When the majority
of people hear the term “media” used, they think of the latest celebrity gossip
and tabloids sitting on the shelves in the grocery store. Celebrity breakups
and other entertainment news are constantly being shoved down the throat of the
public. There is one issue in particular that the media does not acknowledge.
Child abuse. This is not necessarily any one group’s fault. Magazine and
television stations air what they think the people want to see and what will
make them the most money. But, these sources of media neglects the fact that
raising awareness of child abuse could have saved one of the 695,000 victims in
2010 from being abused. Child abuse is that issue that happens everyday, but is
hardly ever discussed.
Everyone enjoys a
break from his everyday life and daily stresses. Everyone likes to have a good
laugh once in a while and forget about her problems, even if it’s only for an
instant. These are things everyone needs. Tabloids, magazines, and
entertainment television networks are often the source in providing this relief
from the burdens of life. There’s nothing like fleeing into the life of a
celebrity for a thirty-minute television segment or a three-page article. In
today’s chaotic world, it is understandable that the media often provides an
escape for the average, hardworking person.
That
being said, the health and wellness of the youth in America should never have
to be compromised. Spreading the word about the urgency of the issue of child
abuse is something that should be done daily. There is no better source to
accomplish this than the media. They have the power to reach and grab the
attention of a large audience that may have otherwise been unaware of the
issue. They can spread the word and prevent a child from being abused or even
dying.
As a society, it’s
time to change our priorities. We need to start paying attention to the
problems around us that really matter. Everyone can benefit from this. Not only
will children’s lives be saved, but the media will also become more credible.
There will most definitely be a sense of respect associated with the media that
chooses to help raise awareness and broadcast stories of the abuse that’s
taking place. The public will admire the media for taking a stand against an
issue that is weighing our country down. The media has a great force in our country; a force big enough to start a wave of change.
Sources:
http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/NCANationalStatistics
I love this post! I think it is very well written, constructed, and thought about. I like the topic you chose and to point out that media can be a tool to better ourselves as a community, and make people aware, was really good. I really like the last paragraph, where you're telling how the media can benefit from talking about issues, such as child abuse. I also really like how instead of using "their" you use "he and her." This post was very well done, I look forward to reading more!!!
ReplyDeleteA solid Rogerian argument, Nicole. Addressing our love for escapism is useful, definitely. In your third paragraph, though, you might play around with some pathos--present your readers with a choice between media saving children's lives versus our desire to use the media to escape reality. Make that connection a little more explicit. Not too explicity--as too much pathos here will really shut down the conversation--and not too much guilt. But even mentioning the name of a specific show could be done to bring gentle, and self-mocking, awareness to the issue. (Did I explain that clearly?)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.