Media Subjectivity to Influence Consumer Perspectives

Media Subjectivity
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Subjectivity in the media represents the tendency for media outlets to present information in a biased or subjective manner. This bias may range from subtle to overt and can be motivated by numerous factors, like the political views of the outlet, the opinions of the writer or editor, and the target audience. The behavior may take many forms, including the selection of stories covered, the choice of stories to feature prominently, and the slant of the stories themselves. For example, a media outlet might cover only stories supporting its political views while ignoring reports contradicting its beliefs. Similarly, it might feature stories more prominently if they match its political views. This paper analyzes the subjectivity concept as applied in the media to influence consumer perspectives. It will evaluate the idea based on how it has been used historically and currently.
My Positionality
As a media consumer, I am deeply aware of subjectivity in the media. At its most basic level, subjectivity in the media means that the content people consume is filtered through the lens of different perspectives, which can be intentional and unintentional. For example, when news outlets report on a particular story, they may have a specific angle or narrative attached to it. This could be as simple as framing a story in a negative or positive light or including particular facts while leaving out others. This is part of the reason why various outlets may report on the same story in different ways.
Subjectivity is evident in the way stories are presented. Depending on the medium, media producers may use specific techniques to evoke certain emotions from their audience. For example, a film director may use music and visuals to create a particular atmosphere not present in the story. This action can manipulate how viewers perceive and influence how they interpret the story. Hence, subjectivity in the media is not necessarily a bad thing.
It can sometimes be used to create more engaging and thought-provoking content (Georgiou & Yu, 2019). For example, Huang & Liu (2022) discovered that subjective advertising contributes to high conversion rate, especially when the information is personalized. “Therefore, these two speech acts (locutionary and illocutionary) can be seen as subjective advertising, which is a kind of advertisers’ communicative strategy and arouses the subjective part of a consumer’s perlocutionary acts.” However, it is vital to be aware of the potential for manipulation and to ensure consumers are not being taken advantage of. It is also essential to consider different perspectives and to question the information individuals are being presented with. By doing so, people can ensure that they form their own opinions and not just blindly accept what they are told.
Governments play a crucial role in the subjectivity of the media. Authorities are vested in controlling the media, as it is an effective way to shape public opinion and maintain political control (Schiffrin, 2021). Governments do this in various ways, from direct ownership of media outlets to subtler measures such as censorship or manipulating the news agenda. One of the most direct ways governments can influence the media is through ownership. In many countries, governments own or control significant media outlets, such as television and radio stations. By controlling these outlets, they can ensure they have an undistorted platform to deliver their messages. Governments can also shape media coverage by restricting access to certain media outlets and manipulating the news agenda.
Key Issues and Arguments in Present Times
The critical issues at the heart of media subjectivity can be divided into three main categories. They include ideological bias, media manipulation, and epistemological quandaries. Ideological bias refers to the idea that media outlets may have an ideological agenda and prioritize specific stories or cover topics in a biased manner. For example, some news outlets may prioritize stories about specific political issues or may be more likely to cover stories that align with their beliefs. Comparatively, media manipulation refers to the idea that media outlets may be influenced by outside forces, such as corporate interests, political pressure, or even foreign governments. Some news outlets may be more likely to cover stories that support particular corporate interests or publish stories that favor specific political candidates. For example, Demorest (2009) quotes Ben Bagdikian, a media critic, saying that “media organizations often pull back stories when they might offend advertisers.”
Finally, epistemological quandaries refer to the difficulty in determining the truth or accuracy of a story or topic. For example, it may be challenging to determine whether a particular story is true or false or whether a particular opinion is based on facts or personal beliefs (Peters & Carlson, 2019). Media subjectivity has become an increasingly important issue due to the proliferation of news outlets, the rise of social media, and the increasing role of media in shaping public opinion. With the rise of social media, it has become easier for individuals to share their opinions and perspectives, which can lead to the proliferation of false or biased information.
Additionally, with the increasing role of media in shaping public opinion, it is increasingly important to ensure that media outlets provide accurate and unbiased information. With the proliferation of news outlets, it can be difficult for individuals to determine which outlets provide accurate and unbiased information. Desire-based research models have also become part of the media. These frameworks focus on understanding contradiction, complexity, and the self-determination of lived lives which is a major problem in present times (Tuck, 2009).
Key Arguments
At the heart of this subjectivity are multiple arguments. The first supposition is that media outlets often have a particular viewpoint expressed through the information they present. This situation is for news outlets and other media, such as social media platforms. For example, news outlets like Fox News and MSNBC have a clear ideological leaning expressed in the stories they cover and how they cover them. Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook also have a particular viewpoint expressed through their algorithms and the content they promote.
Another argument is that the media is often biased in covering specific topics. This can be seen in how specific stories are given more attention than others or how particular stories are framed in a way that favors one side over the other. For example, in recent years, some media outlets have been accused of giving more attention to stories focusing on the negative aspects of immigration than to stories about the positive contributions of immigrants to the economy. The other perception ...