Jessa Bermudez

Mr. Davis
AP Lang & Comp
Period 7
Synthesis Essay
Despite the diversity around the world, media continues to influence the population, by
providing us with local and international news. It is not unusual for society to believe broadcasts
are within their best interests and are beneficial for providing the people with information. Media
holds the reputation of passing along news to raise awareness, but continues to disservice the
public without their knowledge, by withholding minor to major details from a report.
According to Source F, mainstream media's purpose is to provide its people with quality
service, and allow them to create informed decisions and opinions. However, what most fail to
see, is that media only shows society what they want us to see. As said in Source D, news tends
to focus on one little piece of the situation, often not emphasizing the "big-picture". According to
Jane Bluestein, the author of Creating Emotionally Safe Schools: A Guide for Educators and
Parents, the Columbine school shooting is a prime example of "becoming fixated on the
intensity of a terrible moment" and neglecting the "millions of other details". Due to the
incomplete coverage of the tragedy, the media demonstrates inadequate reports and commentary.
And when society receives incomplete information of a situation, the possibility of regretful
actions to occur is increased. "Our lack of perspective can have serious consequences,
particularly with regard to how we respond to the event and the solutions we propose" (Source
D).

Along with the details not said from the reported news, society tends to overlook the
efforts of the reporters obtaining the information. Robert Lissit's excerpt from "The Privacy
Piercers" displays the media's best interest and main motive of reporting the news: to "beat" or
have the satisfaction of receiving information before their opponent. For example, when Pan Am
103 was blown out of sky by a terrorist bomb in December of 1988, thousands of media people
descended on the hamlet (Source B). Completely disregarding the feelings of victims and
victims' loved ones, the reporters were unable to allow them of any closure or relief, as their only
desire was to acquire interesting news for their own report. "They stalked and hounded residents
for weeks in a relentless hunt for 'reactions' to the horrible deaths..." (Source B). Tragic events
are also known to celebrate anniversaries to honor and remember the ones lost, but typically, it is
known as a time where reporters and journalists continue to obtain as much information as
possible; forcing prearranged interviews and directed coverage upon the victims (Source B). The
reporter's ruthless actions on gaining the inside story of tragic events not only put a nuisance on
the disaster victims, but on their privacy as well.
The media's common purpose and service for the public are often seen as linking the
world together to raise awareness of natural and man-made tragedies. Although the media carries
such high and beneficial expectations, what people frequently disregard are the efforts in
obtaining the information, and the overall "big-picture" perspective. Thus, disregarding the
sentiment of the people involved, and deceiving the general public.