Alain

1) To what extent do you agree with Alain de Botton's views on the News?

 I agree with some of the thhhings that hes saying as some of it is true and relevent but most of the time it doesnt need to happen or it sint true. For example, that hes saying that having alot of news and telling everyone aboput it they wont remember it and that the media now publish fun news like taylor swift on a  front cover rather than something serious about global warming etc. We also listen to disaster news and not care about it later. For example, thsi happens because we see it too much and were used to it that its natural for us to nbe around it. They only let us listen to soma parts so we hear and lsiten about the bad parts but we cant compare it to the good parts that they could have had. This is somehting that does make sense and does happen.


2) How can you link Marxism and Hegemony to de Botton's criticisms of the News?

A marxism view would agree with him and make sure that what hes saying is true and it is true. Marxists beleiev that the media and big news paper compamies does make big things happen and the can do this because they have the right to. They set certain things on websites and on the news for reason so that they can ensure that they have a massive audeience that would listen to them and understand and believe whatever they say. For example, with photo journalism we see and learn new things and these are things that they use all the time.


3) How could you use Pluralism and new technology to challenge de Botton's views on the News?
With a pluralism view they ensure that they have a view and have a freedom of speech with whatever media or news based stories taht there is or whateveer they find important. For example,if there was story about children starving in certain countries-they would express themselves and ensure that they find certain facts and would blogg it or tweet somewhow so taht smaller compaines would be able to see it and then make a big deal out of it later. Most of these things happen via social media etc as thats where its easier to access and show certain things on websites about things taht matter to them. Thsi would be hard for a marxists view as they wouldnt like the fact that pluralists are not taking in the information that they have given and are doing their own thing.


4) Choose two news stories from the last six months - one that supports de Botton's views and one that challenges his belief that the News is used for social control.
On of the new stories are The sun ediitor would have published david cameron a "pig" serialisation and News paper will surive. the first one will go against his view and the second one will agree with him.