“This instrument can teach. It can illuminate and, yes, it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it towards those ends. Otherwise, it is merely wires and lights–in a box.”
The mass media can be influential, inspirational and instrumental. It can spark change and lead conversation. Whether that be an article from The Guardian on how war crimes are being committed against Ukrainian people by Russian troops, or an Instagram post with a pledge for the Government to make living more affordable, the media changes people. But sometimes, we forget just how dangerous and destructive it can be. Whether danger can be in the form of misinformation/bias or reports of the grave truth, havoc and disarray can ensue. The media, in whatever way modern society perceives it, has the power to aspire others, or break others.
People within society are often inclined to talk about how impactful the mass media can be. These people are right in doing so. But, in our modern day society, I still witness injustice experienced by others. Through the mass media, people like you and I are able to advocate for change. The film Good Night, and Good Luck, directed by George Clooney, depicts the most profound moments of uncertainty in American history as Joseph McCarthy seeked to destroy people's lives due to the perceived threat of communism. In a notable scene it is discovered how Murrow’s influential See It Now series is changing the perspective of general society on McCarthy after a newspaper article reports the success of the show. In a similar sense, modern-day services like ABC news and Instagram are able to reveal how injustice makes its way through society, such as that seen in Ukraine; I see endless articles of companies criticising Putin for abusing his power for self-interest, jeopardising innocent people’s lives–and rightly so. Even in such a high time of tension, the mass media is able to uncover these injustices and spark thought in general society as for how they are being treated.
We can’t forget about the media’s role to inspire, either. The act of encouraging others to make a change can be risky but is vastly important. Just recently when I watched this film as part of my studies, this idea was extensive. A memorable allusion to David and Goliath “he threw stones at giants” at the beginning of the film even acted to inspire me–someone who is privileged and free from unjustified harm in society. Even in these times, through the act of inspiration, society was able to pile up these ‘stones' and act to overcome McCarthy, showing the role that the mass media has in inspiring modern society.
And in doing so, the media can act to inform society–to clarify, and to explain. And, to do so from all angles. What you and I see through the seemingly common day-to-day events that take place within society can have such deeper meaning, encouraging us to ask questions. The media answers these questions. How is McCarthy impacting people’s lives? Why is he even doing this in the first place? The answers provide hope. They provide a ‘guide’ to life, illuminating questions that might have seemed impossible to answer.
But, hope can be overwhelmed by the threat. The media isn’t just an organisation to report what people want to hear. Nope. Reporters like Murrow may have been successful in the end, but not without discretisation and aggression from McCarthy, who described him as the “symbol of the leader” who is “always found at the throat of anyone who dares to expose individual communists and traitors.” As someone who is part of the audience, I felt for the people who went through this; a television series, one that speaks the voice of so many in society, was at the risk of falling apart. With threat comes fear, and with fear comes distrust, disdain and hysteria. It is the job of the media to address this, but it can only be done with great care.
Addressing important matters, however, can lead to neutrality, putting society in positions of not knowing who to trust. McCarthy–a man of hate, control, lies and desperation. Murrow–a man of resilience, defence and composed counterarguments. Who can you trust? The words spoken from this instrument by itself are absolutely meaningless. It does not illuminate or inspire on its own. You and I are the ones that give it meaning. But, with no clear path to take, meaning can become poorly defined, leading to confusion and disarray within society. “Some media sources speculate that the bombings of hospitals in Ukraine is fake to gain more attention,” says one Facebook user. “Wait, but The Guardian showed footage of women being escorted during labour?” Yep. That’s what I see sometimes. People are so poorly informed, you’d almost want to feel sorry for them. There is never going to be an unbiased, truthful media source. Therefore, it is important that all media sources are independent and share different perspectives, so a society can have thoughts–thoughts that, unfortunately, can become twisted with time.
However, we cannot forget about the most dangerous weapon of all and the impact it can have on society: misinformation. Once one is subject to misinformation, it becomes incredibly challenging to make out truthful information. If we are determined to be taught from lights in a box, the extent to which we use it can vary by substantial margin. When Murrow addresses injustice, McCarthy calls him out for being a sympathiser by joining the IWW. A lie, yes, but one that is not known by society. Everyday, I witness the impacts of misinformation. Fact is ignored and the brain is fueled on jumbled up, unclear thoughts. The result? Fear, distrust, disdain, hysteria, confusion and disarray. This is misinformation–everything bad I’ve mentioned formed into one.
The mass media can have such a substantial impact on society through influence and inspiration. It can teach and transform, inspire others to act and clarify topics which can be interpreted in so many different ways. But remember, the media can be the very downfall of people. It can report what people are dreading, like the blatant truth that their wish is not going to come true. And, worst of all, it can put some into positions of not knowing who to trust, whether that is through countless debates or a cycle of misinformation. The image produced from this instrument may be just the result of lights in a box, but it is the meaning you and I give to it which influences our perspectives.
. Early feedback more than appreciated.