"The media (books, film, music, television, for example) tend to create rather than reflect the values of a society."

　　The values of society have have changed so much during most recent years. Many of these values have changed for the worst. The media has been the vehicle that has taken us through these changes. The media has created so many avenues for us to take to find so many of these changes. They have created the avenues that children and young adults feel that they have to take.

　　Many years ago reporters and writers were telling us of all the good things that were happening in the world. You could walk into a store and eventhough there was a war going on, we would read about the soldier that left his family to fight for his country. Nowadays you walk into a store, read a book , or watch a T.V. show, and see all of the things that are happening in a very negative world.

　　The media is creating a society that says that it is O.K. for a man to wear earrings. That it is O.K. that marijuana is being legalized, that it is O.K. for juveniles to break the law. Why does not the media show us a professional male athlete that is also a family man? Why doesn't the author of a book or a reporter of a newspaper tell us about all of the bad things that happen to drug users and pushers? Why do the T.V. shows tell juveniles that all they get for breaking the law is a slap on the hands?

　　Society will be better off if the media would say, "Hey children, professional athletes can be good parents"! This would have a positive effect on the younger generation.

　　The media should do a better job in trying to create a good, healthy environment instead of showing us all of the bad stuff in our society. The media should show all young people the awful things that happen in juvenile hall, but that would be an infringement on the residents of the hall. Where are the rights of the people that they did not treat right?

　　Yes, the media is creating a bad influence in todays young people. But I believe that everything in the media can be overcome and ignored. We need to raise our children right.

　　Comments:

　　This response is simplistic in its analysis of the issue. The writer has much to say about the negative influence of media on children, arguing that the media "should do a better job in trying to create a good, healthy environment." However, the writer never seems to consider the complexities of the issue -- for example, whether, or to what extent, the topic's claim is accurate, or whether today's media can have a positive influence, or whether society has any influence on the media.