Wednesday, March 18, 2020

CSS Virginia (USS Merrimack) in the Civil War

CSS Virginia (USS Merrimack) in the Civil War CSS Virginia was the first ironclad warship constructed by the Confederate States Navy during  Civil War (1861-1865). Following the outbreak of the conflict in April 1861, the US Navy found that one of its largest facilities, the Norfolk (Gosport) Navy Yard, was now behind enemy lines. While attempts were made to remove as many ships and as much material as possible, circumstances prevented the yards commander, Commodore Charles Stuart McCauley, from saving everything. As Union forces began to evacuate, the decision was made to burn the yard and destroy the remaining ships. USS Merrimack Among the ships burned or scuttled were the ships-of-the-line USS Pennsylvania (120 guns), USS Delaware (74), and USS Columbus (90), the frigates USS United States (44 ), USS Raritan (50), and USS Columbia (50), as well as several sloops-of-war and smaller vessels. One of the most modern vessels that was lost was the relatively new steam frigate USS Merrimack (40 guns). Commissioned in 1856, Merrimack had served as flagship of the Pacific Squadron for three years before arriving at Norfolk in 1860. Attempts were made to remove Merrimack before the Confederates captured the yard. While Chief Engineer Benjamin F. Isherwood succeeded in getting the frigates boilers lit, efforts had to be abandoned when it was found that the Confederates had blocked the channel between Craney Island and Sewells Point. With no other option remaining, the ship was burned on April 20. Taking possession of the yard, Confederate officials later examined the wreck of Merrimack and found that it had only burned to the waterline and most of its machinery remained intact. Origins With the Union blockade of the Confederacy tightening, Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory began searching for ways in which his small force could challenge the enemy. One avenue that he elected to investigate was the development of ironclad, armored warships. The first of these, the French La Gloire (44) and British HMS Warrior (40 guns), had appeared in the last year and built upon lessons learned with armored floating batteries during the Crimean War (1853-1856). Consulting John M. Brooke, John L. Porter, and William P. Williamson, Mallory began pushing the ironclad program forward but found that the South lacked the industrial capacity to build the needed steam engines in a timely manner. Upon learning this, Williamson suggested using the engines and remains of the former Merrimack. Porter soon submitted revised plans to Mallory that based the new ship around Merrimacks power plant. CSS Virginia - Specifications: Nation: Confederate States of AmericaType: IroncladShipyard: Norfolk (Gosport) Navy YardOrdered: July 11, 1861Completed: March 7, 1862Commissioned: February 17, 1862Fate: Burned, May 11, 1862Displacement: 4,100 tonsLength: 275 ft.Beam: 51 ft.Draft: 21 ft.Speed: 5-6 knotsComplement: 320 menArmament: 2 Ãâ€" 7-in. Brooke rifles, 2 Ãâ€" 6.4-in. Brooke rifles, 6 Ãâ€" 9-in. Dahlgren smoothbores, 2 Ãâ€" 12-pdr howitzers Design Construction Approved on July 11, 1861, work soon began at Norfolk on CSS Virginia under the guidance of Brooke and Porter. Moving from preliminary sketches to advanced plans, both men envisioned the new ship as a casemate ironclad. Workers soon cut down the burned timbers of Merrimack to below the waterline and commenced construction of a new deck and the armored casemate. For protection, Virginias casemate was built of layers of oak and pine to a two-foot thickness before being covered by four inches of iron plate. Brooke and Porter designed the ships casemate to have angled sides to aid in deflecting enemy shot. The ship possessed a mixed armament consisting of two 7-in. Brooke rifles, two 6.4-in. Brooke rifles, six 9-in. Dahlgren smoothbores, as well as two 12-pdr howitzers. While the bulk of the guns were mounted in the ships broadside, the two 7-in. Brooke rifles were mounted on pivots at the bow and stern and could traverse to fire from multiple gun ports. In creating the ship, the designers concluded that its guns would be unable to penetrate the armor of another ironclad. As a result, they had Virginia fitted with a large ram on the bow. Battle of Hampton Roads Work on CSS Virginia progressed in early 1862, and its executive officer, Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones, oversaw fitting out the ship. Though construction was ongoing, Virginia was commissioned on February 17 with Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan in command. Eager to test the new ironclad, Buchanan sailed on March 8 to attack Union warships in Hampton Roads despite the fact that workmen were still on board. The tenders CSS Raleigh (1) and Beaufort (1) accompanied Buchanan. Though a formidable vessel, Virginias size and balky engines made it difficult to maneuver and complete circle required a mile of space and forty-five minutes. Steaming down the Elizabeth River, Virginia found five warships of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron anchored in Hampton Roads near the protective guns of Fortress Monroe. Joined by three gunboats from the James River Squadron, Buchanan singled out the sloop of war USS Cumberland (24) and charged forward. Though initially unsure what to make of the strange new ship, Union sailors aboard the frigate USS Congress (44) opened fire as Virginia passed. Rapid Success Returning fire, Buchanans guns inflicted significant damage on Congress. Engaging Cumberland, Virginia pounded the wooden ship as the Union shells bounced off its armor. After crossing Cumberlands bow and raking it with fire, Buchanan rammed it in an effort to save gunpowder. Piercing the Union ships side, part of Virginias ram detached as it was withdrawn. With Cumberland sinking, Virginia turned its attention to Congress which had grounded in an attempt to close with the Confederate ironclad. Engaging the frigate from a distance, Buchanan compelled it to strike its colors after an hour of fighting. Ordering his tenders forward to receive the ships surrender, Buchanan was angered when Union troops ashore, not understanding the situation, opened fire. Returning fire from Virginias deck with a carbine, he was wounded in the thigh by a Union bullet. In retaliation, Buchanan ordered Congress be shelled with incendiary hot shot. Catching on fire, Congress burned throughout the rest of the day exploded that night. Pressing his attack, Buchanan attempted to move against the steam frigate USS Minnesota (50), but was unable to inflict any damage as the Union ship fled into shallow water and ran aground. Meeting USS Monitor Withdrawing due to darkness, Virginia had won a stunning victory, but had taken damage amounting to two guns disabled, its ram lost, several armored plates damaged, and its smoke stack riddled. As temporary repairs were made during the night, command devolved to Jones. In Hampton Roads, the situation of the Union fleet improved dramatically that night with the arrival of the new turret ironclad USS Monitor from New York. Taking a defensive position to protect Minnesota and the frigate USS St. Lawrence (44), the ironclad awaited Virginias return. Steaming back to Hampton Roads in the morning, Jones anticipated an easy victory and initially ignored the strange-looking Monitor. Moving to engage, the two ships soon opened the first battle between ironclad warships. Pounding each other for over four hours, neither was able to inflict significant damage on the other. Though the Union ships heavier guns were able to crack Virginias armor, the Confederates scored a hit on their adversarys pilot house temporarily blinding Monitors captain, Lieutenant John L. Worden. Taking command, Lieutenant Samuel D. Greene drew the ship away, leading Jones to believe that he had won. Unable to reach Minnesota, and with his ship damaged, Jones began moving towards Norfolk. At this time, Monitor returned to the fight. Seeing Virginia retreating and with orders to protect Minnesota, Greene elected not to pursue. Later Career Following the Battle of Hampton Roads, Virginia made several attempts to lure Monitor into battle. These failed as the Union ship was under strict orders not to engage as its presence alone ensured that the blockade remained in place. Serving with the James River Squadron, Virginia faced a crisis with Norfolk fell to Union troops on May 10. Due to its deep draft, the ship could not move up the James River to safety. When efforts to lighten the ship failed to significantly reduce its draft, the decision was made to destroy it to prevent capture. Stripped of its guns, Virginia was set on fire off Craney Island early on May 11. The ship exploded when the flames reached its magazines.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

What You Need to Know About Libel Laws

What You Need to Know About Libel Laws As a reporter, its crucial to understand the basics of libel and libel law. Generally speaking, the United States has the freest press in the world, as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. American journalists are generally free to pursue their reporting wherever it may take them, and to cover topics, as The New York Times motto puts it, â€Å"without fear or favor.† But that doesn’t mean reporters can write anything they want. Rumor, innuendo, and gossip are things hard-news reporters generally avoid (as opposed to reporters on the celebrity beat). Most importantly, reporters do not have the right to libel the people they write about. In other words, with great freedom comes great responsibility. Libel law is where the press freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment meet the requirements of responsible journalism. What Is Libel? Libel is published defamation of character, as opposed to spoken defamation of character, which is slander. Libel: Exposes a person to hatred, shame, disgrace, contempt or ridicule.Injures a person’s reputation or causes the person to be shunned or avoided.Injures the person in his or her occupation. Examples might include accusing someone of having committed a heinous crime, or of having a disease that might cause them to be shunned. Two other important points: Libel is by definition false. Anything that is provably true cannot be libelous.â€Å"Published† in this context simply means that the libelous statement is communicated to someone other than the person being libeled. That can mean anything from an article thats photocopied and distributed to just a few people to a story that appears in a newspaper with millions of subscribers. Defenses Against Libel There are several common defenses a reporter has against a libel lawsuit: Truth Since libel is by definition false, if a journalist reports something that is true it cannot be libelous, even if it damages a person’s reputation. Truth is the reporter’s best defense against a libel suit. The key is in doing solid reporting so that you can prove something is true.Privilege Accurate reports about official proceedings – anything from a murder trial to a city council meeting or a congressional hearing – cannot be libelous. This may seem like an odd defense, but imagine covering a murder trial without it. Conceivably, the reporter covering that trial could be sued for libel every time someone in the courtroom accused the defendant of murder.Fair Comment Criticism This defense covers expressions of opinion, everything from movie reviews to columns on the ops might include a rock critic ripping into the latest Beyonce CD, or a political columnist writing that she believes President Obama is doing a horrible job. Public Officials vs. Private Individuals In order to win a libel lawsuit, private individuals need only prove that an article about them was libelous and that it was published. But public officials – people who work in government at the local, state or federal level – have a tougher time winning libel lawsuits than private individuals. Public officials must not only prove that an article was libelous and that it was published; they must also prove it was published with something called â€Å"actual malice.† Actual malice means that: The story was published with the knowledge that it was false.The story was published with reckless disregard of whether or not it was false. Times vs. Sullivan This interpretation of libel law comes from the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Times vs. Sullivan. In Times vs. Sullivan, the court said that making it too easy for government officials to win libel suits would have a chilling effect on the press and its ability to aggressively report on the important issues of the day. Since Times vs. Sullivan, the use of the â€Å"actual malice† standard to prove libel has been expanded from just public officials to public figures, which basically means anyone who is in the public eye. Put simply, politicians, celebrities, sports stars, high-profile corporate executives and the like all must meet the â€Å"actual malice† requirement in order to win a libel suit. For journalists, the best way to avoid a libel suit is to do responsible reporting. Don’t be shy about investigating wrongdoing committed by powerful people, agencies, and institutions, but make sure you have the facts to back up what you say. Most libel lawsuits are the result of careless reporting.

Friday, February 14, 2020

Will the Mexican car company, Mastretta, ever reach the reputation Essay

Will the Mexican car company, Mastretta, ever reach the reputation that the current top car companies receive - Essay Example The report is due by the end of this month. 2.0 Procedure Comprehensive secondary research has been carried out to explore the issue and find relevant solutions for the same. The resources that have been mainly consulted are consumer brand awareness reports of the automobile industry and also reports pertaining to the automobile industry of Mexican automobile industry. 3.0 Findings 3.1 Industry Outlook Similar to the discovery of airplanes, the materialization of automobiles has a profound impact on the everyday life of human beings. The automobile industry is critical constituent in the fabric of global economy (Kazmi 6). The global automobile industry enormously contributes to the wealth and health of millions of inhabitants of the world. Hence, it is important that the automotive sector retain its innovative edge and competitiveness. It has been found that the auto manufacturing industry is highly labour intensive and capital. Some of the major costs associated with manufacturing and marketing of the automobile products are labour cost, cost of procuring raw materials and cost associated with advertisement and distribution. A large proportion of the industry is driven by revenues generated from selling of automobiles. However, the equipments and parts market also offer lucrative opportunities to the players. In the North American market, the industry is principally dominated by three major players namely Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Chrysler. In addition, the foreign players such as Honda Motor Co and Toyota Motor Co are other major players (General Motors, â€Å"Annual Report: Financial Highlights†) According to several industry analysts, the automobile industry depends heavily on the tastes and trends of consumers (Adair 6-10). Although, a large segment of the overall sales of automobiles generates from the business to business selling and car renting companies, but the end consumer always has the highest priority as they are the one who drive the growth and progression of the industry (Bhushan and Rai 12-18). Another vital caveat for analyzing an automobile company is the intentions of the company pertaining to their planning and redesign. In this rapidly changing business environment companies, irrespective of the nature and business line are continuously trying to bring changes into their system of operation and product design. As a result of that, it is noticed that every year companies come up with either a new car or modify their existing car. These changes have massive impact on the success or failure of a company as consumers are directly influenced by it. In addition, there are certain other factors such as the price; the variation of models as well as the status it reflects in the social world is also a major factor (Hicks 14-21). Therefore, the discussion makes it evident that there are several factors responsible for the success of an automobile company as well as for gaining reputation in the market. In the context of the automotive industry of Mexico, it is characterized by steady growth and high potential. The industry accounts for 3.6% of the overall GDP of the country and is growing at a steady pace (Esenaro, â€Å"Luxury Car Manufacturing on A Roll in Mexico†). Despite the economic crisis, where majority of automobile players were seriously affected, and resulted in minimization of various expenditures, have once again occupied the emblematic position in the national economy of the country. As of latest figures the country ranks among the top 10 car manufacturing countries of the world. Figure 1 –

Saturday, February 1, 2020

CIVIL RIGHTS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CIVIL RIGHTS - Essay Example Since white population has been in majority in the USA, Canada, Australia and European countries since ever, they enjoy power, pelf, position, status and key positions in the developed and prosperous countries of the world at large. It is therefore I aptly wished to be the member of white racial group of society, so that I could also be looked at with great respect and admiration because of coming of the dominated white ethno-racial community. One day, I was highly depressed on my return from the job search excursion, and disappointment could easily be found on my face. After taking dinner half-heartedly, I went to bed and kept sleep. The next morning I woke up early at dawn and looked into the mirror. I was astonished to find me as the member of white racial group. I rubbed my eyes in order to estimate whether it was a dream or reality. However, still I was in the perplexed state of mind when I heard the call of my Black servant, who was seeking the piece of my advice regarding the preparation of breakfast in a very humble tone. I asked him to step in, and sit in chair with me. He looked at me with great surprise, and appeared to be reluctant to comply with my instructions.

Friday, January 24, 2020

Harriet Beecher Stowe :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut in the year of 1811. She was a housewife of six, and wrote articles for magazines for a living. Stowe’s sister, Isabella Jones Beecher, was furious from the passing of the Fugitive Slave Law, passed as part of the Compromise of 1850. The law required all Northerners to return runaway slaves to their Southern owners. The result of the anger of the two sisters resulted in the production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. When reading the book, it is quite obvious to an observant reader that the book was written by a nineteenth century woman during the nineteenth century. The opening scene of the book, where Mr. Shelby talks to Haley about Tom, is a reference to Harriet Beecher herself. She is trying to portray that all themes in this book about the evils of slavery are unfortunately true. There were some bright points besides the evils of slavery. Stowe mentioned that slavery in Kentucky was not so badly-off. This, however, angered abolitionists. Even though, there were still many fears to worry about. Another point is that Stowe makes Eliza and George, the parents of little Harry, light skinned. Stowe remarks that light-skinned women, like Eliza, are often especially attractive. This is one stereotype that whites have over blacks. The stereotype is described fully in the description of the two light-skinned story characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   All of the characters in Uncle Tom’s Cabin are based on real acquaintances of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Eliza is based on a young woman that Stowe had met in Kentucky. The first indication of this is found in Chapter 3: The Husband and the Father. In this chapter, George Harris decides to run away to Canada and work to buy Eliza and Harry’s freedom. Also in this chapter, George and Eliza possess completely different thoughts about slavery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All in all, most of the situations and characters in this book are references to Harriet Beecher Stowe and the life she lived.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Cigarette Smoking as a Public Health Hazard Essay

The Production and Sale of Cigarettes should be illegal and completely banned. The Surgeon General warns; Tobacco usage can be hazardous to your health. It is a drug equal to, if not more harmful than alcohol and some prescription drugs. If you don’t think smoking is addictive, ask someone who has tried quitting. As far back as the early 1960s, the connection between smoking and lung disease/cancer was made, and although smoking continued to be glamorized by many Hollywood actors and actresses, it became known that smoking also caused numerous health risks. In the 1960’s CBS Television sold itself to advertisers by highlighting their ability to reach a broad audience and the cigarette industry provided a large percentage of the networks’ revenue. Yet studies continued to show breathing smoke from other people’s people cigarettes or chewing tobacco products, were proven to be just as harmful to one’s health, as it would be if the person smoked themse lves. Not only is smoking a health risk to the person who chooses to do it, second-hand smoke affects millions of people in the U.S., causing significant diseases and sometimes even death. Manufacturers have hidden hide the real consequences of cigarette smoking for years, even though they knew it was compromising the health of the general public, which includes including men, women and children who had never smoked a single cigarette. The average teenager saw at least 26 cigarette ads each week and more than 100 ads per month, while children with chronic diseases such as asthma continued to suffer as a result of being exposed to involuntary secondhand smoke. Cigarette smoking can be attributed to Diabetes, Lung Cancer, Blindness, Kidney Failure, Problems with pregnancy in women including the inability to conceive, Birth Defects, High Blood Pressure, Respiratory Diseases and many more serious illnesses. Some adults suffer suffered from medical conditions as a direct result of the exposure to cigarette and cigar smoke in public places, family gatherings or their place of employment. Cigarette smokers, manufacturers, and advertising companies faced severe criticism and the Surgeon General began to prepare and report with significant findings on the effects of smoking. Unfortunately, it was too late for medical assistance or intervention for many. By then, medical conditions appeared and some were too advanced or terminal, making treatment impossible. The American Cancer Society encourages smokers to quit smoking on the third Thursday of November each year, this annual intervention/event is known as the Great American Smokeout. The goal of this event is to provide smokers with a wealth of information related to the health risks of smoking and to help them understand that quitting is the first step in becoming healthier. Materials and toolkits are provided nationally to those interested in hosting events aimed at helping Americans make healthy choices related to quitting. Some argue that electronic cigarettes, also known as E-Cigarettes are safer to use. They are sold online and come in a variety of flavors. E-Cigarettes are thought to be cool, and are a huge attraction to youth, as there is no age requirement to purchase them then. However, however, before smokers choose e-cigarettes there are several facts they should know. These cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive drug and are still considered to be a huge health risk. E-cigarettes are an unregulated tobacco product with more than 500 brands and more than 7,000 flavors yet they have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). E-cigarettes emit aerosol (vapor) which means its users inhale/exhale carcinogens, such as formaldehyde. Today, the dangers of smoking are very well-documented; in fact, smoking has been banned in many public places including restaurants, places of employment and professional buildings. Abuse of tobacco combined with alcohol and illicit drugs, costs our country over $600 billion dollars in health-care annually, not to mention what it cost in loss of productivity due to health-related issues and physical challenges. Diseases caused by smoking harm almost every organ in the human body. It is the cause of 1 in 5 deaths in the United States alone, yet it is estimated that more than 42 million Americans continue to smoke. Citations Judy Kruger et. Al., â€Å"Perceptions of Harm from Second Hand Smoke Exposure Among US Adults†, Tobacco Induced Diseases, Feb. 2, 2016 Vol. 14 Issue 13, http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.rlib.pace.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=3e7714d0-37a9-4672-8c8e-014de0082732%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=edsgcl.442139813&db=edsgaoRichard W. Pollay, â€Å"Exposure of US Youth to Cigarettes Television Advertising in the 1960’s† Tobacco Control, June 1994, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 130-133, 4p, http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.rlib.pace.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=9&sid=3e7714d0-37a9-4672-8c8e-014de0082732%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=67205935&db=edbArden Pope III el. al., â€Å"Lung Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Associated with Ambient Air Pollution and Cigarette Smoke: Shape of the Exposure-Response Relationships†, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2011, Vol. 119(11), pp. 1616-1621, http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.rlib.pace.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=24&sid=3e7714d0-37a9-4672-8c8e-014de0082732%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=edsjsr.41263267&db=edsjsrProctor RN, â€Å"Why Ban the Sale of Cigarettes? The Case for Abolition†, Tobacco Control, May 2013, Vol. 22, Suppl. 1, pp. i27-30, http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.rlib.pace.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=26&sid=3e7714d0-37a9-4672-8c8e-014de0082732%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=23591501&db=cmedm Don’t forget to include your Last name and Page # on each page. 1 inch from the right top corner of each page. You do not have quotations and citations included in your essay. Citation or Cited Work should be on one page.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Do Stereotypes Use Framing Effects - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1755 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/04/12 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Stereotypes Essay Did you like this example? Standard living with media or Stereotypes using Framing effects? Picture yourself in a situation. You are given two choices and you must choose one. Situation A: You won a lifelong vacation. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Do Stereotypes Use Framing Effects?" essay for you Create order No stress. No work. All you should do is spend your days the way you want to. Situation B: Like A, you receive a vacation as well. This vacation though, is not as fabulous as the one prior and it is a little more crowded. But you can still spend it as you wish and it is free. Naturally, the choice most people would go for is A. While both instances offer a lifelong retreat, B has its setbacks. Its limited and mentioned a lot of the cons to the vacation, such as being crowded, uncomfortable and lower quality than A. Even though, both are get-away trips, Situation A, however, shows no flaws. Like Situation B, it could have its downfalls too but the problems were not addressed up front. For all the readers know, Situation A could be as bad, if not worse than Situation B. But most would not realize it because of how fascinating it sounds. Stress free with no responsibilities. Media framing works the same way. Framing is summed up as a judgement or opinion about something based on how its presented to an audience. It is effective at catching the audience attention, whether it promotes good or bad impressions of ideas and people. Which brings up a question I had for a while, while are people, like the working and lower middle class are shown so negatively in the media? Often portrayed as uneducated and foolish in sitcoms and in the background on the news, it seems like the sole purpose of the working-class character is to provide laughs. The stereotypes have been around for decades and is slowly showing signs of ceasing. By using stereotypes and social framing, the media not only promotes close minded labels but also adds to the negative stereotypes of the lower classes all while marketing merchandise and unnecessary luxury items. Today, the media is the primary source of information we collect. With computers, TV, smartphones and tablets, available to us, we know the most current events and see the latest trends with ease. Even author, Diana Kendall addresses how the media plays a vital role in society. In the excerpt, Framing Class, Vicarious living and Conspicuous Consumption. Kendall states that the media is so much a part of our culture, that it, simply does not mirror society, rather, they help to shape it and to create cultural perception.[1] (Kendall, 316) With so many ways to communicate along with the many ways to receive knowledge, faming has found its way into the media. But why is it so important? Sure, it can be seen in ads, newspapers, the internet and tv but why should we need to be aware of it? Framing is important to know because it determines how information is presented to us. It is a view someone else has that they share with others. And the person or people with the view wants as many people to listen and agree with it as possible. Whether the view or idea should be respected or accepted is completely left up to the audience. Because framing is an effective tool used by the media, could there be bias in the things we watch? The answer is yes. Framing can be problematic because television ads often use it to manipulative the viewers. Often narratives are framed one way, the way the media wants us to see them. Because of this, we are only given small pieces of the story and not the whole thing. In an article written by Marsha Richins, a professor in the Department of Marketing at the University of Missouri, she gives an example of media selection. This one was a commercial for United airlines. The lead character is an attractive working mother, balancing work and taking care of her daughter. She, drops her daughter off at day care, flies to a business meeting, and returns at the end of the day in time to pick up her smiling, delighted daughter[2]. Richins noted that the boring things in the ad were taken out. [3]We dont see this woman brushing her teeth or standing in line to buy a newspaper. Also omitted a re the unpleasant things. As far as we know, this woman never has a run in her pantyhose, never has to wait in the rain for a cab, and her daughter never whines. In media, time and space are costly. Including boring or unpleasant aspects of life in a television commercial or program is expensive and in most cases detrimental to the advertisers or directors goal, so these elements are omitted. But the resulting image depicts an idealized version of life that isnt achieved even by the most fortunate members of society. [4] Framing could also divide people, not only by appearance and preferences, but also by social class. Kendalls book explains this theory. One argument she makes is that the media forces societys ideals on everyday people. The upper-class are often praised for their wealth and prosperity. Seeing their luxury and how amazing their lives are, we wished ours could be the same. The perceptions they force on us Kendall informs, blur the line of reality and what is not real encourages people to emulate the upper class and shun the working class and poor[5] (Kendall, 317) It sounds crazy but it is a great example of how powerful marketing is. You are being targeted without realizing it and they will not bluntly admit what they want you to do but instead send messages through advertisement. From seeing the ads and hearing others opinions and as well as listening to our own, we then make our decision. These class bias can lead to many stereotypes and prejudging. And from what Ive seen on TV, the working class gets the worst of it. Class dismissed, a documentary based on a book with the same titled by Pepi Leistyna, goes against many of the tv stereotypes of the working class thought out the history. According to the video, the working class are portrayed as foolish because tv wants you to believe, workers inadequacies are to blame for their lack of advancement.[6] In other words, it is your fault you are where you are. Because tv frames the idea that anybody can, achieve success[7] with two simple ingredients: passion and hard-work[8] many people ignore the fact that, most of the time, things that happen to us is beyond our control. Some decisions are based on our choices but not everyone of them. Its unfair to say everyones circumstances are the same and it comes off very insensitive and narrow-minded. Having this framed mindset, teaches us to be displeased with ourselves and to seek fortune. It makes us think that our lives would be incomplete without the latest designer clothes and shoes. Americans find themselves overspending on name brands and expensive cars. Kendall states the framing is associated with rampant consumerism is emulation framing, which suggest that people in all classes should reward themselves with a few of the perks of the wealthy[9] Using phycological manipulation, companies trick consumers by exposing their insecurities and offering their products as a solution to them. Unfortunately, the products do not solve consumer problems, but instead puts them in debt because of constant spending. All while businesses are making profits. In conclusion, framing has proved to be a powerful device and highly effective. It shapes the way we think without us even realizing it. The framing effect can be found everywhere: newspapers, media, tv, ads etc. Because of its influence, the media has been using it for years to persuade us to buy products. Since its used often can it be misleading? By using social framing, the media not only encourages close minded views but also adds to the negative stereotypes of the lower classes, while endorsing spending and gaining profit from unaware consumers. Works Cited Kendall, Diana Elizabeth. 2005. Framing class: media representations of wealth and poverty in America. Lanham, Md: Rowman Littlefield Publishers. Leistyna, Pepi, Loretta Alper, and Edward Asner. 2005. Class dismissed: how TV frames the working class. [Northampton, MA]: Media Education Foundation. (Video) Director: Loretta Alper Ed Asner YouTube – September 26, 2007 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIJENf-s6r4 Marsha L. Richins (1992),Media Images, Materialism, and What Ought to Be: The Role of Social Comparison, in SV Meaning, Measure, and Morality of Materialism, eds. Floyd W. Rudmin and Marsha Richins, Provo, UT: Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 202-206. url: https://acrwebsite.org/volumes/12215/volumes/sv08/SV-08 Stazi, Irene (A.A. 2014/2015) Framing effects in marketing messages. Tesi di Laurea in Behavioural economics and psychology, LUISS Guido Carli, relatore Massimo Egidi, pp. 59. [Bachelors Degree Thesis] https://tesi.eprints.luiss.it/15185/1/070912.pdf Hicks, Alexandria. Keeping up with the Jones: Socioeconomic Class Representation in Sitcoms. University of Oregon thesis, School of Journalism and Communication, Honors College, B.A. (2014) https://hdl.handle.net/1794/18254 Diana Elizabeth, Kendall. 2005. Framing class: media representations of wealth and poverty in America. Lanham, Md: Rowman Littlefield Publishers. Marsha L. Richins (1992),Media Images, Materialism, and What Ought to Be: The Role of Social Comparison, in SV Meaning, Measure, and Morality of Materialism, eds. Floyd W. Rudmin and Marsha Richins, Provo, UT: Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 202-206. url: https://acrwebsite.org/volumes/12215/volumes/sv08/SV-08 Richins (1992),Media Images, Materialism, and What Ought to Be: The Role of Social Comparison, in SV Meaning, Measure, and Morality of Materialism, eds. Floyd W. Rudmin and Marsha Richins, Provo, UT: Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 202-206. Ibid. Kendall. 2005. Framing class: media representations of wealth and poverty in America. Lanham, Md: Rowman Littlefield Publishers Leistyna, Pepi, Loretta Alper, and Edward Asner. 2005. Class dismissed: how TV frames the working class. [Northampton, MA]: Media Education Foundation. (Video) Director: Loretta Alper Ed Asner YouTube September 26, 2007 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIJENf-s6r4 Hicks, Alexandria. Keeping up with the Jones: Socioeconomic Class Representation in Sitcoms. University of Oregon thesis, School of Journalism and Communication, Honors College, B.A. (2014) https://hdl.handle.net/1794/18254 Hicks, Keeping up with the Jones: Socioeconomic Class Representation in Sitcoms. University of Oregon thesis, School of Journalism and Communication, Honors College, B.A. (2014) https://hdl.handle.net/1794/18254 Diana Elizabeth, Kendall. 2005. Framing class: media representations of wealth and poverty in America. Lanham, Md: Rowman Littlefield Publishers