Personal Reflection: Media's Role in Shaping Communication Perceptions

This essay provides a personal reflection on the influence of media on communication, tracing its impact from childhood to adulthood. It explores the author's interactions with various media platforms, from cartoons and video games to online entertainment sources like YouTube. The essay als...Read More

Running head: MEDIA IN COMMUNICATION
Media in Communication
Name
Institution

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Introduction
In today’s world, different forms of media exist all around us. We watch and listen to the
messages that they send out sometimes even without intention. This essay conducts an
exploration into my interaction with media. It provides perspectives on how media may have had
influence on me from childhood through to adulthood and gives a recap of how this course’s
reading has shaped my perceptions towards media.
For fun during free time, I spend time watching different items on a variety of platforms.
Movies always make for a first choice when it comes to time for watching. Media watching takes
the greatest share of my entertainment time. Sometimes usually, music videos can be accessed
online through applications such as YouTube. Besides this, I take pleasure in watching plenty of
funny videos which are also accessible on YouTube right in the comfort and privacy of my
personal computer. According to David (2017) we are in the age of the triumph of image factory
is; images are powerful means of social control today. When I was younger, I enjoyed watching
TV. Cartoons were especially my favorite. Like most other children, video games were a must
too. Back then, I would listen in to children’s programs on radio or watch them on TV.
Of late, my preference for mainstream media such as TV and radio is thinning as online
entertainment sources take over. These media outlets have had impacts in my life right from
childhood. As posited by Theodore & Max (1944) mass media sources control the individual
consciousness. Most of the content that I viewed in childhood introduced me to violence which
strained my relationships with others for a long time. At the same time, media content has helped
my psychological development throughout life. Watching movies for instance, helps to stretch
my imagination. It would be fair to accept susceptibility to media messages. Specifically, media

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messages that portray pomp and affluence have tremendous influence in the lives of young
people like me.
In childhood as I grew up, I admired many personalities who I looked up to as heroes.
Most of them were famous figures in animated series and wrestling. For animated series, I
idolized Spiderman as well as Batman. To my understanding then, they were superheroes. I
admired their power and prowess and desired to own even an ounce of it. Wrestling stars like
Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris were demigods to us back in the day. During play time, it was
commonplace to find a group of children replaying the episodes of Spiderman, Batman or the
previous evening’s wresting match. As Ahluwalia & Singh (2011) denote perhaps this is the
origin of violent behavior in children. If there had been no TV or radio, I would have grown up
differently. Looking back, I realize that maybe, the aggression and vulgar language would not
have come my way had it been that there were no TVs.
Parents always wanted to know what children are watching for good reasons. As posited
by Bronk (2018) it is incumbent upon parents and guardians to regulate the kind of media
content that is accessed by their children. They would prohibit me from watching certain content
on TV claiming it was meant for adults. Other times they would even lock the said channels so I
would not access them from the TV. They also made sure to regulate my screen watching time as
well as video game sessions. When they felt that I had watched TV or played video games long
enough, they would force me to change activity or go to bed. My feeling towards this was one of
frustration and anger because like most other children, I was hooked to watching and gaming.
When parents regulate their children’s media watching the objective they seek is justified.
According to Ahluwalia & Singh (2011), American children spend 14 hours a week watching

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TV. It is projected that by high school graduation, the average American teen has spent more
time watching TV than in class. This is not healthy for the child’s development and parents must
protect their children against it.
The tragedy of being young is that we perceive media as just being any other
phenomenon. We assume that media exists as part of the world in which we live pretty much like
the air we breathe. As submitted by Ashworth, Pyle & Pancer (2010) all media have messages
and there is a construction behind every message. The readings for the course and the discussions
in class have helped me to realize that before any media message is disseminated, some brainy
people sitting behind the scenes pour plenty of thought into it. Media messages are meant to
influence. The influence sought may be to inform, persuade, educate, appeal to emotions or
entertain. After these readings, it is difficult to deny for instance that reality TV as posited by
Laurie (2016) is stage managed with an objective to communicate a specific media message. In
recent times, reality TV has played a central role in the redefining neo-liberalism as well as
reinventing the concept of government e.g. when the casting crew of a TV series like The Biggest
Losers is invited to white house to have a gym session with the first lady, it endears the White
House to the viewers.
Conclusion
Media does not just exist like natural phenomenon. All forms of media have a message
that is intended to be communicated by the media content developer. It could be to educate,
inform, entertain or influence. Whether we realize it or not, media shapes the way we think feel
and act. Thanks to this course work it’s now apparent media message communicated in a simple
image or sound could appear subtle but can penetrate deep and have long-term consequences.

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References
Ahluwalia, A. K., & Singh, R., (2011). TV Viewing Habits amongst Urban Children. IUP
Journal of Marketing Management, 10(1), 45–62. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=buh&AN=59337824&site=ehost-live
Ashworth, L., Pyle, M., & Pancer, E., (2010). The Role of Dominance in the Appeal of Violent
Media Depictions. Journal of Advertising, 39(4), 121–134. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/10.2753/JOA0091-3367390409
Bronk, R. (2018). Who Should Choose What We Watch? Broadcasting & Cable, 138(13), 58.
Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=buh&AN=31549778&site=ehost-live
David L. A., (2017). “The Media Logic, Social Control and Fear”. Communication Theory
Journal 42(5), 563–567. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1071/AH17157
Laurie O., (2016). “The Trump Show”. Television and New Media 1-419(7), 885–887. Retrieved
from https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12683
Theodore A. & Max H., (1944). “The Culture Industry”-Enlightenment as Mass Deception”.
Dialectic of Enlightenment. 29, 13–16. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.44