#8

EOTO 2 - The Mainstream Media

Mainstream media is what we consider to be "established journalism outlets." Most Americans, regardless of political affiliation, agree on which TV channels and newspapers constitute as mainstream media. Some of these sources include ABC, CNN, and the New York Times. While most citizens are on the same page in regards to this, the content an individual consumes in their own daily life also plays a role as we tend to believe that the sources we spend the most time on are considered mainstream - even if that isn't the case for the general public.

One of the most significant points advocates of the mainstream media may bring up is that such media sources keep society connected. If everyone is getting their information from a plethora of different sources, it may be difficult for everyone to stay informed about the same important events. If there is, say, a devastating natural disaster, all of the mainstream media outlets are likely to cover it and we can all be updated on that current event. There are negative implications to this, however. 

If everyone gets their information from most of the same sources, there is a risk of people becoming stuck in an echo chamber. In the efforts to appear serious about public issues, mainstream media also often targets certain groups and frames them in a certain light. They tend to pose hard questions to lawmakers whose proposals may be costly, placing emphasis on the expense of their policies rather than their effectiveness. 

These sources misrepresent minorities and reinforce false beliefs as well. A research study was conducted to determine how the media portrays people in poverty. The findings showed that mainstream magazines lead citizens to overestimate the number of African Americans and women among the impoverished. Inaccuracies in the mainstream media can influence public opinion on these groups, ultimately influencing public action surrounding these groups. In the poverty case, this might look like decreasing support for African Americans receiving welfare because of negative stereotypes. It could also mean decreased support for Caucasians, Hispanics, and Asian Americans to receive welfare because the public may think that these don't need financial aid to the extent that they do.

As we progress as a society, we have to be aware of the mainstream media and how our views on those particular sources impact our behavior. This is especially important for younger generations because media as a whole has become totally accessible to us. In the past, mainstream media was considered to be the local newspaper. Then it was popular radio stations. Now, we can look up the New York Times and its website, physical newspaper, and audio services will all pop up in our search engines and it has become easier to choose which of the mainstream media outlets we want to follow. While this means opportunity for a diverse landscape of opinions, as consumers, we should be cautious that we don’t put ourselves in our own knowledge bubbles. It’s important that we make the choice to not limit ourselves to the mainstream media nor limit ourselves to only particular sources among the mainstream media.