TV has become perhaps the primary vehicle that society receives its information and presents its values and expectations. One of the most important roles television plays is its presentation of news and information. What a station chooses to present as newsworthy can play a strong role in how people view their society and the world around them. Often, television news sources have followed a philosophy of "if it bleeds, it leads", focusing on violence in urban environments. T

lso be seen as operating in the manner it does because the system helps to keep rich, white, males- the primary owners and distributors of mass media- in a position of power. What both of these approaches suggest is that the mass media must be made more open to different perspectives and viewpoints in order to eliminate the social problems it contributes to. Modern society must strive to make all of its media outlets more similar to the genre of film, where powerful voices can emerge that challenge different viewpoints on society. When this is able to occur, the society around us will move closer to curing ills among the social variables that the current mass media in large part contributes to.

The mass media is important in examining social problems, both how they are born and how they persist. The media, through the selection of its coverage and the issues it chooses to present, is extremely powerful in forming models as explained by the interactionist approach. It is important to remember that these models of race, class, and gender are not mutually exclusive. Each, especially race and class, are closely related as stereotypes perpetuated by the mass media about a single of these "variables" often leads directly to social problems in the other variables as well. The three are also closely linked in helping to explain why media operates in the ways that it does. Helpful in understanding this concept are the other major theories of conflict and functionalism. Media may present information in the manner it does in order to perpetuate the social institutions and behaviors that have been functional for its existence up the present time. Additionally, media can a!

While failing to contribute to a solution to the problems of race and class, the television news media has been much more successful in promoting gender equality. News features often show and expose problems important to women such as domestic violence, gender discrimination, and sexual harassment. Additionally, within the television media itself, women often fill prominent positions in broadcasting and reporting. This helps to promote the interactionist hope that gender symbols can be positively changed. The television news media, like the print media, have even made an effort to change language that can validate subordinate of marginal status based on gender.

Of course, due to the variety of films produced it is possible that individual films may also have the reverse effect too. Film can cement stereotypes or caricature minorities in ways detrimental to social progress. Likewise, many movies use sex and violence in ways that play t

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Approximate Word count = 1776
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)