MEDIA
...ictional finalism. This makes media powerful, aggressive, and superior among any other medium of communication. Albeit, most often than not, as explained by Lasswell, mass media is considered synonymous to the term mass communication when in fact, media is actually different from mass communication in the sense that it is the means of communicating to a moderately large, diverse and indefinite audience. According to Harold Lasswell, political scientist and mass communication research pioneer, there are essentially three functions of media in society: Surveillance, of which its role is to gather and disseminate information regarding events and issues within and outside a nation. Examples of surveillance would be television programs that report news and other affairs that can be relayed to the public (TV Patrol, ANC, etc); Correlation, which is commonly seen in newspaper editorials, media has a hand in interpreting the information it supplies to the people, and recommending what to do about it; and Socialization, which incorporates devices that will integrate a society’s values and cultural knowledge in its present and future members. While it may seem simple to differentiate the three functions of media from one another, it is in reality quite difficult. Surveillance encompasses correlation by the mere selection of what articles count as news, and correlation becomes infused with socialization because of the attempts at persuading the audience with the media’s personal ideals. Media has the ability to broadcast messages publicly and almost instantly, and has a wide spectrum of an audience that is gradually becoming dependent on its capability. The government then sees this as the vital means of communicating with the nation. The media is either the government’s springboard on its latest policies, programs and agenda, or the citizens’ watchdog that reports politicians’ transgressions during their tenure. In turn, media is utilized by the people to voice out their opinions and views regarding the administration’s performances or what they consider to be worthy of the government’s attention. It is no wonder that media is a major agent of political socialization; it is the link between the government and the people where both could express their ideas, beliefs, and quandaries. While media can help the government and the citizenry, it can also become a cunning player...