How the role of marketing and advertising shape public opinions/consumerism and political opinion.
Mass media has changed over the past 50 years in ways we couldn't have imagined. With the invent of television, radio and internet along with print media the role of marketing and advertising have influenced our lives dramatically. Most of our decisions and belief system depends heavily on knowledge facts, assumptions and experience. Our knowledge of facts and consequently our assumptions come from mass media. The media makes billions of dollars by advertising products and influencing our decisions. Advertisements tell the consumers what to buy whether via television, radio, print ads or internet.
The effect of mass media on teenagers cannot be underestimated.Young adults are the most vulnerable target market. Teenagers are easily persuaded because they want acceptance from their peers. They want to buy the latest fads and fashion -- they want to fit in. Therefore, the media has the greatest effect on teenagers and what they buy and what is consider acceptable and the norm. The media can both have positive and negative effects on the young consumers. Advertisers set the standards for what's acceptable in our society. The media creates the image of the ideal, and sends subliminal messages through advertisements. They send mixed messages by advertising how fast food tastes good yet omits the nutritional value. Obesity is a major problem in children and young adults, yet they are exposed to advetisements of junk food and the people that are supposedly consuming these products are people who are thin and heathy-- a complte contradiction.
There are only 5 major companies that own the media: Time Warner, Viacom, Walt Disney, News Corp., and Vivendi Universal. These companies own 95% of the media so their influence in shaping consumers' opinion is tremendous. In general our society depends on information and communication to keep us moving forward and helping us make daily decisions. It's a fact of life that marketing and advertising plays a huge part in our lives and helps shape our opinion.
http://rayuso.hubpages.com/hub/Mass-Media-Influence-on-Society

Blog about current events and analyze the situation for ethical, social, political situation.

I will be discussing and analyzing about the current event of the Komen Foundation's controversial decision of cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood. The group's decision seemed to be politically motivated amid a congressional investigation over how Planned Parenthood provides abortion services and its "compliance with federal restrictions on funding abortion". It sems that the organization had succumbed to the political pressure by cutting its funding for breast cancer screenings. I feel that this decision is cowardly and unethical because the Komen Foundation is one of America's leading breast cancer advocacy groups. Its main mission is saving women's lives by prevention of breast cancer through screenings. Yet, they decided to cut funding to Planned Parenthood which operates hundreds of family clinics that provide these services. Planned Parenthoood said funding from the Komen Foundation's grants have directly supported 170,000 screenings in the last five years. So, a lost of funding to Planned Parenthood will dramatically affect its services provided. I feel that it's Komen Foundation's social obligation to provide fundindg to Planned Parenthood so they can provide these life saving services.
Needless to say, its controversial decision sent shock waves across the country and provoked protests and objections led by breast cancer advocates and lawmakers. Mayor Bloomberg, a Planned Parenthood supporter, pledge $250,000 in matching grants. By Friday Planned Panthood reported it had raised $3 million online from supporters/donors. CREDO, the largest corporate donor to Planned Parenthood reported on Thursday that 250,00 of its members had signed a petition urging the Komen Foundation to reverse its decision. By Friday, most likely pressured and faced with oppositions and protests, the Komen Foundation reversed its funding decision  and offered an apology to the American people citing its recent decision casts doubt on their commitment of saving women's lives.
In the end, I am glad the Komen Foundation realized they made an erroneous decision and reversed it. Politics have no place in health care and we shouldn't be playing with people's lives.

  Assignment "Jounal 1"

1A. I feel Michael is conflicted of his own opinion and feelings about capital punishment. The indicators that Michael doesn’t believe what he reasoned out were his feelings of anger and that he was proved wrong with facts that capital punishment doesn’t deter murder or other violent crimes.

I think emotions and beliefs, and moral values are the barriers of thinking critically in his case.

1B. Maria is also conflicted and not sure where she stands on the issue.  Again, some indicators are feeling angry and being proved wrong as she delve deeper into the argument.

Once again, emotions,  her belief system and moral values are barrier to thinking critically.

1C. I think Pete is like most human beings, we don’t practice what we preach. I think most of us want to be “politically” correct and are followers. But in private, most of the things we say and do to the outside world are the complete opposite of what we really feel.

1D. I think this reasoning  is mostly  Culturally based.  In the Western Culture  dogs and cats are pets therefore it is unethical to eat them. But in some cultures, they are delicacies and are considered like cows and chickens.

Once again, our beliefs and moral values come into play as barriers to thinking critically.

2. The last step is difficult because after gathering, dissecting and analyzing the facts it is hard to admit that what  one strongly believe to be right and fair is actually wrong and unreasonable.

Once again, one’s own emotions and belief system has been questioned.

Hi,
This is my first blog and would like to invite all my Critical Thinking classmates to follow my blog.
Let's have a fun semester!