Media

Media is a linkage institution because it allows politicians and political parties to communicate a message to the general public as well vice versa. Media influences the way that the general public perceives a candidate or political party and can potentially influence if they vote for or against a candidate based off the way they are portrayed by the media. The two news sources that I chose was an article from the Huffington Post and an article from the The New York Times. Both cater to a similar audience, the liberally inclined, generally educated, general public. The current issue that I am looking at through these news sources is sexual assault and misconduct in the media industry and the entire country.

The first article is an op ed piece written by Lupita Nyong’o for the New York Times about her interactions with Harvey Weinstein. In the article she explains how the interactions impacted her and how important it is to stay vigilant and speak out to end a cycle of misconduct and silence. Lupita is a relevant figure in the media and society as a woman of color who is an activist for women's rights as well as a role model for many women. This article is extremely relevant to the conversation about sexual misconduct because it is such a personal piece that compels the audience to listen to Lupita’s call to action. The article is convincing because it is well written and personally compelling, Nyong’o uses her story to encourage the audience to not only sympathize with her but stand by her and against sexual misconduct and the norm of silence that comes with it. This is a very obviously biases source because it is an opinion piece, Lupita’s story is personal and told from one side. This article influences the audience by giving them a personal insight into an issue that at many times seems obtuse.

The second article is a political piece written for the Huffington Post about sexual harassment and the Trump administration. The article talks about what the Trump administration has done to make it harder for women in the country specifically concerning sexual misconduct. This article is relevant to the issue of sexual misconduct because it highlights the policy and decision making behind sexual misconduct in the country. The article is convincing because of the author is obviously passionate about the topic, she uses quotes from multiple sources including women’s rights activists, politicians, even the President. The article is very obviously bias against the Trump administration, by using obvious negative rhetoric. The Huffington Post is a news website run by women so there is a bias for women’s rights and against the decisions that the administration has made impeding these rights. This article is heavily influenced by the time it was written because it highlights the impact that the administration has had on women’s rights and reporting sexual misconduct in a way that was different from the previous administration. The article impacts the audience by informing them more of what goes on in politics that affects them either directly or indirectly but allows them to feel more informed.