Public Influence

In building on my previous post about the influence in which religious institutions hold over the general public, we must now think about how / what level of influence then the general public might be afforded. We might think the general public dictates major media outlets such as television or print media, mainly because mass media outlets shape stories and media relations in the interest of public opinion, however this is seemingly not the case. The choice of the few to appeal to the many cannot be considered as being controlled by the masses, as one might argue that public opinion is controlled by the media. So when the opinion is controlled through the media, yet it becomes is presented as convincingly requested by the masses, this sort of counter deception gives the image of free choice and the media shaping to public appeal, yet when public appeal dictated by the media this notion of free choice and influence becomes nullified. I don’t think any major outlets will appear to contain any degree of public influence primarily due to these factors. Despite this, the internet has become a gateway for the opinions of the public to be readily available for all to view. Citizen journalisms through blogging or independent online articles allows for the abolishment of mass appeal which is found in mass media sources. The smokescreen of media influence becomes lifted and the opinion of the individual becomes available (and debated, i.e. forums) openly. Through these means, the general public can gain influence which in certain times is far greater than that available to mass media sources.