The power of media

Having been a journalist for more than 30 years has instilled in me a certain familiarity with the profession that, to a certain extent, made me take for granted some of its intrinsic characteristics.

 Take the power of media. To have been a practitioner for so long has made me forget its rawness, something that used to amaze me when I was still starting out. It is so like driving on a highway -- eventually you get used to the speed and power they sort of become natural.

 I got a reorientation with media power when I got jolted by its rawness on a recent trip to the provinces during the holidays. In interactions with people, I was surprised by how vastly different their take on certain things were from the things I know for a fact as a journalist.

 They were abreast with certain current issues, to be sure. But their views were largely shaped and formed by what was made available to them by the media. And by that I mean only media outlets whose signals were available to them. In other words, if only the signal of one particular television network is available to them, then only the views expressed in commentaries on that network are available to help shape their views on certain things.

 Unlike in the urban centers where a wide array of views can be had, and from which to draw conclusions from, limited media access in the provinces cannot but also induce a limited view of things. For example, it really floored me to know that a certain character that has been on protracted media exposure is being looked upon with great favor and sympathy by people I talked to for the simple reason that the network available to them is very cozy with this guy.

 The people I interacted with have limited or little access to the other networks which can at least provide a more objective and wider perspective of what the aforementioned character is really involved in. When I tried to interject my own views based on an objective and factual narration of the pros and cons involving the case of the character in question, the mere presentation of something new from what they have long held seemed to provoke some kind of subtle hostility in them.

 Knowing better not to get into any kind of an argument in a place where I am just a guest, I quickly shifted to other matters. It was a real lesson for me to just listen instead of trying to be more learned in a situation where people have long made up their minds.

 It was then I realized, again, how powerful media can be. And by powerful I do not mean right or correct. Media does not have to be right or correct. All it needs is to be heard and heard often enough. Then you will realize how powerful it can be.

 Even after the character I was talking about is now in an entirely different situation, the sheer length of time that he was espoused as a hero has made it very difficult for the people I talked with to change their views of the man.

 In fact, they actually think the new set of circumstances he now faces is the result of some conspiracy for which they blame everybody else but their guy. The power of media has carved a stone of opinion in their minds that will be hard to reshape without destroying everything.

 There are many wielders of power as power comes in many forms. But the power to shape minds should be among the most awesome. It can also be among the most dangerous, as minds can shape character. Shape minds the wrong way and you shape unwanted character.