are Americans easily manipulated by the media?
462024
historically propaganda has proven to be an effective tool to manipulate public opinion hitler and stalin among other leaders have demonsrated how to properly abuse this power, only a few corporations own American mainstream media, from t.v. to magazines this is how our news becomes so biased and censored. what can be done we can turn off our tv more often and read our news and listen to our radio from independent radio sources and support these institutions and vote down any legislation that attempts to subvert this one freedom we should all take the time to exercise,we can also remain skeptical and consider thesource of our information and how it may serve certain interests of certain parties and question anything that only offers one view,remain aware, and resist being manipulated by our fears
32888
I agree with the previous post. Why not both?  And I really don't want to come across as elist, but I doubt the American citizentry really knows enough about either country to be making such determinations.  What you've learned from watching 'floating heads' argue on CNN or Fox News for an hour probably isn't enough to be determining whether or not you think a country should be trusted.  Hopefully then, our elected officials will do what we expect them to and approach the situation with expert tact.
330756
If you travel abroad you soon learn that control of the media and privacy invasion are realities worldwide.  The U.S. remains by far one of the least controlled societies, even if you restrict your list to the so-called Western democracies.\nAnd the U.S. government for all its failings continues to be one of the least corrupt and most open.
1076037
Sorry to tell you this....but our media (in America) will say anything to make Americans believe that they are hated by everyone in the world. Also, with the popularity of the Internet most Americans get their news independently of the mainstream media. I find this hate rather hard to believe considering the problem America is having with illegal immigration.\n\nIf this story is true, the criminals will be tried and sentenced, just like the criminals from Abu Ghraib.
21771
A better question may be whether media can mis-shape an event or mis-shape foreign policy.  According to a panel of editors on TV some time ago, Newspapers used to be far more open about their political leaning, taking names like The Morning Republican or The Evening Democrat, and you knew where they stood.  Now conglomerate news is far more subtle and profess not to be biased.  However it is probably easier to get into journalism schools and survive if you are liberal rather than conservative, and it is probably difficult for journalists to resist their personal biases.  Many believe that our country is strong because we have freedon of the press, and I agree.  But I believe we are even stronger by accident in that we now have a strong two-party system (with smaller parties free to come and go).  Countries that have to form coalitions of many small parties that mutually hate each other are not very strong.  As soon as the press succeeds in installing their favorite party as an overwhelmingly dominate party you can almost guarantee that the minor party and the press will be surpressed to ensure survival of the winner.  Both parties have liberal and conservative wings and often these wings supply the most interesting ideas, because that is where the passion is.  The moderates of both parties usually control the outcome by asking the important questions such as who is going to pay for this great idea?  We will probably get along OK as long as enough citizens look past the headlines and read between the other lines to seek the unvarnished truth.  Distortions occur in events and foreign policy when people accept biased reports and fail to observe what is on the other side of the coin.
1028991
It is media in America's nature to be liberal and slightly anti government because we have free press, if we had a state sponsored press similar to China or Saudi Arabia like some folks would prefer, than we would have a cheerleader press that never criticised the government, and always stood by their side, but people seem to forget, that is un American.
472984
Most are not.  They must usually be either affluent, young and attractive, or represent a specific group the media wants to support or bring down to get on the news.
694654
I've been trying to figure this out for a long time now.  All I can say is the RIGHT WING media bias keeps on telling lies about the so called left wing bias over and over, figuring if they say it long enough people will believe it.  Kind of like Hitler did before WW2.  Anyway, there arent any journalists in the media, they are all controlled by the government.
1046371
Yes,  We as Americans should be very concerned about world opinion.  My girlfriend went on a vacation to Australia not long after we met.  She noticed a little hostility from some of the people from other countries that were in their group.  These ultra conservative "cowboy" extremest are giving us a very bad image around the world.  I stumbled across a website for a German band .........  I think it was Ram-stein but I'm not sure.  I was shocked and appalled at all the anti U.S. statements. \n      I once got into a discussion at a bar with a girl from Czechoslovakia she told me that Americans in general were uninformed and often deceived by our media.   We are the most powerful country in the world right now our problems are the worlds problems and visa verse.  We as Americans have a responsibility to know whats going on in the world (not just what FOX news tells us) and act accordingly.
849208
I personally believe most media does a huge injustice to the American people as a whole either by not portraying the news as it is or tweeking the truth a little to favor one side or the other.  An example right now would be Britney Spears and Kevin Federline.  O.k. so it's not World News, however what do you think most of America feels about Kevin?  Has Britney told anyone anything herself?  Of course not media does it by rumors, speculation, etc.  Fox News is  a Republican station that owns many many stations.  you wtch their news and it is totally biased on the Republican side of course.  You see lots of things that would justify us being in a war right now.  For most people that rely on the news to give them "the truth" about the world and what they should think it's really sad cause they are relying on people that have everything to gain by you viewing things the same way that they do.
381636
Absolutely! The media says what the media wants to say or what it's told to say, and doesn't always give 100% truth of situations. A prime example of this would be the war in Iraq. Bush says one thing, citizens and witnesses of Iraq say that's not true.\n\nOne thing to keep in mind is that the media doesn't care what the message is, it cares about ratings. As long as they get more viewers that the competition, they really could care less what the message is.\n\nNotably more trustworthy are the independent journalists who go deep into the action for the purpose of delivering the real story. Of course many are going deep into the action because they're getting good ratings by doing so, but some have honorable causes and want the world to know what's really going on. Those are the ones we should listen to.
340991
Most Americans don't watch the news. They prefer to watch American Idol and America's Next Top Model. The smart Americans are few and far between. I would like to think that I am one of them. ;)
1032339
Compare MS NBC and Fox News.\nEither young properly trained Americans are wantonly murders...Or as I suspect facing an enemy NOT in uniform reacts properly when confronted. Does that UN American guy still own the New York Times/Post? Whatever? You Know! That Moonie Guy! And we wonder why their opinion is What!
269131
Eventually?  I believe this has already occurred.  Those who think Americans live in a democracy are sorely mistaken.  There are two main forces that currently control America: The conservative corporations and the liberal media.  (Neither of those statements are intended to be a negative judgment on either group).  Those two groups are the ones with the money, and the power.\n\nI'm not sour about that.  But I do think that anyone who thinks that every person has a say is fooling themselves.  Both of these groups, over time, have gotten very good at positioning their message so that the majority of people will vote for their candidate.
391807
They use words like "The U.S. once again has...." because the U.S. once again HAS...... The media seems to be more to the left because most journalism is liberal. It has to be or it would be judging everybody. O.K. seriously, most mainstream news doesnt report good things because good news isnt interesing. Do you remember when Clinton was in office they were just as rough on him. That is the job of the media, to investigate and report. Maybe it seems they are reporting a lot of bad because there is. If you are looking for righty news try a.m. talk radio stations, its what my husband does.
175090
Honestly, there is no way to sugar coat this...Negatively. With the help of our media and military actually.  While the military isn't at fault, their prescence upsets the locals.  The media doesn't help either because they bribe the locals into doing things they normally wouldn't like throw rocks at the Anchor for dramatic affect.  It helps their ratings.  Whenever I travel I met wonderful people from other cultures and I learn that what we know as Americans isn't so true anymore.  It is sad but I don't like for other cultures to view me as a bully for being an American.  I suppose that it goes both ways.  Unfortunate really.
1161486
You ask the question with the premise that main-stream media isn't corporate controlled by a few individuals with specific interests.  The media isn't "regurgitating" propoganda, it is creating it wholesale.  Our media conglomerates were quietly de-regulated in 1981 and can no longer be considered "independent" news sources.  Couple this with the fact that, by and large, popular press has ALWAYS been about selling newspapers, ad space, etc.\n\nIf you want a real clue as to what is happening you must unfortunately do your own research, which means cracking a real 1st-tier history book.