Essay/Term paper: Influence of tv and radio

Essay, term paper, research paper:  College Papers

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.