Media And Vaccination Argumentative Analysis
The media is the single most controlling force behind mass public opinions and beliefs, it is there everyday influencing and informing people on current events and political ideas. It is how the media portrays the vaccine debate and its advocates of both sides, that will be informing the public and influencing the public's understanding of the vaccine controversy (Haertlein 225). According to Georgina Cairns, “Information is filtered, interpreted, and potentially distorted by receivers’ personal values and concerns,” (1555); the media portrayal of the negative and positive impacts of vaccines is often centered around the tendency of people in panic or anxiety about the debate, to invest their attention away from the positive information and
…show more content…
Largent addresses how the amount of trust the public places on researchers and program runners in the vaccine industry determines the success of immunizing children (136). Largent comments on the previously mentioned Jenny McCarthy, famous for her time as a comedian and model, whose advocacy of the anti-vaccination movement has “Solidified her position in the community of parents of autistic children, and further publicized her assertion that vaccines are one of the principal causes of autism,” (145). Although she is not medically qualified to speak on the topic, she is trusted and influential enough to spread the fear of vaccinations to parents all over America. Furthermore McCarthy, just as countless other authoritative figures in the media, blatantly disregarding the reliable scientific data proving her assertions incorrect (147). Adam Burgess compares the concept of McCarthyism, action of accusing someone or something without any evidence, to the behavior of figures in media such as Jenny McCarthy, as an “alarmist authority encouraging mass anxiety,” (334). Celebrities' influence dominates discourse online as well. While the internet's ability to spread information faster than anything else has always worried scientists, several analyzes show that despite the abundance of
Largent addresses how the amount of trust the public places on researchers and program runners in the vaccine industry determines the success of immunizing children (136). Largent comments on the previously mentioned Jenny McCarthy, famous for her time as a comedian and model, whose advocacy of the anti-vaccination movement has “Solidified her position in the community of parents of autistic children, and further publicized her assertion that vaccines are one of the principal causes of autism,” (145). Although she is not medically qualified to speak on the topic, she is trusted and influential enough to spread the fear of vaccinations to parents all over America. Furthermore McCarthy, just as countless other authoritative figures in the media, blatantly disregarding the reliable scientific data proving her assertions incorrect (147). Adam Burgess compares the concept of McCarthyism, action of accusing someone or something without any evidence, to the behavior of figures in media such as Jenny McCarthy, as an “alarmist authority encouraging mass anxiety,” (334). Celebrities' influence dominates discourse online as well. While the internet's ability to spread information faster than anything else has always worried scientists, several analyzes show that despite the abundance of