"The media pay far too much attention to people who do not deserve it." How far do you agree?

Model Essay

The media is a powerful tool used to shape public opinion and promote a particular agenda. However, it is often criticized for paying excessive attention to individuals who do not deserve it. While some argue that certain people deserve media attention due to their relevance, the media’s focus is often undeserved, depicting a larger cultural issue of valuing fame and scandal over meaningful news.

One example of justifiable media attention is coverage of public figures whose decisions and actions affect the lives of many people. For instance, politicians are often subject to public scrutiny due to their role in governance and decision-making. Their policies and actions can have significant implications for society, making their attention necessary as it helps to hold them accountable. Similarly, public interest in figures like scientists who make significant breakthroughs or individuals who perform heroic acts is understandable due to its relevance.

In contrast, many argue that reality television stars, celebrities, and social media influencers receive excessive media attention despite having no relevance to society. These individuals often gain media attention for their personal lives and scandals, as opposed to their achievements or contributions to society. Paparazzi constantly follow celebrities, waiting for any opportunity to capture headlines for tabloids and entertainment shows. While some argue that this media attention is justified due to the public’s fascination with celebrity gossip, the media’s focus on such stories diminishes the importance of more pressing issues.

This excessive focus on undeserved figures has far-reaching effects on society, normalizing fame and scandal over substance and achievement. Society has been conditioned to believe that attention equates to importance, resulting in misplaced values and priorities. As a result, the public has become more concerned with indulging in the private lives of strangers than tackling more pressing issues affecting the society. This shift in societal values is evident in the rising trend of reality shows, where ordinary people who contribute little to society are celebrated simply because they are rich, good looking, and famous.

Additionally, the media’s excessive focus on individuals who do not deserve it often undermines meaningful news reporting. Instead of focusing on important issues like climate change, healthcare policy, and educational reform, the media focuses on superficial stories about celebrities, reality stars, and social media influencers. This results in widespread ignorance and apathy towards substantive news, making it challenging for the public to participate in meaningful discourse and decision-making.

Moreover, social media has played a significant role in further perpetuating the issue of excessive media attention. Influencers and social media stars are often elevated to celebrity status with millions of followers, and the media often magnifies their influence by giving them attention. These influencers often gain public attention for their dressing sense, relationship updates, diet, and lifestyle choices, which have little to no educational or informative value.

The media’s overemphasis on these trivial topics has undermined substantive news despite their massive audience and platform, which could be used to spread information about more pressing issues, such as current events or public policy matters. This has in turn, changed the media landscape and has transformed the style and tone of news reporting from factual and unbiased journalism to personalized and sensationalist reporting.

Furthermore, when social media influencers and celebrities become famous overnight without much effort, it can give the impression that anyone can achieve similar success with little effort. It is evident that this is not the case, and it normalizes instant gratification, thereby disregarding the hard work and dedication required to achieve meaningful accomplishments.

Additionally, underserving individuals often end up earning a considerable amount of money through social media promotions, branding, merchandise, and appearances. The money earned by these individuals is disproportionate to the effort that they put into building their careers. In contrast, many individuals working hard towards making a difference in their communities struggle to earn a modest income. The media’s obsession with undeserving individuals is not only a reflection of our societal values, but it is also a reflection of the media industry’s choices.

One solution to this problem is media literacy education. It is crucial to teach the public to be more discerning about the media they access, scrutinize their sources, and demand more substantial coverage. Individuals must be equipped with the tools to distinguish between credible news sources and tabloids, allowing them to form informed opinions. Through education, the public can learn to demand substantial coverage from media outlets, challenging them to focus on more pressing issues affecting society.

Another solution to this problem is media regulation. Media watchdogs must monitor content to ensure that it remains ethical and responsible. Platforms like social media platforms should take responsibility for regulating the content created and posted by its users. There should be guidelines limiting the kind of content its users can post online to prevent the spread of fake news and misinformation.

Ultimately, the responsibility for change lies in the hands of the media and the public. The media has a responsibility to deliver substantive and credible news and to hold public figures accountable. The public has a responsibility to consume the media responsibly, demand more substance, and participate in meaningful discourse. Only by working collectively towards this goal can we hope to transform the media’s obsession with attention into a meaningful contribution to public discourse.

In conclusion, excessive media attention often given to undeserving individuals is a reflection of deeper societal values. The public’s attention to these individuals emphasizes the devaluation of productive and meaningful work. Social media has a role in perpetuating this problem by magnifying the influence of these individuals through their vast audience. It is our responsibility as individuals to demand more substantial and reliable content from media sources and take up media literacy education to understand the significance of what we consume. Moreover, the media industry must take substantial responsibility in regulating its content and actively monitoring it to prevent any ethical or moral hazards. Only through responsible behavior and collective accountability, can we transform the media’s unhealthy obsession with undeserving individuals into productive public discourse.