As I sit down to write this column, I think about how much of an effect these words really have on the average person. When a student picks up the Collegiate Times, do they really read past the headlines, or do they head straight to the Sudoku? What I'm getting at is how much influence the media really has on the average person.
Most people would try to claim they think for themselves and that a television station or newspaper covers something won't change their already-formed opinions on the matter.
They think independently. But what I would argue is that, to an extent, the media tell us what to think. Does the media cover certain topics because we are interested in them ... or do we think the topic is interesting simply because the media covers it, and therefore the idea must be important?
Look at the last presidential election. The media loved Barack Obama. His face was not only on the cover of Time magazine, but they even made an action figure of the man. It seemed as though he was everywhere you looked, and John McCain just didn't have that kind of ubiquitous coverage.
It even was noticeable in their wives: Michelle Obama's outfits were analyzed in fashion magazines, but I don't remember anyone noticing what Cindy McCain was wearing the night of the debates.
Regardless of whether we realize it, the media has a huge impact on how we perceive things and make choices. What we must be careful of is whether we believe in the real issues, or just the image.
Did you vote for Obama because you agreed with his policies, or did you vote for him because the media showed him as cool, young and hip compared to that other old guy?
It goes much farther than just politics, although that may be the most dangerous category. Take simple shopping decisions. Why do you use the type of shampoo you do? It could be because you compared all the different bottles in the store, but more than likely you saw a television commercial and decided that you wanted your hair to look like Sandra Bullock's.
Even those billboards you drive by every day on the way to campus or work have some kind of effect. It might be more subconscious, but repetition is key.
Maybe you don't remember where or what context you saw an advertisement, but next time that product appears on the grocery store shelf, you recognize it and are more likely to try it out.
It's also easy to be sucked into a one-dimensional view of the world through the media. People who strictly watch Fox news or only tune into CNN will never get both sides of the story.
If people only listen to the media that they already agree with, then they are only reinforcing opinions and aren't learning anything new at all. Media has an unavoidable impact on us, but one thing the audience can do is at least seek out multiple sources so they aren't only getting one message and can make choices about what to think.
If you are still skeptical of the power of the media's influence, take a look into history. President Wilson's WWI propaganda had a huge impact on Americans.
But it's not necessarily a good thing. Mao Zedong's use of media and propaganda during the Cultural Revolution in China kept his communist regime in power because he was able to convince people he was doing the right thing.
Perhaps the scariest example is Adolf Hitler, who blinded the German people to his wrongdoings with nationalism.
So don't just take what is fed to you. Sometimes it's easy for the subconscious to take over, but if you are aware of how pervasive media is in your life, it will be easier to ask questions and make logical decisions about politics, world issues or even what shampoo to buy without just accepting the media's opinion as pure fact.
Obviously a newspaper can't print something that isn't true. I'm not arguing that every reporter is out to get you. I'm just saying you don't have to agree with everything that reporter writes.
When you read an article, think about where the sources come from. Read an opposing argument. Then once you see the best of both sides, make a conscious decision about how you feel.
Maybe that celebrity doesn't deserve his bad reputation. Or the candidate you thought was a sleazeball has some good qualities, too.
Make sure you get both sides of the story. That way when you come across someone who disagrees with you, you can back up your opinion with a well-researched argument. Then they will be the ones standing open-mouthed and struggling to find an answer.