TASK 3A — Media and Opinion: Who Shapes What We Think?

📋 Exam Question

Referring to the material below, reflect on the importance of media’s role in forming people’s opinions. Use examples from English-speaking countries in your answer.

You may find the material in tasks 1 and 2 useful.

Quote 1:

• “Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda.”

- The Norwegian Nobel Committee

Source: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2021/press-release/

Quote 2:

"The problem today, is that kids are only getting their information and news from social media. How on earth can you trust something like TikTok or Instagram? Who is editing these platforms anyway?"

- Algernon Greenbaum, media critic

Quote 3:

"The vast majority of people don’t live in echo chambers*, but are exposed to pretty diverse information, through both traditional journalism and social media. For example, it often happens that friends share surprising information that we wouldn’t otherwise have found on social media. In those cases the information diversity on social media can be even greater than what we get from other sources."

- Melanie Magin, associate professor, NTNU Department of Sociology and Political Science

Source: Adapted by Utdanningsdirektoratetet from https://partner.sciencenorway.no/digital-services-information-technology-internet/social-medias-echo-chambers-not-such-a-big-problem/1876865 . Retrieved: 23.03.22

*Definition of ‘Echo chamber’:

An environment in which somebody encounters only opinions and beliefs similar to their own, and does not have to consider alternatives, for example:

• It can be too easy to slip into an echo chamber that reinforces extreme political views.

Source: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/echo-chamber?q=echo+chamber

Illustration 1:

Source: https://theswaddle.com/social-media-echo-chamber-effect/. Retreieved: 24.03.22

Illustration 2:

Source: https://cherna.jimdofree.com/8-%D0%BA%D0%BB-25-11-16-12-do-you-like-travelling/. Retrieved: 24.03.22

✏️ Model Answer

Media and Opinion: Who Shapes What We Think?

In a world flooded with information, the media plays a crucial role in shaping people’s opinions. Whether it’s through traditional journalism or social media, the way we consume and interpret news directly affects how we view politics, society, and even each other. As the Norwegian Nobel Committee stated, “Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda.” In democratic societies, this function is not just important—it’s essential.

However, media today is more complex than ever before. People no longer rely solely on newspapers or television. In English-speaking countries such as the United States or the UK, many—especially younger generations—get their news primarily from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook. This is shown in Illustration 1, where a cartoon figure is manipulated by “likes” and the Facebook logo, visually representing how easily people can become trapped in digital echo chambers. These platforms reward attention-grabbing content, not necessarily truth, which can distort public understanding and amplify misinformation.

This concern is reflected in Quote 2, where media critic Algernon Greenbaum asks, “How on earth can you trust something like TikTok or Instagram?” His criticism highlights a real challenge: social media is unfiltered and largely unregulated. Algorithms decide what we see, and those algorithms are often driven by engagement, not accuracy. In the U.S., for instance, social media played a huge role in spreading misinformation during the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, including conspiracy theories about voter fraud and COVID-19.

At the same time, it would be wrong to dismiss social media entirely. As Quote 3 from researcher Melanie Magin argues, “The vast majority of people don’t live in echo chambers.” According to her, social media can also expose us to diverse views—especially when friends or influencers share perspectives we wouldn’t normally encounter. For example, during the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, social media in the U.S. and UK helped spread powerful, underreported stories about police brutality and systemic racism. This prompted traditional news outlets to respond and engage with the public conversation.

Still, traditional journalism holds a unique role that social media cannot replace. Reputable media outlets like the BBC, The New York Times, and The Guardian—as seen in Illustration 2, which displays logos of many major global news organizations—are bound by editorial standards and fact-checking processes. They help ensure that the information the public receives is reliable. When governments or powerful individuals are held accountable, it is often thanks to investigative journalism. The Watergate scandal in the U.S. is a historic example, where journalists from The Washington Post uncovered corruption that led to President Nixon’s resignation.

However, even traditional media has its challenges. In countries like the UK, the media landscape can be politically divided. For example, The Sun and The Daily Mail are known for their conservative leanings, while The Guardian takes a more liberal stance. This can lead to selective reporting, where facts are framed to support a certain agenda, reinforcing readers’ existing beliefs. This is why media literacy—being able to evaluate sources and spot bias—is more important than ever.

In conclusion, media—both social and traditional—plays a powerful role in shaping opinions. It can educate and inform, but it can also manipulate or mislead. As citizens in English-speaking democracies and beyond, we must protect fact-based journalism while also learning to navigate the noisy world of digital media. Quoting the old saying, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” but only if that pen is used responsibly, and the reader knows how to read it.