Political issue dominating a present news cycle
Introduction
Mass media has the ability to shape and reshape opinion of people, their behavior and the notion of an issue of an event. Media usually act as the opinion leader in determining what is important to include or exclude when covering an important public issue. The paper examines the influence of media in the political world to reveal how a certain political issue is framed across forces of social integration and social conduction of reality.
Political issue dominating a present news cycle
The selected political issue in the present media cycle is the recent endorsement of Joe Biden by the LGBTQ, group on the notable anniversary. During the “Meet the Press” address in 2012, Joe Biden declared that he supports the legalization of same se marriage, which was one of the most volatile political issues of the day. The political issue dominating a present news cycle is the announcement by the largest national LGBTQ rights organization and the Human Rights Campaign on formally endorsing Joe Biden for president (Crary, 2020). The endorsement is not a surprise to many given the antipathy that most activists in LGBTQ have towards President Donald Trump who is the main rival of Biden in the incoming general elections.
Media text explanation
Mass media is framed by journalists with the objective of providing a context of comprehending information, which enables people to locate, perceive and identify information. Public opinion is usually based on the picture that is created in people’s mind that comes from media famed reality of world events (Wilson et al., 2014). The choice of media text about the endorsement of Joe Biden by the LGBTQ group creates a picture in peoples’ mind that he is the right person to advocate for the rights of the minority in the country. The media text on endorsement creates a perception in the public that Joe Biden is too cautious of people’s rights and is politically expedient. Biden who is a democrat has entrenched himself as the resolute ally of the LGBTQ rights and other minority people in the US (Crary, 2020). The mass media has created a perception of the perceived reality by increasing periodic public appearances of Joe Biden in fundraising dines at the Human Rights Campaigns.
How media influence how the political world operates
Media influence how the political world operates through agenda-setting and framing. Media has the power to develop an agenda for political discussions through providing public attention to the issues raised, political figures and institutions; thus, creating a spectacle of political inclusion for average viewers/voters (Wilson et al., 2014). For instance, the media frame about the endorsement of Joe Biden by LGBTQ as the next president of the US, the media creates public attention that shows the inclusivity of all minority group, and that he will be a president who puts what is morally right before what is politically right (Crary, 2020). The media frame political agendas by influencing the perception of the public on how they interpret different political events. The coverage by the media plays a great role in selling the agenda of political figures. Through talk shows, press conferences and televisions appearances, political figures not only focus on their agendas but on gaining media attention.
How media framing inhibit the inclusion of average audiences into the social construction of reality
Media framing tends to give the interesting side of the political figures sponsoring their coverage, which makes it fail to pull the plug about their weaknesses. In the media framing, there is normally a discretion on how the media should portray the political figure, which inhibits the public from having the right information about the public figure (Vladisavljević, 2015). For instance, in the political issue of endorsing Joe Biden as the next President by the LGBTQ, the media frame portrayed him as the leader that the US needs at the moment, but the media did not show the weak side of him; thus, inhibiting the average audience to have a social construction reality about him (Crary, 2020). The framing sets the approval of the political figure but seals the approval or disapproval of the audience.
Media framing makes some political figures more salient, by increasing the coverage in most of their conferences, television shows and public meetings. Therefore, media framing makes some political figures more famous, which inhibits the inclusion of average audience into the social construction of reality when comparing political candidates for an election (Vladisavljević, 2015). The bias in the media coverage stems from the log growing relationship between liberal forces and the media, which distorts the social construction of reality in average audiences.
In general, the media uses framing to guide viewers/audience in understanding critical issues that shape public opinion. In the issue of endorsement of Joe Biden by the LGBTQ, the media framing releases new details of 2020 election strategy by making voters who support the rights of minority group identify with the candidature of Joe Biden (Crary, 2020). Besides, the media framing works towards the maximization of the LGBTQ population turnout. In media framing, journalists tell the story within limited time and space and use certain frames to simplify and give meaning to the public.
In conclusion, media framing tells the public what is necessary, and extent of opinions and interpretations of various issues that shape public opinion. Through the selective way of choosing to cover some issues and political figures, and putting forth their understanding, simplifying issues, and allocating greater coverage on one public issue over the other, media framing is biased, which inhibits social construction of reality in making decisions on public opinions. However, media is able to shape how issues are delivered to the public directly o though the choice of the players. In the case of Joe Biden endorsement by the LGBTQ group, the media framing focus on shaping the public opinion through the Human Rights Campaign and the LGBTQ rights organizations.