Those who control and use the media have the power to impact the beliefs, attitudes, and consciousness of the world. Collectively, the media provide the largest potential driving force for social evolution that the world has ever known. This is an awesome responsibility. The media, after all, have become our central nervous system. In my view, there isn't any way we can truly become conscious beings if we are fed a daily diet of bad news and violent programming.
Journalists cover reality and help create it.
We do both. But the public doesn't have to be a passive consumer of media. For example, Ms. Holland points out that the Center for Media Literacy is teaching the art of how to analyze and navigate the media culture. This organization has developed training programs for schools, as well as resources for families and communities, to promote critical thinking about the media. The good news, Ms. Holland reports, is that there seems to be more willingness to cover stories that not only raise our consciousness but also elevate the human spirit.