Q: What have you learnt about the media in the way they present what is perceived over what is real?

R: From our knowledge, the main role of the media is to be the ‘watchdog of society’. By this, it means that the media is the guardian and protector of the general public.

All through our daily lives, we are constantly being exposed to the media; getting our information and subconsciously being influenced by it. However, the media does not always portray the real truth of issues in a positive tone. On the other hand, what is perceived by people is presented in a way such that these untruths are made 'real' and believable. Actually, these untruths are lies spun by the media to cover up the facts and protect authoritative figures.

In the Iraq war issue, it is presented in the article that the US forces invaded Iraq with a purpose of ridding Saddam Hussein. It is portrayed that the US backs this purpose up with the seeming reason of wanting to end Hussein’s actions of destructing Iraq. Yet, as shown from images and civilians death count, “the US invasion of Iraq has destroyed more of the country than Saddam Hussein ever did in more than 20 years”.

Then again, the real motive of the US invasion is to gain control of the oil-rich land in Iraq. In the article, it is insisted that “oil is not a motivating factor”. This brings us to the emphasis that the actual truth of the invasion is being denied. To the public, a clouded image of the fact - that US is indeed after Iraq’s oil - is being portrayed. In other words, what is real is not made known to people. Instead, the media influences the public to believe that the reason for invading is aside the oil factor.

To conclude, the media works in a way such that it makes people believe and have a deep impression of what is perceived. Simultaneously, the real truth is denied and suppressed under lies the media creates.