I had a very interesting conversation last night about how media is very different worldwide. How News is worded, how it can be so biased by the Governments of the originating countries.

How "worldwide" we are given different priorities via our education and upbringing. Of course the government completely run our education systems, therefore we are rarely taught anything that is not our governments policy for us to learn.

My freind has been working in Japan for a year, shes going back real soon for another year. She was telling me about how the media and government work there and how there is a national ethic.

At first it sounded shocking but actually thinking about it, isnt patriotism the same thing?

Anyways my point being very similar to Doug's last week. About getting a whole story, getting opinions from both sides before drawing your own conclusions.

Reading through the Israel/Lebnanon threads i can see how media works, i can see how people have absolutely different views because geographically they are a long way away from each other and they are subjected to different media.

I know quite a few people on here DO take a look at the news in asia, africa, americas, australasia, europe and can draw thier own conclusions from this.

All i really want to say is, in another part of the world the same story can be told in a very different way. So please, check sources, look from all angels and please think for yourselves.

Couldn't agree with you more.

I find that many people unwittingly get influenced by the media. Sometimes it's hard to create a personal opinion when we're constantly exposed to reports generated by the local media, which may be bound by their own internal red tape and agenda. Especially in cases whereby the government has the 'silent' final say in a lot of matters in relation to the country, to base our opinion and viewpoints simply on these reports would be akin to letting ourselves be dictated on what to think and believe.

There are different and varied styles of reporting events, but to put it mildly, we can never be sure that its told the way the events transpired... more so to expect the local media to give unbiased reports from a stand alone, neutral viewpoint.

For example, Country A has always had great relations with Country B, and would not think twice about rallying behind this country and giving support as and when is needed. This 'relationship' needs to be maintained at all costs - perhaps for trade, resources or political gains. One day, Country B decides to declare war on Country C. Chances are, the general response and media reports in Country A in relation to the war will tilt in favour of Country B.

We have to realize the power of the press. Journalists are often so good at crafting stories and manipulating words, that these not-so-neutral views will be glossed over and dished out to the general public, looking simply like a droning report of the events as it unfolds. Never underestimate the power of words coming from good writers - it can affect the mind in ways that we never thought possible, and very easily, as well. We are lulled into believing what we are made to believe.

Always keep an open mind when it comes to worldwide news coming from the media, especially when politics are involved. Mass communication is a handy tool - it is perhaps the closest the 'people behind the scenes' can get to 'controlling' a country's state of mind.

just for info, here are the sites that i use for news

link [www.bbc.co.uk]
link [news.bbc.co.uk]
link [www.kommersant.com]
link [www.hindu.com]
link [commentisfree.guardian.co.uk]
link [today.reuters.co.uk]
link [www.atimes.com]
link [www.wnafrica.com]
link [news.bbc.co.uk]
link [news.independent.co.uk]
link [www.news.com.au]

there are so many sources out there thats just a few!

Thats a very good point. Especially as a lot of people on the site do just find one story on one news site and run off with it without knowing the full story.

Its very difficult to have truly supported strong views for any news or media situation. Reporters are meant to record events with an unbiased mind. But, a mind cannot remain unbiased if it is in the middle of a war zone.

The best thing to do is to not have strong opinions to begin with. Then eventually build on them with time. Pulling together some form of argument towards an opinion, that with quite a few facts, no longer may be just an opinion.

Something rather interesting to note. The BBC during the lebanon/israel conflict has had very different reporting techniques. Over the last week, reports from and on lebanon have been nearly 4 times as long then the israel reports. Could this have an effect on the public's opinions? Or is it simply the fact that, damage and destruction in lebanon will sell more than the little damage being caused in israel?

Thats just an example of how opinions have to be made very carefully.

Wow. I haven't been on here in awhile. Things have changed. You all seem to be more aware than the last group of News and Politics regulars. Not you treebee; you were always more in-tune than most others on this forum.

geez louise do people have opinions
i was just going to go on north korea take s*** from no one
like america they were all like
s***r we can do wahtever the f*** we want
like check this out
check this out
hey hey north korea what you doing with missiles what you doing
and north korea just gos
yeah we got them want to see them closer
and america
what happened
ran off
ran off
i dont even know if this is what this thinmgs about but
what you gonna do

i tend use the bbc and find it reasonably balanced but i do look at other things such as apf reuters. im a sceptic so i do tend to question everything and i do get cross when people mix fact with opinion .

just been listening to a programme on the radio about army recruiters in america scarey stuff they are like high pressure salesmen with the right to go to every american high school to get recruits they have quotas to meet. there was a bit were the recruiter was trying to sign up a 17 year old with adhd without breaking the rules.
it was a great bit of media reportage made me realise how different we are from america

and the difference between iran and britain?

suicide bombers?

journalists in jail?

chopped heads?

vow to destroy isreal?

dujac...wat are you really upto..this is nothing in you except the religeional anger...we see more suicide things in Birtain than Iran and Iran has the right to vow to destroy American Government cause another war is just rising behind the scenes,which george bush always wanted to do against mideast...
I vow to argue you in everything about Iran and no one can stop me from it..this is too much...