Controversy Media Article

The main purpose of this paper is to determine the role of the controversy involving media, all pros and cons, and probable results. Some controversy media articles can make a real outburst in the public that can either find a solution of the problem or just provoke riots.

Using of mobile devices at the time of driving is a very actual problem nowadays and it will be used as a main theme of the given paper.

Mass media traditionally plays the role of the mirror that reflects the most urgent problems. Its main purpose should be not only to give the society a turn, but to look more closely at the problem. The media should provide the food for thoughts not only for ordinary people and potential law breakers, but for the people in power, who can directly work on the problem. The problem that concerns all the public must be covered and discussed in all kinds of mass media. Very few people would claim that the truth is born from the discussion.      

People always want to be able to communicate with somebody, and that is a common thing in the modern society. However, using cellphones at the time of driving is inadmissible.  The life rhythm is getting faster and faster and people try to conform to it. In an attempt to save time, we can shorten someone’s and/or our own lives. Let us think, how condoned such a rush is and what is the price of human life. Most people are so self-assured that even can lose the instinct of self-preservation. It is doubtful that anybody can read an interesting book and watch a very exciting movie simultaneously, not skipping something here or there. So, how can we drive and use our mobile phones, making a danger to the public? Undoubtedly, this problem is extremely important and must be solved as soon as possible.

The given problem is widely covered in the press, appealing to the public and the authorities, not unsubstantiated, but showing the statistics that is very impressive.

The results of testing the drivers that were texting behind the wheel were eye-opening. The drivers tested were of different age (young and middle-aged) and with different speed (35 MPH and 70 MPH). Moreover, the drivers were a little bit intoxicated with alcohol, but under the legal driving limit, and without using cell phones. The results were either the same or even better and far from consolatory. The whole results are presented below (see table 1, 2).

Source: Austin, Michael. “Texting While Driving: How Dangerous is it?” Car and Driver. Hearst Communications, Inc., June, 2009.Web 4 March 2013.

The most important question is to determine an optimal way to enforce people to be more responsible behind the wheel.  Traditionally, we use the law, but the practice shows that “these laws, however, are difficult to enforce and may not immediately result in behavior change” (Purtle n.pag.).

For visual effect the media often uses pictures of real accidents and cartoons that can be more impressive than words and numbers.

Using hand-held mobiles while driving is banned in numerous states, but the statistics has not been improved. As an example, here is the information about penalties in Michigan, namely the first offence costs the violators $100 and they will pay the penalty of $200 for all the next offences. In addition, it is forbidden for the truck drivers to use mobile phones at the time of driving; every offence will lead to the penalty of $2,750. The penalty for bus companies and commercial trucks is $11,000. “If you kill someone in an accident that is caused by texting and driving, you will face fines and your license will be revoked for a period of time. You also face a one-year maximum of jail time, under the charges of a moving violation causing death” (Gursten n.pag.). Anyhow the statistics shows that it is not enough to stop the law-breaking drivers, “perhaps it’s time for our law makers to consider stiffening the civil and criminal penalties for hurting and killing people in distracted driving car accident crashes” (Gursten n.pag.). In its turn, the media has to appeal to the public' consciousness. First, the social advertisement is provided in printed and web sources, outdoor advertisement, etc. People should see the possible effects of their frivolity with their own eyes. This could make a psychological impact on the majority of potential drivers and enforce the authorities to make decisive steps to solve this problem.

Taking into consideration all abovementioned, the media appears to play a decisive role in covering the most actual problems as well as in searching for their solutions. The mass media was and still is the main source of information and keeps its finger on the pulse of the public life. It has a great influence on the public opinion, and therefore should strictly control its actions.