Reflection Paper

What did you learn about the media?

One thing I learned about the media was that how ever the media portrays reality and what happens in the world is how we as individuals view it. I thought it was very interesting when I heard the idea that people view the world as “pictures” as Walter Lippman had suggested. I definitely believe that there is some truth to this statement.
I also learned that different media have different success rates. Some messages are best delivered through certain types of media, whereas others through other types of media. One message may be better suited for one medium while a different message might be communicated better through another.

What were your expectations and were they met?

My expectations for this class coming in were that the class would be very basic and for the most part strictly informative. I was expecting to go over different types of media and how they are used to communicate in today’s world. My expectation were definitely met as well as exceeded. I really enjoyed this class. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I learned about the history and theories of various media. One example is the history of the television. This was very interesting to learn about. Also, the theories about mass communication made me think about things in a different light, which I see as a good thing.

How does the world see the media compared to how you see the media?

The world in general typically sees the media as being unbiased and reliably informative. They see it as a means of information, entertainment, and sometimes relaxation. I must admit, my perception is very similar to that of the world. The main difference is that I realize the imperfections of those that run the media. I realize that some media outlets allow fabrication and some allow things to be communicated that may not be true. I guess you could say that I view the media in a similar light to the world, only with added skepticism. I believe that many forms of media and many media outlets and channels truly try to communicate honest messages, but I believe that sometimes, they deliver misinformed messages. This does not question they’re ethics, merely, I question the credibility. As far as being a means of entertainment and relaxation, I enjoy watching a good movie or show as much as the next man. My only complaint is that I would like to see higher ethical standards portrayed.

How does all of this fit into the Lord’s plan for us?

I believe that media can be used for very good things. Media can be used to further the work of the Lord and build the kingdom of God. Communication is such a vital part of life and of being connected with other people. Every individual wants to communicate and be heard. The Lord wants people to communicate and interact. There is certain truth to the statement in the Bible, “it is not good for man to be alone.” To live in this world but not communicate with others is to be alone. I believe that it is vital to the Lord’s plan for us to communicate by whatever means are available to us.