How Information Disseminated through the Media Has Changed - Research Proposal Example

Name Tutor Course Date New Media Analysis Introduction The way media disseminates information to the public is very crucial and critical to the way the public reacts to the information and in many cases, can have both positive and negative effects on people. Information particularly in distressed communities like those ravaged by wars and conflicts has the capacity to inflate situations or calm tensions depending on how it is conveyed and the manner in which its details are painted (Siegel & Welsh 11). In this brief paper, effort is made in providing a critical analysis of the effect that mass media has on delinquency around the world. Reporting of information and incidences as they happen is crucial to keeping the public informed which is the mandate of mass media outlets but there is something inappropriate in the choice of incidences and manner of reporting preferred by media houses which when critically analyzed indicates that it has an effect on delinquency especially among minors (Siegel & Welsh 51). This paper looks at how the media has changed over time and how information disseminated through the media has changed based on the impact it seeks to have within its target audience. One of the most critical areas that this topic can be discussed is how media has over time influenced delinquency among minors around the world. The working definition of the term delinquency as used in this article is the participation in illegal behavior and criminal activities by minors or juveniles – that is, persons younger than the statutory age of majority as established by law (Walklate 203). In different jurisdictions, there are different ways that are prescribed to deal with juvenile delinquents since it is a special interest group of offenders that require special attention and care given their young age (Walklate 123). According to records for different countries such as the United States, it is indicated that there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of arrests of young people under the age of 20 years in modern times as compared to the way things were in the past 20 years (Siegel & Welsh 81). The interesting thing to note from this statistic is that this increase has been attributed to many things in the society as the society changes. This notwithstanding, there is a group of scholars that attribute this increase in arrests not change in youth behavior but rather on the more aggressive criminal justice and zero-tolerance policies that have been established by different countries to curb criminal activities within their jurisdictions (Ryan & Lane 67). Among the reasons given for increased delinquency in the society is the influence that mass media as well as other forms of media has on young people and how this effects influence their behavior. In an article entitled, Early childhood intervention. A promising preventative for juvenile delinquency, Zigler, Taussig & Black argue that perpetuation of youth violence has increased in the US ten fold in the past ten years and what worries most is not merely the increasing number of cases but also the fact that minors are able to shoot other minors and people with remarkable accuracy and effectiveness (Zigler, Taussig & Black 997). An example is given of Michael Carneal who was a minor in 1998 that went on a rampant shooting spree shooting eight times into a prayer group in Paducah, Kentucky without having any of the eight shots go astray despite the fact that he had never used an actual short gun before (Walklate 65). In the shooting spree, the young Michael managed to shoot five victims in the head and three in the stomach and from the eight, three died and one was paralyzed for life as a result of the bullet injuries to the head. This is just one of the many incidents of delinquency that has been experienced in the US and around the world in recent times and there are many theories that try to explain why this trend is growing and increasing with time. According to Walklate (73), the blame lies squarely on the media and the kinds of information it disseminates to the public which is largely constituted by children and minors. It is argued that the kinds of violence that is shown on televisions and video games play a key role in determining how young people especially, behave and respond to situations around them. Walklate (65) observes that these forms of violence shown on television all the time teach children how to become violent without teaching them the consequences of violence and how violence affects their lives. In discussing this issue, there are two excellent articles that have been written trying to place into context the exact nature of the effect that media has on delinquency and the insights from these articles provide a greater understanding of just how dire the situation is. Grossman a psychologists experienced with training professionals how to prevent killing has compiled his thoughts in an article entitled, On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society where he discuses different approaches that the society uses to try and overcome the instinct of killing (Ryan & Lane 123). Gloria DeGaetano in her article, Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill, takes on the media for being proactive in teaching children violence that results in increased tendencies of violent criminal activities (Ryan & Lane 76). In these two articles, the authors contend that the very techniques that are used in training combat soldiers to prepare for war are being siphoned into the lives of young people who are unsuspecting and innocent. The key argument in support of the central role that media plays in increasing cases of delinquency is the fact that there is scientific evidence that supports the surmise that the violence meted through television and other forms of media outlets desensitizes children to violence (Ryan & Lane 182). Statistics indicate that between 1957 and 1992, murder rate in the US doubled but this does not tell the whole story as further review of other forms of statistics within this time period provide more shocking revelations than just what the murder rates paint. It is recorded inasmuch as the murder rate between this period merely doubled, the aggravated assault rate (that is, the rate at which people are pushed into maiming or killing others) has quadrupled (Ryan & Lane 87). In the article DeGaetano laments that the media is doing the society more harm than good as regards the kinds of mixed messages it sends to the vulnerable children and minors. She adds, “Sensational visual images showing hurting as powerful and domination of others as permissible destroy children in their perception of reality and their moral formation” (Ramsland 1). Ramsland (2014) argues that people have to be trained in order for them to be able to kill; even trained soldiers struggle kill in situations other than self-defense and this is a God-given resistance to kill your own kind that is present in everyone (Ramsland 1). In order to prepare soldiers to be able to kill, there are different strategies that are used key of which include the following: Brutalization – this process is achieved through a series of heinous verbal abuses and intimidation that is aimed at breaking down the soldier’s set of values and replacing it with another set that makes violence, intimidation, and hurting others acceptable Classical Conditioning – this process seeks to associate a given stimulus with a response according to a given reinforcement schedule; for the soldiers, violence is usually linked to pleasure (Ramsland 1). Operant Conditioning – this process is a conditioned response that based on a system that conditions the mind to receive reward for an initiated action; for soldiers, results of violence such as killing are considered acts of heroism that attracts job promotion and honors (Zigler, Taussig & Black 1004). Role Models – this process provides the soldiers with the perception that the drill sergeant personifies violence and aggression and therefore they, too should emulate him in his endeavors. These are the same techniques that are used in media programs and games that are shown to young people every day. From what the media offers, children from a very tender age are trained to accept violence as an acceptable attribute of life that in some instances can be treated as an act of heroism worth of commendation and respect (Zigler, Taussig & Black 998). In a research conducted in the early 1990s about TV violence comparing regions with television with those without, it was found that the regions with television had an explosion of violence among children on playgrounds four times more than those regions without (Zigler, Taussig & Black 1001). In a span of 15 years, the murder rates for the study societies with television had doubled and this is how long it takes for the process of brutalization among children to reach their prime crime age (Zigler, Taussig & Black 1003). Typical Media Item: The Israeli-Palestine Conflict There are different ways of presenting news in these modern times skewed towards the interests of the audience and aimed at creating a given impact and influence among the audience. A typical example of such a case is the way the Israeli-Palestine conflict has been reported by different news agencies and media outlets over time. For instance, according to Baylis (99) in his article, the writer gives the historical beginning of the Israel-Palestine conflict and how it has progressed over time. The author provides important political and religious conflicts that informed the genesis of the conflict that has now caused so much death and destruction. For Black & Seumasm (21), what appears important for them in their approach to talking about the conflict is the struggles that compelled Palestinian authorities to give up on trying to secure a safe haven for their citizens who escape as refugees. They indicate that lack of good infrastructural and financial base limits their efforts to protect their citizens that are forced to flee conflict zone as refugees (Black & Seumasm, 2011). There are those that consider solutions as central to their journalistic endeavors such as Dajani & Daoudi (51) who seek to provide possible solutions that have been tried to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict and how all the interventions have faired on in the eyes of their successes or failures. For Dawisha & Parrott (97), it is important to provide a historical account explaining the way the conflict has grown from one generation to another where the authors provide a basis of explanation about the history of political strife in South East Europe which was based on political and religious intolerance. This is the same basis of contention that describes the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict today. In the account of Fortna (124), one of the most elusive results that have characterized the Israel-Palestine conflict is a lasting peace agreement pact. This author provides various reasons that inform the challenges that have made various peace pacts signed in the region not to be effectively implemented. One of the reasons that the author give is lack of political goodwill in seeing the agreements adhered to and respected (Fortna 45). This piece of media forum has similar undertones as those carried in Morris’ article entitled, A History of the first Arab-Israeli War where the author contends that in order to sufficiently address and understand the Israel-Palestine conflict, the history of how it began has to be understood well (Morris 108). According to him, this conflict began as a result of political and religious contests between the two communities with the basis of these contests stemming from their historical backgrounds (Morris 79). It is with this understanding that meaningful peaceful resolution for the conflict can be achieved. Another interesting read about the issue is Radlauer’s An Engineered Tragedy: Statistical Analysis of Casualties in the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, September 2000-June 2002. In this account, the author contends that casualties are the unfortunate result of any conflict, and it is more devastating when they are civilian casualties. The author provides a lot of statistical information about casualties that have fallen in this conflict and how the numbers compares from Israeli and Palestinian point of view (Radlauer 212). It is an important reference since it provides statistical backing of the impact the war has had and which of the two sides is most affected. Despite this approach, there are those still who base their arguments on social stereotypes and perceptions in the community thought to influence public opinion on different issues. For the issue of Israeli-Palestine conflict, Svartvik & Wirén in their article, Religious Stereotyping and Interreligious Relations argue that being a religiously instigated conflict, this conflict has to be approached with a religious tolerance mindset that seeks to appeal to the warring factions’ religiousness (Svartvik & Wirén 227). The authors provide good insights of how this approach can successfully compel the slowing down of the escalation rates of the conflict and eventually lead to a ceasefire some day (Svartvik & Wirén 222). When all is said and done, it is also appropriate to concede in instances where there are complexities such be the acceptance of status quo. In this regard, Tessler in his article, A History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, argue that the history of Arab-Israeli conflict is complex as it intertwines religion and political superiority conquest together; this kind of mix is very volatile and difficult to adequately handle. The reference is therefore very useful in providing critical background information about the conflict and how it is not like any other conflict currently being fought in the world and how its approach ought to be different (Tessler 53). Typical Analysis of Media Reporting on the Israeli-Palestine Conflict Following a review of some of the above media items written and presented about this conflict on different platforms, an analysis can be made to provide a deeper understanding of how these endeavors are received on the ground among the target audience. In most instances, one can find disagreement with the way information is concocted to paint the Israel people in bad light; as cruel, antagonistic, and heartless people. With these widespread biasness and lack of respect for the Israel people, such articles are baseless and offending! The Israel-Palestine conflict is a long standing conflict that is very complex and engraved in political intolerance and religious bigotry that makes it one special conflict. It cannot be considered to be a conflict that is spurred by the Israelis’ intolerance to the idea of Palestine occupation of the Gaza strip alone neither can it be considered to be fueled by Palestinian insistence to occupy the Gaza strip. The superior offensive of the Israel military has caused more devastation among the Palestinians with discrete killing of innocent women and children caught in the cross-fires but this has also been the case with Palestinian offensive against the Israel community. The magnitude of the civilian casualties may be greater on the Palestinian side but that cannot be used to paint Israel’s effort to protect its citizenry as an act of war crimes since it is their constitutional obligation to protect its citizens within and without Israel. To me, the conflict is just a retaliatory reaction guided by need to protect its sovereignty and citizenry. Following these observations, I am deeply convinced that your portrayal of this conflict is in bad faith aimed at blackmailing not only the Israeli people but its military efforts to secure protection for its citizenry as a whole. I suggest that you consider reviewing the approach you take in reporting information about the conflict particularly as regards civilian casualties of the conflict. It would be prudent and wise to provide facts about the casualties on both sides rather than just flashing TV screens with dying Palestinian children and women without similar airing of Israel casualties in the process creating the impression that Israelis are not suffering and dying from Palestinian offensive. Media Stereotypes as a Way of Understanding the Media There are other ways of analyzing the media and the way it responds and presents information to the public. One of these ways is through stereotyping and propaganda. A good example that provides good basis for this analysis is the way the media discusses and reports on the issue of homosexuality and queer relationships. The reporting of information about the homosexual and lesbian people in the media has been one that has been criticized and debated over for a long time having different observes consider it in different perspectives depending on their interests. According to Miller (114), this has been something that has been done half-heartedly with the frenzy about the human rights and freedoms of these people not fully appreciated and respected as they ought to be. In Miller’s essay, A Metrosexual Eye on Queer Guy, an argument is made in support of the fact that media reports of homosexual and lesbian people’s issues does not always remain objective and that there are attempts for various interests within the media to want to restrain the information regarding this people as much as possible failing to clearly share the interests and issues affecting this category of people freely (Miller 112). Miller argues in the article that there is still a considerable discrepancy regarding how homosexuals and lesbians are treated even as regards the law in the society pointing out that there are still a lot of inequalities that exist regarding this people group that needs to improve. In this regard, on the queer guy, the law is selective and does not fully provide him with the required provisions for him to enjoy his rights and freedoms as is the case with heterosexual guy. The queer guy has to work twice as hard to be accepted within the society and the legal and legislative frameworks of the day in the society do not make this endeavor any easier and exciting for him (Miller 115). To him, information is shared sparingly and the media paints his inclinations as things being personal choices rather than nature which creates the impression of his interests being abnormal and therefore ones that should be eschewed by the society at all costs (Miller 112). The media endeavours to discredit the personal choices associated with the queer guy as much as possible. Prior to the 1969 birth of liberation movement for homosexuals and lesbian people, this section of people were the marginalized, stigmatized and stereotyped minority people in the US. The gay and lesbian community was not considered to be of any significance to the public and even the marketing and business community considered doing business with them as being inappropriate with their businesses and hence the gay a lesbian community market remained untapped for a very long time in the US history (Miller 116). Miller argues that as the gay and lesbian movement emboldened after 1969, more leeway was given for this special interest group people that allowed people and concerned agencies and organizations to start talking more freely about the group and their lifestyle. In this regard, Miller observes that queerness is a lifestyle observed by people whose sexual orientation favours those from their own sexes and thus they have stronger attachment to people from their sex strain (Miller 115). Given the growing numbers within the queer family, business pundits realized that there was a growing market need to address them and therefore advertising agencies started reaching into the market with customized messages and products befitting their interests (Miller 114). The market was considered potentially exciting for high end spenders in fashion who were considered to be coming from the gay and lesbian community and therefore there was need to have advertising and marketing strategies tuned to fit their interests and rights. It is based on this that the clamour about gay and lesbian community increased increasing the awareness about their lifestyles, way of living, rights and freedoms and fundamental integration within the society and the community with people. This realization further emboldened the fight for their causes to be recognized within the community and to institute legislations that support and safeguard their interests (Miller 115). According to Miller, there are a lot of similarities between the queer guy and the straight guy and the difference only comes in the social set up that tends to consider one more natural than the other. In order for the society to fully function and perform all its duties as a society including those that define it as being dynamic, the queer guy must find support and room to live within the society just as much as the straight eye. In this regard, Miller observes that in order for this to be realized, the whole debate of gay and lesbian community has to be looked at from a straight guy’s perspective. This means that the choice for one to be queer has to be considered as choice that comes naturally just as it happens for the heterosexual and not a choice that is made out of pure interests and chosen from various available choices (Fejes 226). In support of this Miller points out different evidences from science and biology pointing to the fact that queer people are naturally wired that way and do not change their interests just to fit their own sexual proclivities (Fejes 224). Whether this fact is acquiesced in by everyone in the community or not is immaterial as it remains the reality that faces the queer people and therefore there has to be provisions established to protect them just as much as there are those established to protect the straight guy. With a clear understanding of this perception, Miller argues that there are higher chances for the social structure of the society regarding the queer community to function properly and to be inter-supportive of each other than when the queer community is judged merely based on their lifestyle being considered a preferential choice from among many options (Fejes 221). The two essays have several themes that are similar regarding the perception of the queer community within the society. In the essay Advertising and the Political Economy of Lesbian/Gay Identity, the author argues that the gay and lesbian community continues suffering based on the social stereotypes that are peddled by sections of the media painting their lifestyle as being inappropriate and weird. The essay further addresses the various atrocious attacks that are leveled at this section of the society being considered inappropriate to coexist with other people within the society and this affects various forms of their interests and hence freedoms (Fejes 222). With this increased activity against the queer community, the author argues that there have to be legislations that are established to protect these people’s interests and freedoms, an observation that has been noted by the business community on realizing the potential market that exists for these people. In the same way, the essay A Metrosexual Eye on the Queer Eye observes that similar challenges that the queer guy faces in the society and how these challenges affect their normal lifestyles and way of living. The essay argues for greater expansion of the understanding of the queer lifestyle in the context that gives the queer guy as much right as the straight guy to live their lives to the fullest and hence effectively integrate within the community. With this the author argues that there will be greater chance for a more integrated society and one that is responsive to the needs of everyone within which stands to benefit the gay and lesbian community who have suffered for so long with the problems associated to their lifestyles and preferences being considered problems of choice rather than nature (Fejes 221). Healthcare Issues and the Media Healthcare is another critical issue that the media seeks to address in its different platforms be it in electronic, social, print, or mass media. In order to study how it is reported, the article taken for review is Annie Chisholm’s Probiotics in Preventing Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women: A Literature Review published in the Urologic Nursing Journal in 2015 in its 35th volume, first issue. This article seeks to provide options for treatment and management of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) as part of the commonest bacterial infections affecting mostly women. According to the article, this form of bacterial infection accounts for over 6 million primary care visits for women every year (Chisholm 215). Given the widespread occurrence of this condition among many women, it is considered one of the most rampant bacterial condition that affects women around the world with research indicating that between 50% and 60% of women in the world will develop UTI in their lifetime and at least a third of women in the world will experience UTI at least once before they hit the age of 26 (Chisholm 215). The purpose of this article therefore is to provide probable solutions and interventions that can be used to prevent both the prevalence and control of the condition among women. The introduction establishes that the authors of the article under consideration have provided the significance of their article in their introduction indicating their hope of providing options that can be used in the management of UTI condition among women. With this clearly defined significance of the article, the authors hold that it is important to ensure that because of the widespread occurrence of the condition among people, there has to be an equal preventive measure approach available for people to try and curtail the effects of UTI especially among women (Chisholm 115). In summary the article quotes different researches and studies that provide relevant information about UTI among women and how the condition has become rampant in recent times. The aim of these references and studies is to try and provide a concise and appropriate measure that can be used to handle and manage the condition (Chisholm 76). The authors concede that treatment of UTI is usually complicated due to the high reoccurrence rate that it has. According to the author between 20% and 30% of women with a UTI will end up having a reoccurrence of the same condition in the course of their lives (Chisholm 78). In addition to this, the author reveals that 10% to 20% of women with a UTI will have another within a few months and over 27% of them will experience it within the six to twelve months (Chisholm 94). From these statistics and the studies that the author has been able to conduct, it is found out that the UTI condition is a critical medical condition that requires not only immediate attention but interventions that are both timely and effective. In her recommendation, the author of the article concedes that “increasing antibiotic resistance and increasing resistance to commonly used antibiotics makes treatment and prevention of Urinary Tract Infections difficult” (Chisholm 18). This means that there is need to have more research so as to ensure that appropriate interventions are invented to help ease the strain that the condition has on people. In this regard, Chisholm (2015) recommends that the research done has to be focused on probiotics to be considered as useful and safe alternatives to antibiotics (Chisholm 19). The research conducted by the writer of this article makes reference to other sources and authorities that have done similar researchers elsewhere and the finding has been that literature provides low-to-moderate evidence that probiotics are effective in preventing UTIs in women (Chisholm 29). This means that there are other interventions that are effective in handling and managing UTIs in women than probiotics despite the fact that there has not been an extensive research conducted to see how the use of probiotics can be optimized. From the research, the writer provides the summary of the findings regarding the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment, prevention and management of UTIs in women in the following table: Table 1: Summary of the findings of this Media Article Author(s) Year Sample (N) Type of Intervention; Outcome Measures Findings and Conclusion Quality and level of Evidence (GRADE) Abdulwahab, Abdulazim, Nada, & Radi (2013) 200 (100 healthy women and isolates from 100 women with recurrent UTIs) Culture of vaginal swabs of asymptomatic women to identify Lactobacilli and culture of urine of women with recurrent infections; inhibitory effect of Lactobacilli isolates on uropathogenic E. coli. All vaginal Lactobacilli strains from asymptomatic women could inhibit the growth of E. coli on the agar plate. Moderate, Level 2 Beereproot et al. (2012) 252 12 months prophylaxis with TMP-SMX 480 mg once daily or 109 CFU L. rhamunosus or L. reuteri twice daily; mean number of symptomatic UTIs, time to first UTI, development antibiotic resistance, proportion 1+ UTI in 12 months. After 12 months of prophylaxis, the mean number of symptomatic UTIs decreased in women taking Lactobacillus. Lactobacillus not found noninferior to TMP-SMX, although advantages included no antibiotic resistance and improved efficacy Moderate, Level 2 Stapleton et al. (2011) 100 Intra-vaginal lactin-V probiotic or placebo five days, then once per week for 10 weeks; number of UTIs and level of colonization by L. crispatus. L. crispatus was associated with reduced symptomatic UTIs. Low, Level 2 Source: (Chisholm 20) Critique and Analysis of this Media Article From the foregoing evidential proof that the writer provides from other different sources to support her claim and conclusions, it can be said that the writer has done well in conducting detailed research about the topic under review. The reference to other authorities helps not only to authenticate the claims and conclusions that she makes but also adds credibility to her research as a scientific review article. In this view the article comes out as a concisely done piece of literature that meets strictest of standards of scientific research study. The conclusions made have been deduced from the research that the writer has conducted which further helps build the credibility of both the writer and the research itself and this authenticates both the article as well as the writer as credible sources for scientific journal review. The writer has also arranged the thoughts and ideas shared in the article in developmental paragraphs that build on each other making it easier for the target audience to follow through with the author’s train of thought. The use of simple and direct English also makes the article easy to read as it is devoid of nursing jargon and complexities which widens the audience that could benefit from it. Because of this greater application to a wider audience and the provision of scientifically sound research data and conclusions, the article provides a priceless source of information for nurses and clinicians interested in the care of women with particular interest with UTI conditions and how to prevent and manage the condition. In conclusion, Chisholm’s article Probiotics in Preventing Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women: A Literature Review, is an effectively written and well researched piece of literature that has a lot of importance to the medical field especially as regards the treatment, management, and prevention of UTI condition among women. The author of the article has done a good job in ensuring that she refers to a wide selection of similar studies so as to establish the gap that she intends to cover by her research. In the end, the conclusions that she deduces from the study find a lot of backing and support from other authorities which is the greatest strength that this piece of literature has. Works Cited Baylis, Taib. How Israel Was Won: A Concise History of the Arab–Israeli Conflict. New York: Lexington Books. 1999. Print. Black, Ian & Seumasm, Moses. "Papers reveal how Palestinian leaders gave up fight over refugees". London: The Guardian. 24 January 2011. Burger, Myron. Media and Journalism: Theory to Practice. Melbourne: OUP. 2008. Print. Dajani, Paul & Daoudi, Moses. The Israel–Palestine Conflict Parallel Discourses. New York: Routledge. 2011. Print. Dawisha, Keith & Parrott, Ben. Politics, Power and the Struggle for Democracy in South-East Europe. New York: SAGE. 2010. Print. Fejes, Fred. Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader – Advertising and the Political Economy of Lesbian/Gay Identity. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. 2003. Print. Fortna, Valarie. Peace time: Cease-Fire Agreements and the Durability of Peace. Chicago: Princeton University Press. 2014. Print. Miller, Toby. A Metrosexual Eye on Queer Guy. A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies, 11.1 (2005): 112 - 117. Ramsland, Kelly. “The Unthinkable: Children who Kill - Does the Television have Ethics?” Crime Library. 10 June 2014. 8 June 2015. . Ryan, George. & Lane, Sally. Juvenile Sexual Offending: Causes consequences and correction. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 2011. Print. Siegel, Lesly. & Welsh, Beth. Juvenile Delinquency: The Core. (4th edn.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/cengage Learning. 2011. Print. Walklate, Samuel. Understanding Criminology – Current Theoretical Debates. (2nd edn.). Maidenhead: Open University Press. 2003. Print. Zigler, Elsie, Taussig, Caleb & Black, Keith. "Early childhood intervention. A promising preventative for juvenile delinquency". Am Psychol., 47.8 (2010): 997-1006. Read More

Among the reasons given for increased delinquency in the society is the influence that mass media as well as other forms of media has on young people and how this effects influence their behavior. In an article entitled, Early childhood intervention. A promising preventative for juvenile delinquency, Zigler, Taussig & Black argue that perpetuation of youth violence has increased in the US ten fold in the past ten years and what worries most is not merely the increasing number of cases but also the fact that minors are able to shoot other minors and people with remarkable accuracy and effectiveness (Zigler, Taussig & Black 997).

An example is given of Michael Carneal who was a minor in 1998 that went on a rampant shooting spree shooting eight times into a prayer group in Paducah, Kentucky without having any of the eight shots go astray despite the fact that he had never used an actual short gun before (Walklate 65). In the shooting spree, the young Michael managed to shoot five victims in the head and three in the stomach and from the eight, three died and one was paralyzed for life as a result of the bullet injuries to the head.

This is just one of the many incidents of delinquency that has been experienced in the US and around the world in recent times and there are many theories that try to explain why this trend is growing and increasing with time. According to Walklate (73), the blame lies squarely on the media and the kinds of information it disseminates to the public which is largely constituted by children and minors. It is argued that the kinds of violence that is shown on televisions and video games play a key role in determining how young people especially, behave and respond to situations around them.

Walklate (65) observes that these forms of violence shown on television all the time teach children how to become violent without teaching them the consequences of violence and how violence affects their lives. In discussing this issue, there are two excellent articles that have been written trying to place into context the exact nature of the effect that media has on delinquency and the insights from these articles provide a greater understanding of just how dire the situation is. Grossman a psychologists experienced with training professionals how to prevent killing has compiled his thoughts in an article entitled, On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society where he discuses different approaches that the society uses to try and overcome the instinct of killing (Ryan & Lane 123).

Gloria DeGaetano in her article, Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill, takes on the media for being proactive in teaching children violence that results in increased tendencies of violent criminal activities (Ryan & Lane 76). In these two articles, the authors contend that the very techniques that are used in training combat soldiers to prepare for war are being siphoned into the lives of young people who are unsuspecting and innocent. The key argument in support of the central role that media plays in increasing cases of delinquency is the fact that there is scientific evidence that supports the surmise that the violence meted through television and other forms of media outlets desensitizes children to violence (Ryan & Lane 182).

Statistics indicate that between 1957 and 1992, murder rate in the US doubled but this does not tell the whole story as further review of other forms of statistics within this time period provide more shocking revelations than just what the murder rates paint. It is recorded inasmuch as the murder rate between this period merely doubled, the aggravated assault rate (that is, the rate at which people are pushed into maiming or killing others) has quadrupled (Ryan & Lane 87). In the article DeGaetano laments that the media is doing the society more harm than good as regards the kinds of mixed messages it sends to the vulnerable children and minors.

She adds, “Sensational visual images showing hurting as powerful and domination of others as permissible destroy children in their perception of reality and their moral formation” (Ramsland 1).

Read More