Controlling The Powerful Media

Welcome to our weekly Bible in the News programme brought to you again this week by Paul Billington in Canada.This week we want to step back from the turmoil of world events and the politics--and take a look at those who report the news to us--the media.Many of us will recognize the power of the media in today's world. We see it at election times, and also at times of crisis--such as with the Iraq war or when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at a crucial phase--as it is now. In these situations the media (both press and electronic) can bring enormous pressure and influence to bear. Journalists and announcers are sometimes referred to as being 'formers of public opinion'--they actually see their job as being to form public opinion--as telling us what to think. In this way they are seen to manipulate elections and even the policy of government. These are powerful people.