The mass media, including television, radio and newspapers, have great   influence in shaping people's ideas.

　　To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

　　Model Answer:

　　The mass media have a powerful influence in shaping our lives. We have come   to depend on them for information and entertainment, and in doing so we let them   affect important aspects of our lives.

　　The undeniable usefulness of the media in almost instantly providing   information about events around the world is largely taken for granted. But in   our dependence on the media we have allowed them to mould our notions and   opinions of events, places and people. Though few of us probably think about it,   our conceptions of, say, our elected officials spring from television images and   newspaper stories. Most of us will never meet prime ministers or presidents, but   anyone who is regularly exposed to the media will have an opinion of them. When   it is time to cast our vote, we will make our decision based on how the media   portray the candidates. We are similarly swayed by coverage of wars. The media,   representing the values of their owners, societies and governments, tend to   report wars with a bias; which is the 'good' side and which the 'bad' is   determined for us by reporters, editors and commentators, and sure enough the   public begins to form opinions that reflect the coverage they see, hear and read   in the major media.

　　The media are also influential in the way they facilitate the spread of   culture and lifestyle. The so-called 'global youth culture', in which one finds   young people around the world displaying a common interest in music, clothing   styles and films, is an example of the media's enormous sway in this regard. A   popular figure such as Michael Jackson would never be so well known were it not   for the media's extensive reach into every society on the globe.

　　Thus I would argue that the mass media's influence is certainly great.   Indeed, with technological advancements such as the Internet bringing even more   forms of electronic media to our homes and workplaces, it is likely the media's   influence will grow even stronger.