Simpson Criticizes Media example essay topic

... of the manner in which Stern presents his views, is what concerns the FCC. When Stern says something totally outrageous, the FCC fines the Infinity Broadcasting Company, which is Stern's employer. In December of 1992, the FCC fined Infinity Broadcasting Company $600,000 ("FCC Tags Stern" 65). But, in late 1994, the FCC failed to recognize Stern when he talked a man out of suicide.

Today, "The Howard Stern Radio Show" still remains as one of the top listened to broadcasting shows in radio history. With the radio show being a huge success it was turned into a Television show, which ranks as the top most viewed show on the E! Network. The power that the media has is derived from its ability to mold the public opinion by presenting exaggerated and biased coverage of events.

The media functions as the national judge and jury. It tarnishes the reputations of many people just like the McCarthy trials. We live in a capitalist society in which money is our main motive. A journalist today is not concerned with telling the truth on an issue, but what they can say that will sell and make the most money. A journalist named Nicholas Von Hoffman wrote, "Butchers make sausage. Newspapers make public affairs.

Has that hunger driven the media out of control?" (Nachman 26) Tabloids are run purely on the basis of what will sell the most copies. It is sad that some of the most repeatable newspapers and news shows are following in the tabloid's footsteps. "The Gen nifer Flowers story appeared in The Star way before it was plastered on the front page of major newspapers such as The New York Times" (Nachman 26). But in the process of serving Americans their daily dose of gossip, innocent people are having their names dragged through the mud.

Personal things are becoming public knowledge. Even worse, people are being declared guilty before it is proven that they are. George Stephanopoulos, an established reporter stated that: "It is our job, as the media, to report about what the public wants. If they want to hear about the Mendez brothers, the Bobbitt's, Tonya and Nancy, Whitewater, or O.J. Simpson, then we " ll report about it. We need to write about what the public wants in order to keep them buying newspapers" (Nachman 26). An individual who has been affected by the media's money driven motives is O.J. Simpson.

America was fascinated with this case, because after all, it has great entertainment value. "It has a great plot, a football star kills his beautiful ex-wife and her lover in the heat of passion. The treatment of the O.J. Simpson case shows how the media has become purveyors of drama rather than information" (Gabler 12). There were an incredible amount of rumors surrounding the case.

Some people have said that the Simpson case is an "American tragedy" that became the center of a media circus. Because of the enormous media coverage it caused making the selection of an impartial jury nearly impossible. It also led to having the jury secluded during the trial as well. When O.J. Simpson was interviewed on BET (Black Entertainment Television) he said: "The biggest villain in my ordeal was the media. The media follows me everywhere I go. They report one erroneous rumor after another.

The media images some Americans saw were not ones that were actually shown in court" (Jet 89). O.J. Simpson also went on the say in that interview that the media only showed the people that were upset on his released and held signs that said "Butcher of Brentwood."They did not show the hundreds of people that waved to him or gave him a thumbs up as he walked out of the California jail" (Jet 39). Over the years, the Supreme Court has heard many cases regarding censorship. In 1964, the Supreme Court heard the case of "The New York Times vs. Sullivan". Sullivan claimed that the newspaper had printed wrongful statements about him and was inadvertent. In the process they ruined his reputation and were liable for it. "This was the first case in which someone could actually fight back against the media" (Orr 57).

In 1990, the case Malkovich vs. Lorain Journal was brought before the Supreme Court. The court ruled that the media can be held liable even when only expressing their opinions. This is especially true if the media is "implying an assertion of an objective fact. Everyone including cartoonists are vulnerable to libel suits" (Orr 58).

The United States mass communications systems are entering a time of rapid technological change and the need for policy reform is becoming increasingly apparent. The role of the FCC changes from day to day. Passage of the telecommunications bill in January 1996 created 60 new guidelines for the FCC to follow when they are considering whether something is decent or not. The bill also rejected the idea that the Internet was the electronic equivalent of the printing press. The legislators concerned themselves more with the broadcasting of indecent materials such as pornography to minors. "Anyone caught soliciting these materials to minor can be given a maximum of 10 years in jail" (Lewis B 14) In conclusion, how should the media be regulated?

Many people feel that the solution to the problem is to create a new media doctrine. Opponents of this feel that this would change the information and this country would turn into a dictatorship. But, if something is not done soon, who knows what will happen? "If the media does not establish an internal system of self-regulation, the government will surely intrude, a step that will begin with regulation and ultimately lead to censorship" (Deskowitz 150). Freedom of the press is the cornerstone of America's image and the question of free speech is arguably one of the most complex of all constitutional issues. To solve the problem there must be a partnership between the media and the American public.

If the public doesn't want lies and gossip, then that's what the media will give them. But as America continues to be fascinated by lies and gossip, then the press will continue to print it. Abraham, Henry J. "Censorship". International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. 1968 ed.

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"Fairness Most Foul". The American Spectator November 1993: 50-51. Deskowitz, Paul. Emergence of a Free Press. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985".

FCC Tags Stern". Newsweek 28 December 1992: 65. Gabler, Neal. "OJ; the News as a Miniseries".

TV Guide. 30 July 1994: 12-17. Holden, Stephen. "The Media Monster Lurking Within".

Newsweek 1 October 1995: 15. Lewis, Peter. "About freedom of the Virtual Press". The New York Times 2 January 1996: B 14.

Nachman, Louis. "About the media Circus". The New York Times 26 June 1994: 26. Orr, Lisa. Free Press, Free People, The Best Cause. London: Columbia University Press, 1971.

Shank, Joshua. "Limbaugh Lies II". The New Republic 8 August 1994: 9-10". Simpson Criticizes Media". Jet 12 February 1996: 38-40. Szykowny, Rick.

"Bewildering the Herd". The Humanist November 1990: 8-9. Williams, Patricia. "Hate Radio". Ms. March 1994: 25-29.