Katia Brunson

Opinion Assistant 

America is the consumer capital of the world; afflicted by a constant barrage of media selling us social norms, values and ideas.

Almost everything we know to be true has been fed to us through various media outlets, whether it be through the news, a TV show or a friend’s status update.

What we value as norms in our society are perpetuated through the media, which is why being an informed consumer in this day in age is crucial to making sense of what all of the constant information means to us as individuals. We revolve around our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts; constantly seeking interconnectedness with the humans around us. We thrive on instant updates and nonstop information. The media holds a lot of power in our society, so if you can’t beat ‘em, might as well join ‘em.

Anything involving the distribution of information is classified as media. The subject of mass media is so vast and continues to  grow exponentially, making it easy for anyone to find a specific interest in this major, whether it be writing, television, advertising, radio, journalism or technology.

Media is constantly evolving to keep up with new technology, and with a world that thrives on information, it’s a subject that is sure to never go out of style. The first example of media being produced dates back to the fifteenth century with print media such as newspapers, books, magazines and pamphlets. This was the first time that information was spread in other ways than by word of mouth. Since then we have seen the growth of recorded media, cinema, radio, television, Internet and mobile devices, which all fall under the very large umbrella that is the media.

The media is such a large, encompassing and powerful force that everyone in the world looks to for information; which begs us as consumers of the media to be responsible about how we digest the facts and ideas thrown at us. A mass media major will provide you with skills to become an informed consumer as well as skills to be able to produce and distribute information for the world. As of today, 90 percent of what we read, watch or listen to is controlled by six corporation. These include Disney, Viacom, CBS, Time Warner, News Corp and GE. 90 percent of what we know is decided by 232 media executives, but you can change that 90 percent by being a part of the media and contributing your voice.

The media is the most influential aspect of American culture. It is a growing movement of independent minds looking to express themselves to a global audience. Be a mass media major and be a part of the movement to have your voice heard.