Six weeks ago the only time i ever felt free enough to express my political opinion on the internet, was through my personal Tumblr, where nobody knew me, and could therefore not associate any of my ideologies to my actual name. It’s been great to finally get myself out of that web of self-doubt and put my ideas forward without the fear of being patronised or challenged on everything.
As journalists, or people working in the media, it’s our job to become involved with a huge variety of social issues, and a lot of people are going to look to us for an explanation, or for an opinion they can compare to their own. These posts allow us to practice that, to prepare for the real world, and to feel proud that other people listen to and value what we have to say.
The best part about being involved with this online community, was gaining perspective on the thoughts of everyone else around you, especially when they are along the same lines as your own, or better yet, when they happen to contradict everything with absolute credible sources and make you second guess your own theories, because it’s all about getting to the truth of things.
Everything we’ve learnt has been relative, the images we see represent exactly what we’re conditioned to see, which is a direct result of media ownership, regulation and control. This persuasion is dominate in the public sphere, because everything that matters to us is set out like a program and unveiled to us at certain times to achieve certain results. Everything we see, hear, think, feel (at-least politicly) wasn’t our idea, it was theirs.
We form opinions on things like the effect the media has on children, and take no hesitation on telling everyone who will listen (from our lounges) how bad the media is because our kids are all talking about what they were biologically programmed to do a-lot earlier than society says is okay, all while forgetting to notice the charity collectors on our front door step who are actually out doing something, and making a difference to the lives of people who have real problems.
I don’t know, i guess i just feel like theres something messed up about wanting to protect the kids who, if they’re lives are affected in any way by the media, are lucky enough to have a roof over their heads, clothes on their body and a meal in their stomachs. It’s the children who’s lives aren’t touched by violent video games, advertisements or photo shoots that we should be concerned about, but the public sphere is more fixated on naming every person who puts make-up on a child a pedophile.
There are things i’ve learnt over the past six weeks that have definitely changed the way i see things, and when you really think about it, it’s pretty much the same as forming an opinion like most people do, from what we read. The difference this time is that what we’re discussing is important and it comes from each other, not from a corporate personality who’s reading over our shoulder and editing out the parts that really matter.
It’s been a pleasure getting to know everybody from what’s swimming around in their brain, and i can’t wait to see what the next semester brings!
reyn0lds 
Your honesty is really refreshing. Congratulations on completing an excellent set of blogs. I sometimes wish you’d capitalise the ‘i’s but at the same time think it really adds personality to your blogs. Your style is consistently good and I hope you keep up the blogging!
You’ve summed this up very well. It’s an unusual feeling moving from being a consumer of media to a part of the media, where we become so attune to the manipulative qualities.
Your point on the overly sensitized reaction to children in the media, I totally agree, and feel that the hypocrisy is a little hard to swallow.
Love your work, as usual!