Those Darn Gatekeepers

Especially after studying PR, I can say that I strongly believe that the media and gatekeepers have the potential to really mess with the pictures inside your head. My reality is limited by my experiences and my knowledge of what is going on in today’s world. Typically, I learn about current events through the media; therefore, the media controls, or limits, what I perceive as reality. I guess I’m ahead of the game because I know that the media gatekeepers filter what “reality” I see on television, the Internet, and in newspapers.

Then again, even though I know that the media is limiting what I see, I don’t engage in as much media as I should. If I engaged in a more diverse spectrum of media, my view of reality might be broader. I think if I analyzed messages (on television or the Internet) critically, one of two things could happen. I would either want to learn more and engage in more forms of media, or I would realize that the gatekeepers are putting a spin on the information I am receiving. I really think that the media has the power to portray any message the way they want.

I think sometimes people are at fault because they believe everything the media tells them. Each person is going to react to messages differently based on their past life experiences and their perceived stereotypes about things. I think it’s important to be aware that what we see on television and read on the Internet is controlled by gatekeepers and there may be more to the story that they are telling… it’s up to us to try to fill in the missing pieces.