Media events can hold sway on many levels, from a small city television viewership up to the entire planet, sometimes occupying a smaller audience non-stop, while a larger audience is fed updates. A media event is loosely defined by modern evolving society, as an occasion or happening, that is spontaneous or planned, which attracts prominent coverage by mass media organizations, particularly television news and newspapers in both print and Internet editions. The element of immediacy is referred to as “breaking news" and which is crucial and spontaneous in media events. The planned events like a major speech by a national leader or a public demonstration against a government action, the prime importance is given to the subject matter itself and it is relied upon media to elevate the occasion to the true media event status. Public opinion, and even baseline attitudes of one culture towards another, can be largely determined by what is seen and heard during a major media event. When individuals or groups attempt to generate publicity for themselves through a media event, the occasion almost never captures widespread interest in the way a naturally occurring event does, such attempts are usually thought of as instances of media manipulation. Ideally, mass media is supposed to make it easier for people to participate in political decisions, understand how the government works, and hold government officials accountable. But in this day and age, the media is often used to manipulate and obscure the true form of political issues. Media coverage is very important because it allows us as people to see large events that take place in various parts of the country or world. The media can be tricky by taking an issue and replacing it with another issue or covering a negative event with something positive. The media thrive on conflict. Conflict attracts viewers, listeners, and readers to the media; the greater the conflict the greater the audience, and large audiences are imperative to the financial success of media outlets. Therefore, it is often in the media's interest to not only report conflict but to play it up, making it seem more intense than it really is. Without the media, most people would know little of events beyond their immediate neighborhood. A media event is a happening that attracts coverage by mass media. |