Influence Of TV And Radio Essay Research

Paper

One of the most important means of communication by pictures and

sounds is the television. Most of what we learn comes from television.

Just think of all that we see in just one hour of television-commercials,

educational programs, sitcoms, etc. The TV is another source that we can

learn from about lands far away, people, and places. You can sit in your

living room while visiting Europe, Asia, or even Australia. Television is

a huge influence on our daily lives, as shown by how much time is spent

staring at its screen.

Unfortunately, the heaviest viewers of television are children.

Of course, there are worthwhile programs on TV suitable for kids, such as

Sesame Street and the Magic School Bus, but just imagine what a child

would think if he saw just one episode of Melrose Place. Do we tell the

children that this is acceptable?

Radio is important, but is not used as frequently anymore due to

the birth of television. We hear the news and can listen to different

opinions of controversial subjects. Millions of families used to gather

around the radio to listen to dramas, light comedies, variety shows, live

music, and other programs. However, people can communicate a lot more

quickly between any two points either on land, at sea, in the sky, or also

in space, with the use of the radio. Politically, the radio made it

possible for the people to be informed about government policies directly.

Radio was “born” in the twenties, and “died” in the forties.

Because the depression made listening the only amusement people could

afford, the thirties were radio’s finest years. Later, in the fifties

television was making a breakthrough. By 1961, 88% of the United States’

households had two sets which were in use for an average of 5 hours a day.

Television killed off small-club boxing, minor league baseball, and

practically any other activity that meant leaving the living room.

Television is the perfect baby-sitter. We just plop our kids down in

front of the set, while we go among our business. Television has spent

more time raising our kids than we have. Children no longer play baseball

or swing on the swings in the park or play tag in the back yard as much

anymore.

Television and radio have, obviously, been a huge influence on our

lives. But the main question is: have they been a good influence or a bad

influence? People watch television to find out what is happening in the

world and to entertain themselves. A great number of American’s have

abandoned many things for television. Newspapers are an example of that.

But crime shows and sitcoms along with porno trash are rampant.

As we sit in front of the set, eating potato chips, gaining

weight, and filling our minds with trash, we don’t stop to think of all

that we could be doing to change our world. If we spent just a fraction

of the time that we spend watching television each day doing something for

someone else, just think of the kind of world we would live in.

But television has increased our knowledge of the world and our

surrounding neighbors along with our interest of the earth. We know more

about products that are offered to us, the public.

The radio has done all this also. It also provides us with music

and talk shows. Radio and television are not bad unless we make ourselves

bad. Television and radio have changed the way we look at the world.

Suddenly, everything seems to be at our fingertips. Maybe we cannot

change what is on television and the radio, but we can censor what we

watch. We need to set a good example for our children.