“When truth survives free speech”

This is an example of freedom of speech as the blogger Ms. Cox exposes many secrets of Mr. Padrick and his company. She mentions that Mr. Padrick has engaged in bribery, tax fraud, money laundering, payoffs and theft, among other things. Besides, she directly uses the full name and title of her target, and she provides many links to her other sites in order to give the audiences more searching methods and information. She seems like cynical, as she said that “I’m glad I lost the case, because it gives attention to what I have been doing”. She appears that she hates the moguls a lot, as she is willing to pay 2.5 million dollars to appeal. 

Reflection on Free Marketplace

   The three quotes of Thomas Jefferson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and John Milton were all about how the Free Marketplace works. It supports the freedom of speech, like what John Milton said, “Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter”. Free marketplace of ideas looks like everyone can say anything toward a certain event, no matter true or false. Therefore, at the end of free marketplace, people may feel tired seeking truths. As there is too much information, people would have to judge everything before believing in it. Free marketplace is not practical, as it still has some problem.

However, I don’t believe in the idea of Free Marketplace. It can be compared to market economy system, which can be divided to three groups: pure market economy, pure command economy and mixed economy. Pure market economy is an economic system that is regulated by supplies and needs of producers and customers; pure command economy means that the economy of one country is totally controlled by the government. Both of these two systems cannot work ideally as they have a lot of problems. Therefore, government should play a leading role to regulate one’s economic system. Similarly, Free Marketplace is not practical either, as it still has some invisible problems.

Therefore, government also has its rights to censor some sort of information in order to ensure the peace and development of a country. For example, a couple of week before, Chinese government censored the news of the absence of the vice president, and told to the public that he was fine. Although none knew the truth completely, I believe Chinese government did great in protecting the privacy of the country. Otherwise, many terrorists may have some action that will make the country chaotic.

News Journals

The evidences of Free Press in my news journals can be seen directly. It was talking about whether Google should censor some political videos. In the article, the author mentions that "while some governments think You Tube is too lax, some of its users have felt it is too restrictive". This idea challenged the governments ideas, and it is an example of free speech. It shows the two sides of arguement. If the writer's free speech is not being protected, they may not be able to say anything of their own opinions which are conflicted with the governments. In this case, citizens cannot see the different aspects of one special event, because what is reported through media is all what the government believed. The language, as well, will be influenced to be very formal and subjective, as writers cannot say anything which challenges the government's sayings. They cannot write personal views and attitudes in the articles. Beneath the surface of any words, readers are not able to infer any deeper meanings. It's quite boring if the article is filled with facts, without any thinkings.  The governments' voice would be benefit, because the purpose of restricting the free speech of reporters is to make every citizen listen to them. 

What is NEWS

News is the event which happens recently, and may be influential to people and get people's interests. It can be local national or international. It is published or posted online or on the newspaper. It can also be some scientific prediction of experts, like when and where there will be an earthquake.

What should be news？
Current events should be news, like Apple unveiled iPhone 5.
What may affect people should be news.

Who gets to do decide?
Readers decide whether it is news or not. Reporters document something they believe that it may interest people, and post it online or on the newspaper. Then readers select what to read as news stories.
Government decides what to be posted as a news as well, because some news has to do with the politics and government wants it to be a privacy.

My relationship with the media

There are a bunch of medias that we can choose today, in order to keep in touch with the world. For me, I prefer to choose Internet, newspaper and magazines. Usually, I get my news from the internet, because it is very convenient and fast. For example, when somewhere occurs an earthquake at this moment, this event will be posted on the website in the next second and seen by everyone who can access to the internet. Later, I found that internet has its disadvantages as well. Although I can search things really fast, I have to print it first in order to get a written vision. However, magazines and newspaper can give me that opportunity to collect some important information in a written form. I am often entertained and informed by the media, because once I enter any web page, it will show up an advertisement or some big event in a corner. I like watching movies on the Internet, so I am entertained a lot. If I want to close that window, I have to take a look at it first, so I get some information from the media. Additionally, I am always persuaded by the media because there are a lot of information on the internet combined with different people's thoughts, and some of those worths reading and understanding. As everyone can write his/her own opinions towards certain things, it may not be always true. Therefore, searching the Internet should be patient and careful. Otherwise, one may be brain-washed instead of being persuaded.

How has media shaped my life outlook or identity?
My views toward morality changed, because a lot of news are posted on the website, and there are a lot of editorials. Once I typed in one event in google, it will show up different editorials. With reading more and more opinions of others, I have my own bias, I can come to realize right and wrong. So my views toward the morality are changed.

Language and Mass Communication

Language

        Language is the expression of human beings to understand and communicate with others. The types of languages are various. It can be written or spoken, facial or gestural. For example, languages can be documented in books as records for others to read and spread ideas or thoughts. Besides, speaking, which is used daily, is another way to exchange ideas with others by using languages. Additionally, body languages usually can express the truest feeling and thinking from people's heart, so many policemen and scientists always identify whether the suspect is lying by watching the facial and gestural languages.
        Although different groups, nations or countries have different types of languages, the purpose of it is almost the same. Language is a tool to build net among a wide range of people and pass on the civilizations to next generations. For example, almost everyone is familiar with the song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" well. Although there may be some little divergences among different regions, the melody of the song is almost the same. That is the how songs, stories, anecdotes and even civilizations are passed on from one generation to another generation, from one region to another region. With the help of languages, people can communicate with others without any barriers. Admittedly, languages have many disadvantages as well. The number of people who speak the same language is limited, even the most popular language. Therefore, in many cases, people need translators. However, when one language is changed to another one, although the facial meaning is translated, the deeper meaning under the surface of words are not interpreted.


Mass Communication

          Mass communication is the influential communication media that helps humans to spread out ideas and advertise products. Mass communication can be categorized by two groups: electric and non-electric. For example, newspaper, magazines are non-electric mass communication, while radio, internet and television belong to electric mass communication. The purpose of mass communication is to advertise new products to customers, propose statements and announcements, and expose something to the public. In a word, mass communication is used to bring some predominant things to community and get support from human. For instance, companies hope their new product can be popular and accepted by a large group of customers, so they advertise their products on television. Certainly, mass communication enables people to know some new spread out ideas and products, so that they can keep the pace with time. The disadvantages of mass communication, admittedly, are unavoidable. Many lawbreakers may post some negative things on the internet. For instance, many anarchists might say something bad of the government, which may lead to the chaos of society. Besides, not all advertisements of the products are true. Many companies may use the trust of customers and mislead them to buy the products.