Newton Minow Case Analysis
Television industries handled social issues similar to those of other industries by either downplaying the issue or not airing all that is happening. Before the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Newton Minow, said that television is boring, why weren’t there more interesting topics? Many, if not all, of those topics they wanted to air were taboo at the time. The early days of television were filled with news coverage pertaining to not such as harsh topics, compared to today’s violence that is shared. Should Minow be credited with “updating” television? In the article, Minow stated that television is a “vast wasteland”. This is thought to be the reason why the television switched up what they air on their programs and the
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severity of what is shown, like violence and drug use. He believed that a majority of the programs that air on television should be informative to the viewers. There is a big chance that he had a part in changing the way information is shown on television. How well does a more informative television program educate the viewers?
Prime-Time television teaches its viewers how to cope with certain extreme issues. For example: The people are informed of any racism, sexism, or how awful third world countries are. Without these issues rising, there would not be any chance of us fully understanding and getting the information across. These issues might also help someone with a rough past get on their feet, because they are shown that is issue has risen with other individuals. In which ways is major social issues of drug use changed by the industry? In the 1980s, before Minow called for a change of network, drug use was shown on television without any regards to the impact it may have had on the viewers. Nowadays, the industry carefully monitors the images that are shown on television. After the incidents that might have risen because of the drug use propaganda, they understood the power they hold over what is shown to the public and chose to decrease the severity of it. Why did some argue that allowing only certain things to be aired deprive the viewers of the actual issues? When television focuses on people overcoming their battles, it distorts the way the world really is. They also think that these headlines should be dealt with by the news and documentaries, and not something along the lines of reality
TV.
The television industry once aired news coverage of things that were not to the liking of Newton Minow, who thought they were quite boring. Instead, he wanted the industry to air news reports that were real and interesting. In order to grant his wish, the industry began airing coverage of third world countries, racism, and sexism. This way, the people were able to see more of what is going on in the world.
The effects that the television industry has on us, the consumers, when it comes to handling social issues, include allowing the viewers to only be shown what may or may not be important compared to other things, or news and documentaries that could hold no actual meaning to them. The viewers are left either feeling really informed of the issues or lacking knowledge of what is really happening in the world. Our society is effected just the same. There is a downplay of certain issues that would normally be seen as terrible or horrific acts, but they are somewhat glorified because of the way the media covers them.
severity of what is shown, like violence and drug use. He believed that a majority of the programs that air on television should be informative to the viewers. There is a big chance that he had a part in changing the way information is shown on television. How well does a more informative television program educate the viewers?
Prime-Time television teaches its viewers how to cope with certain extreme issues. For example: The people are informed of any racism, sexism, or how awful third world countries are. Without these issues rising, there would not be any chance of us fully understanding and getting the information across. These issues might also help someone with a rough past get on their feet, because they are shown that is issue has risen with other individuals. In which ways is major social issues of drug use changed by the industry? In the 1980s, before Minow called for a change of network, drug use was shown on television without any regards to the impact it may have had on the viewers. Nowadays, the industry carefully monitors the images that are shown on television. After the incidents that might have risen because of the drug use propaganda, they understood the power they hold over what is shown to the public and chose to decrease the severity of it. Why did some argue that allowing only certain things to be aired deprive the viewers of the actual issues? When television focuses on people overcoming their battles, it distorts the way the world really is. They also think that these headlines should be dealt with by the news and documentaries, and not something along the lines of reality
TV.
The television industry once aired news coverage of things that were not to the liking of Newton Minow, who thought they were quite boring. Instead, he wanted the industry to air news reports that were real and interesting. In order to grant his wish, the industry began airing coverage of third world countries, racism, and sexism. This way, the people were able to see more of what is going on in the world.
The effects that the television industry has on us, the consumers, when it comes to handling social issues, include allowing the viewers to only be shown what may or may not be important compared to other things, or news and documentaries that could hold no actual meaning to them. The viewers are left either feeling really informed of the issues or lacking knowledge of what is really happening in the world. Our society is effected just the same. There is a downplay of certain issues that would normally be seen as terrible or horrific acts, but they are somewhat glorified because of the way the media covers them.