not disappoint readers. Publish opinions, not made up stories.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
“YouTube has no ethics, it’s been created for the sole purpose of entertainment and money.” Do you agree?
Many videos of all sorts are uploaded in YouTube. But how many of them contain real information and is not against anyone, any religion, any race?
There are some videos that are useful for viewers. Some are made to explain how treatments that are not easily explained by words. There are articles stating that parents looked out for videos in YouTube for tips to help children’s disorder. However, professionals said that not all the information is accurate. Furthermore all individuals are different and probably not able to be treated with the same method. They have to seek doctor’s advice before taking any risk. Thus, these videos might mislead people to the wrong treatment.
Videos displayed can be against some religions too. Recently, Thailand government banned access to You Tube video-uploading website after it broadcasted a film showing graffiti over the king’s face. This arouses viewer’s negative views on this issue. They tend to be bias against Thai without knowing what is actually happening. Fortunately, people who uploaded videos which are against people of other religion will be charged by law, but the good name of Thailand cannot be as good compared to the past.
Last year, a few secondary schools uploaded videos of their students fighting in the school compound. When the person who uploaded the video is questioned, he only said that he upload it for fun. Does violence equate to fun for teens? How many people eventually saw that video and perhaps learning from it? This is not a very good side of the school and yet the students want to be notorious, by showing how they behave, to the world. Has YouTube been a medium to support such videos to be uploaded?
Why was YouTube set up? It was mainly for entertainment (the audience) and for money (the founders). YouTube is gaining support from people as they are able to watch videos of comedy or any drama series they like. If one missed an episode of his favourite drama series, or do not have sufficient money for a movie ticket, is able to view them on YouTube for free! With the popular demand of audience, YouTube hence brought in a sum of money for the founders.
In conclusion, although YouTube was established with the core reason for entertainment and money, but they also take actions and measures to prevent people from violating the law. The impacts of the information on the videos are huge. People believe that these videos are of ‘first hand information’ thus believing the ‘facts’ shown in the videos. They should implement more measures to prevent unauthorized video from revealing to the world, preventing false information to be reached out to the world.
Many videos of all sorts are uploaded in YouTube. But how many of them contain real information and is not against anyone, any religion, any race?
There are some videos that are useful for viewers. Some are made to explain how treatments that are not easily explained by words. There are articles stating that parents looked out for videos in YouTube for tips to help children’s disorder. However, professionals said that not all the information is accurate. Furthermore all individuals are different and probably not able to be treated with the same method. They have to seek doctor’s advice before taking any risk. Thus, these videos might mislead people to the wrong treatment.
Videos displayed can be against some religions too. Recently, Thailand government banned access to You Tube video-uploading website after it broadcasted a film showing graffiti over the king’s face. This arouses viewer’s negative views on this issue. They tend to be bias against Thai without knowing what is actually happening. Fortunately, people who uploaded videos which are against people of other religion will be charged by law, but the good name of Thailand cannot be as good compared to the past.
Last year, a few secondary schools uploaded videos of their students fighting in the school compound. When the person who uploaded the video is questioned, he only said that he upload it for fun. Does violence equate to fun for teens? How many people eventually saw that video and perhaps learning from it? This is not a very good side of the school and yet the students want to be notorious, by showing how they behave, to the world. Has YouTube been a medium to support such videos to be uploaded?
Why was YouTube set up? It was mainly for entertainment (the audience) and for money (the founders). YouTube is gaining support from people as they are able to watch videos of comedy or any drama series they like. If one missed an episode of his favourite drama series, or do not have sufficient money for a movie ticket, is able to view them on YouTube for free! With the popular demand of audience, YouTube hence brought in a sum of money for the founders.
In conclusion, although YouTube was established with the core reason for entertainment and money, but they also take actions and measures to prevent people from violating the law. The impacts of the information on the videos are huge. People believe that these videos are of ‘first hand information’ thus believing the ‘facts’ shown in the videos. They should implement more measures to prevent unauthorized video from revealing to the world, preventing false information to be reached out to the world.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
‘The teenage years are the best years of one’s life.’ Would you agree with this view? (CAMBRIDGE NOV 1994)
Some people thinks that teenage years are the best years of one’s life. If not, why will adults be recalling their teenage years instead of thinking about the future? In these years, we have the physical abilities for adventurous activities and will be able to learn skills quickly. Think again, perhaps that’s only happening in 20th century. So what are the teenagers presently doing?
Probably, it’s the ‘tortures’ that parents had experienced in their teens that make them give their children freedom. In the past, youths have to help out in household chores, obey certain rules and maybe didn’t had the chance of going out window shopping with their friends. Parents experienced it themselves, and do not want their children to suffer what they had gone through, when teenage years are suppose to be an enjoyable one. It started off by giving them freedom. Going to parties late at night without any curfews, maids employed, buying them anything they want regardless if it is worth the money etc. In this competitive society, everything is compared within teenagers- even their weight! If they don’t get it, they’ll pester their parents for it and they would get it, depending on the ability of each family. Even if they can’t, they’ll find all ways to fulfill their children’s wants. Aren’t the youths fortunate? Family to them, is just like a wishing well!
Then, problem arises. Teenagers lead a ‘copycat’ life. Some of them said that they are depressed, so they find ways to express themselves- cutting of their wrist. Cases of teens having suicidal thoughts are increasing throughout the years. Many of them interviewed, replying that they’re following the trend. They’re just following blindly, without knowing the purpose of it. Then they get addicted to it and thus, unable to stop this sadistic act. Many of them are living in a wealthy and loving family, did well in school and having good relations with friends. What is there for them to be depressed over? It’s not worth it to be so cruel to yourself when you’ve got almost everything. Don’t ask for too much as it will only bring unhappiness to yourself. There is always a limit to everything. Teens, control please.
To me, teenage years are best for experiencing the obstacles in life. Having the support from friends and family, you will have the will to continue on. Have a rationale behind everything you do. Do only the right things. Maybe one will find himself foolish recalling what he did in the past when he’s grown up, mixing with people of different ages, interest, thinking and background. Parents, spoiling your children will not do any good. Train them to be independent instead. Let the teenager years be a memorable one.
Some people thinks that teenage years are the best years of one’s life. If not, why will adults be recalling their teenage years instead of thinking about the future? In these years, we have the physical abilities for adventurous activities and will be able to learn skills quickly. Think again, perhaps that’s only happening in 20th century. So what are the teenagers presently doing?
Probably, it’s the ‘tortures’ that parents had experienced in their teens that make them give their children freedom. In the past, youths have to help out in household chores, obey certain rules and maybe didn’t had the chance of going out window shopping with their friends. Parents experienced it themselves, and do not want their children to suffer what they had gone through, when teenage years are suppose to be an enjoyable one. It started off by giving them freedom. Going to parties late at night without any curfews, maids employed, buying them anything they want regardless if it is worth the money etc. In this competitive society, everything is compared within teenagers- even their weight! If they don’t get it, they’ll pester their parents for it and they would get it, depending on the ability of each family. Even if they can’t, they’ll find all ways to fulfill their children’s wants. Aren’t the youths fortunate? Family to them, is just like a wishing well!
Then, problem arises. Teenagers lead a ‘copycat’ life. Some of them said that they are depressed, so they find ways to express themselves- cutting of their wrist. Cases of teens having suicidal thoughts are increasing throughout the years. Many of them interviewed, replying that they’re following the trend. They’re just following blindly, without knowing the purpose of it. Then they get addicted to it and thus, unable to stop this sadistic act. Many of them are living in a wealthy and loving family, did well in school and having good relations with friends. What is there for them to be depressed over? It’s not worth it to be so cruel to yourself when you’ve got almost everything. Don’t ask for too much as it will only bring unhappiness to yourself. There is always a limit to everything. Teens, control please.
To me, teenage years are best for experiencing the obstacles in life. Having the support from friends and family, you will have the will to continue on. Have a rationale behind everything you do. Do only the right things. Maybe one will find himself foolish recalling what he did in the past when he’s grown up, mixing with people of different ages, interest, thinking and background. Parents, spoiling your children will not do any good. Train them to be independent instead. Let the teenager years be a memorable one.
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