Sensitization is some form of bias usually in mass media whereby events, topics and new stories are overhyped with the intention of creating biased impressions on such events. This may lead to a manipulation of the truth. Some of the tactics that are used include appealing to emotions, intentionally omitting facts and information, being deliberately obtuse, being loud and self-centered, and being controversial and acting to obtain attention.

Mass media has the right and duty to investigate issues related to politics and any other current issue. It keeps the public informed about what is happening around them. However, with the user of sensitization, the media misinforms the public. It is common for the media to sensationalize a scandal by anyone whose image may be harmed by the scandal. This is common in the political reporting.

Consider the story that appeared on Indianapolis-based WISH TV. After a police officer was shot, the TV station decided to interview the family of the suspect within hours after the shooting. With the limited airtime that the TV reporters have, they are forced to summarize the news. However, such summaries should be biased or misrepresentative of the truth. The WISH TV after interviewing the family reported the following, “The family did say it is sorry for Officer Renn’s family, but they said the tragedy may have been avoided if Officer Renn would’ve stayed at his car since he could see Davis had a gun” (Siroky, 2014).

This segment of the news was troubling in that it was reported within hours after the shooting. The family of the suspect was of course emotional which could affect their responses. The video coverage showed no family member saying the above words. This means that what the family said is not known and the context of how the family responded.  After repeated requests for clarification on the issue, the news director responded by saying that the y quoted the family from information not recorded on Camera. This TV station like many others was trying to appeal to the emotions of the viewer (Siroky, 2014). With the current competition in the media fraternity, new anchors and reporters are doing anything to appeal to the viewers. This includes sensitizing events by intentionally omitting facts and information just to make the story interesting.

The Rolling Stone magazine on alleged sexual assault in the Oberlin College and Virginia University. It was a 9000 words story about this woman claiming that seven men at a fraternity house on Virginia campus raped her. After other organizations questioned the reporting technique and facts, the magazine announced the article was inaccurate.  The author of this article clearly violated the basic ethics of journalism.  She had agreed with the sources request not to interview the attackers (Harper, 2014). She ran o one-sided story. According to the code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists, any writer should seek the subjects of any news coverage to allow them air their criticism.

Stories like the one in the rolling stone magazine are common. The mass media does not search for facts rather they search for good stories that will make headlines. Nobody considers how the news event is going to help the people. Politicians and media owners sensitize anything that benefits them from politicians rating to political views. This is against the ethics of the media.

Reference

Harper, C. (2014, December 10). Media ethics take a back seat to sensationalism in sex assault stories. Retrieved March 26, 2016, from http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/10/christopher-harper-sensationalism-over-eithics-in-/?page=all

Siroky, R. M. (2014, September 16). Sound-Bite Journalism Haunts Indianapolis After Officer’s Death. Retrieved March 26, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-marie-siroky/soundbyte-journalism-if-t_b_5593699.html

 
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