How does media shape and mould our perception on people and was is acceptable as being a "role model"? 

What makes a good role model? Someone that's sweet? Perfect? A celebrity is a person that is well known in the public eye. Because of their status and fame, celebrities are the people that are most often represented in the media. We are brought up to know all the names of anyone and everyone that is big in Hollywood and if you shy away from this perfect idea of a role model then all hell breaks loose, from being Americas golden child to an out spoken rebel whatever way media portrays someone or an idea its automatically viewed as the right idea. It shows that media has too much control over our thoughts and opinions on celebrities an without even questioning it we follow along.

According to Dr. Anthony Curtis of the University of North Carolina "we trust the media as an authority for news, information, education and entertainment". We shouldn't be so trusting towards something that is not in our control and that can be spun and twisted to a certain angle.Our opinions and thoughts are suppose to be ours, formed because of what we think not what Perez Hilton or TMZ's latest headline is. "Miley Cyrus off the rails". Why because she cut her hair and has a new attitude? The media's way of representing these stars can sometimes be inaccurate or even not true.The amount of times that Taylor Swift has been in the spotlight about being boy crazy has lead her to finally lash out in a interview with Vanity Fair, she says "I'm sick of the tabloids saying I obsess over guys," Swift said. "Why would you obsess over guys? They don't like it." (Interview)

Because of our trust within media it has made us weak were our opinions aren't our own and us to be too trusting with somethings we read. When we read one thing and straight away think it must be true, then read a different headline that says something completely different so we change our opinion once again because it was on the front cover it must be true. Miley Cyrus is a perfect example of how vicious the media can be towards change, because she made changes in her appearance and attitude they straight away ripped her to shreds stating that she's "on drugs" and even "that the fame finally got to her and shes the next Lindsay". Statements like that allow ideas to form around not only her but the idea that if in any way your associated with Miley Cyrus then you too are "out of control". Being a child star meant that she had the girl next door image by day then superstar at night, a role model for young girls everywhere but now is being trashed for growing up and changing. The media built her image up as a child and now that shes breaking out of the image they created for her and is making her own image by using their own power against them by being outrageous and controversial.  

Because of our trust within media it has made us weak where our opinions aren't our own and us to be too trusting with somethings. We read one thing and straight away think it must be true, then read a different headline that says something completely different so we change our opinion once again because it was on the front cover it must be true. In New Zealand its not so bad because most of our papers and magazines focus on current events and news not Lindsay Lohan latest relapse, also because of the growth in technology accessing media has become not only easier but more extensive as in being able to access different websites for "information." Our perception and thoughts are constantly changed by the power of media and its becoming worrying, for example some people are still idolizing Chris Brown because there in love with his new single. Are we going to just forget that he savagely beat his girlfriend, another famous star Rihanna, or is that just yesterdays headline? One week its a hate Chris Brown then the next love him. Because of all the headlines and a help of a good PR he's managed to still stay on top of the media and manipulate some situations to his favor. This shows that no matter what has happened if its last weeks headline then its old news and if a situation has happened that we don't agree with later down the track our opinions on it will eventually change because of media.
If someone not famous beat his girlfriend he would be put up for assault charges and maybe even face jail time but in this case all he got was a slap on the wrist , a couple of interviews to apologize to his fans. HIS FANS?! He didn't hit his fans he hit another musician and his girlfriend. A human being.  Then a couple weeks later he's on stage performing again.

To a younger generation this sends the message that it's ok to strike someone, that violence is that answer and if you get in trouble for it all you have to do is apologize and everything will be fine. The media portrayed the story from being this big shocking event to slowly withering off the topic because it was old news. Later on he has another incident with musician Frank Ocean over a parking spot, yet he's still on covers of magazines and performing to young people. He's still building fans and becoming peoples role model because at the moment he's being shown as being 'lost' and trying to find his way back on the right path and making amends along the way. Because of the way he's being portrayed thousands of kids will be growing up wanting to be just like Chris Brown because he's "such a good guy" learning from his mistakes. The media is so powerful that I don't think they truly know the power they have over the public. Everybody knows Chris Brown, his two main identifiers are being an musician and the other being the guy who beat Rihanna.

Breaking News: Media is destroying today's generation by brainwashing.What is it that makes us believe everything that we read in headlines, true or not the more effective the headline is the more we want to look into it.  If the headline stated all the true facts it would not be effective at all. For example "Today Jack went to the store and tripped" isn't as effective as "Jacks traumatizing store experience."

I believe the media has a extreme influence on us because everywhere we go we see billboards, magazines, posters etc. This is similar to the social cognitive learning theory , e.g monkey see, monkey do. It does shape our opinions and can change our views on what is important and its worrying because after awhile we change are our opinions on people because there doing something right now when in the past has done something terrible e.g Chris Brown. If you have noticed, the speed at which news travels around the world has become faster with the development and advancement in technology. Everything is evolving depending on the demand of people. Media indeed can influence people in different ways and its gotten to the point where it influences opinions and thoughts of the viewer. Negative