by Rosemarie Dundon

Created on: February 14, 2011

Does the media influence the public? Sure...Can we ascertain that influence is the sole purpose of their reporting? If that be true, is the agenda they are promoting all they are peddling, and do they put forward their own agendas to that end? Are they the voice, are they pupits for a few who seek only to sway the public opinion to their own benefit? I think not.

Yes, those in a position to inform can and will inevitably influence others with their views. However, we are called to be responsible for what we proport. We cant just blame the media. There is virtually NO CONTENT without some position, the best we can do is attempt to be fair and balanced. Those who engage in public events, do so for the benefit of those they serve, or they don't last very long?

Those who engage are far from pupits. We are not pupits, we are adults, and it is our responsibility and everyone's responsibility to form our own consensus', to get a wider perspective on the events at hand, and it is incumbent upon us to accept, reject or clarify our position on any issue.

I accept that one's personal views are hard to withhold if one is to enter the public discussions of our day. Actually, without some view, position or stance, there is no REAL content. Those who read it through will develop their own consensus or not. Hence democracy in action.

It's a sorry state of affairs if those who watch the news accept all they hear as their own view. Rather we are well served if we get our news from a variety of places. World news, national news,history and community inclusion can flourish.

If you see yourself content as one who doesn't follow the news, and you are largely uninformed, and you are content with that, ask yourself: Are you a pupit. Can anyone convince you of anything just by their delivery?  If that's OK with you, fine. If you are satisfied with what you are hearing... if you are satisfied with your news sources and that makes you feel informed and involved, great! One more question:  But how could it?

As a profession, Journalism is the task of BALANCED AND PROFESSIONAL reporting; THE JOB IS: disseminating and delivering concepts and ideas, news, and positions. It is also the attempt to evoke the reader, listener or spectator to join the discussion.

When we disseminate, consider and discuss the events we develop our national persona further. We, as a society, espouse general positions on items, based on what serves the most people. We cant make everyone happy

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