Chapter 1: Informing, Persuading, Entertaining

Television, radio, newspapers and magazines are each useful because each fills a different societal need. To some degree, each serves to inform, persuade, and entertain simultaneously, but the emphases of these purposes vary between media.

Television is used largely to entertain, and to some degree to inform, viewers. By and large, viewers see television shows such as "The Office," "Lost" and "House" as more reliable sources of entertainment than they see CNN and Fox News as reliable sources of news. Because television is the only classic medium that utilizes both sound and sight (other than the internet) it is an ideal form of entertainment. It is fun to watch television for hours, whereas reading a magazine or newspaper for hours requires mental exertion. For this reason, I argue that television is the most effective medium of ENTERTAINMENT.

TV is likewise effective in communicating information, images and ideas. Debates and newsflashes inform viewers and tell them what to think about, but our media book states that most people rely on opinion leaders for guidance, and those leaders rely mostly on written media.

As such, newspapers and magazines typically are the surest source of INFORMATION. Whereas radio and television give brief overviews of the news highlights, newspapers and magazines contain in-depth articles devoted to specific issues. Herein opinions are expressed in open forums, allowing readers to understand other people's perspectives on issues. Newspapers generally deal with information essential to the informed reader. Magazines often publish information pertaining to specialized interests. For example, if I wanted information on how to effectively carve pumpkins, I would go to this months Reader's Digest. If I wanted to know about upcoming events in the provo area, I would go to the Daily Universe and look at the advertisements for the SEGO festival therein.

The written word is the most effective means of INFORMING.

Radio has two facets: talk radio and music radio. Talk radio, I argue, is the most effective medium of PERSUASION. Music radio is a runner-up to television in the art of entertainment.

Talk radio features powerful and opinionated speakers like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck shouting their deepest feelings. I noticed that when I started regularly listening to talk radio over the summer, my opinions became more decidedly aligned with those of the radio hosts. For this reason--the power of oration--I am convinced that talk radio is the most effective means of persuasion.

Music radio, on the other hand, strives to entertain the listeners. Music is fun to listen to, but from my experience most people would rather watch and listen to television than strictly listen to music on the radio. Radio takes second place in it's effort to entertain. It still exists because it is available to drivers. Music stations are extant on TV, they just aren't extant in cars like the radio is.

For these reasons, I believe television is the most effective medium in entertainment, the written media in information, and radio in persuasion.