Analysis of Media Self-Assessment

Analysis of Media Self-Assessment

Analysis of Media Self-Assessment

Media influence has a profound effect on a large majority of Americans. Media is virtually inescapable. From the minute we wake up to the time we go to sleep, we literally encounter hundreds, if not thousands of different forms of media each day. Most of which is consumed subconsciously, and we are not even aware of it. I would like to say that media does not influence me and that I have control over the influence from the media I take in, but that would not be accurate. In fact, media influences many of my every day thoughts, feeling, beliefs, and even my spending.

Marketing and advertising agencies strategically target specific groups and use specific strategies to sway people into thinking their product is a necessity for a particular outcome. For example, I purchase certain name brand products because I think that I will receive a higher quality product and gain better results than a generic or lesser brand. Though this may be true in some instances, it is not true for all. Another example of media influence is the way television channels like the Home Shopping Network (HSN) and QVC will show an item, speak of how wonderful this item is, they continue to mention the number of items sold, and there are only 200 left and that every phone line is busy – there are going fast. Then tell you that you have only two minutes left to buy it at a special low price. The clock at the bottom of the screen in counting down the minutes; they get me all the time. The sense that the time is limited puts such enormous pressure on me and I cave. It is just best to avoid those types of channels altogether – it gives me anxiety trying to decide if I should buy the product or not. Consumerism is just one way media has influenced the American people.