THE MEDIA AND THE

MANIPULATION OF PUBLIC
OPINION
João Ávila Coutinho, number 20
 THE MEDIA AND THE MANIPULATION
OF PUBLIC OPINION

• Does the media has an ethical behaviour

nowadays?
• Is the media responsible for stereotyping?
• Media (noun): the main ways that large numbers of people
receive information and entertainment, that is the television,
radio and the newspapers. (Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary)
DOES THE MEDIA HAS AN ETHICAL
BEHAVIOUR NOWADAYS?
 WHAT MAKES A BEHAVIOUR ETHICAL?

• Ethic (noun): a system of moral principles or

rules of behaviour. (Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary)
 WHAT WOULD BE AN UNETHIC AL
BEHAVIOUR IN DIFFERENT FORMS OF
MEDIA?

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NEWSPAPERS
• Insulting rival brands • Forbidding freedom of expression
• Not telling the truth
• Lying about the product • Using stereotypical characters
• Not being neutral
• Omitting the negative consequences of • Creates the idea of a “perfect body”
• Poor choice of news and their
the product
relevance
• Reinforcing stereotypes
 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT THE
MEDIA BEHAVES IN AN ETHICAL WAY?

 The media has a huge influence over the society. It

can manipulate the opinion of its audience.

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NEWSPAPERS
 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT THE MEDIA
BEHAVES IN AN ETHICAL WAY?

It can influence:
• Perception of the world
• Opinions
It can cause:
• Hate
• Prejudice
The second question has been answered
• Stereotypes
IS THE MEDIA RESPONSIBLE
FOR STEREOTYPING?
How is the media responsible for
stereotyping?
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BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S MEAN GIRLS PETER PAN

ENTERTAINMENT: MAGAZINES
 SOCIAL MEDIA

 How can it manipulate the public opinion and reinforce

stereotypes?
 SOCIAL MEDIA: HOW C AN IT MANIPULATE
THE PUBLIC OPINION AND REINFORCE
STEREOTYPES?

• In the internet, you only see what you want to see.

• FAKE NEWS
• There’s no fact checking.