CRITICISMS OF THE MEDIA EFFECTS MODEL

After reading through the ''THE TEN THINGS WRONG WITH THE MEDIA EFFECTS MODEL ''by David Gauntlett 1995a, it is obvious to take side with him by agreeing in the following ways;
It is true that the effects model tackles social problems backwards as in the case where criminologist try to explain crime and violence from the point of the media as in most cases the offenders of such crimes and violence have less interest in watching the media hence the deviation from looking at this mistakes from individuals instead of that of the media.

The effect clearly deal with children as inadequate as in psychology children turn to learn faster than adults and hence are ignored from the content of programmes they watch.The media considered it's self as suprior to the audience and try to dictate to them.Without mincing words Gauntlett is right when he says there are ten things wrong with the media

FUNCTIONS OF THE MEDIA

The media in any given society is a very strong tool which in no doubt performs a wide range of functions,these functions can be categorized under the following socio-cultural,political and economic groups.

SOCIO-CULTURAL


1.To entertain the public



2.The media serves as agents of socialization




3.The media serves as glue to society





4.The media set social agenda






5.The media influence opinion in society






6.Th e media mobilized people for a course






7.The media disseminate or make information available to the public.






point 2.THE MEDIA AS AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:It is no doubt that the media serves as agents of socialization,but the word socialization here goes beyond just knowing each other and making merry.Through the media we as individual members of a given society turn to understand each others way of life and appreciate it.Hence the cultural of tolerance being developed and promoted.




POLITICAL





1. The media performs the watchdog or surveillance function





2.The media educate or teach the public on public matters or things that are related to the or are of national interest.






3. The media also serves as a mediator.









4.The media performs the gatekeeper role.






5.The media serves as an investigator.







6.The media is a platform of ideas.





7.The media creates awareness.




8.The media agitates for change.





9.The media serves as a platform to analyze.






point 1.THE MEDIA PERFORMS THE WATCHDOG OR SURVEILLANCE FUNCTION:Politically,the media among other institutions that exist in a society or a country seems to be very vibrant in monitoring and keeping an eye on the activities of other state institutions especially those that manage the affairs of the ordinary citizens such as the executive,legislature and the judiciary among other government agencies.Hence it is very imperative for the media to perform such function as the watchdog and the surveillance role.




ECONOMIC



1.The media serves as a source of employment.

point 1. THE MEDIA AS A SOURCE OF EMPLOYMENT:Employment over the years has been the headache for many governments especially those in the developing world hence lifting up of part of that responsibility by private investors who invest in the media and in turn provide employment opportunity for legitimate graduate journalists and other such individuals who qualify to be employ in the media and other wise will have been a liability on the society.