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Power Of Media PPT: Definition, Types, and History

Power Of Media PPT: Definition, Types, and History Free Download : The influence of the media on our lives is enormous; in addition to providing us with amusement, it also influences how we view important societal issues and helps us acquire those ideas.

Also See: Women Empowerment PPT Free Download

Current events awareness is aided by print and electronic media. In the age of knowledge, we cannot ignore how the media, whether it be print or electronic, affects our daily life.

Can you image living without the ability to read newspapers or change channels on a television? The day when individuals enjoyed their leisure time by cycling, playing sports outside, and other activities like these has long since passed.

Also See: Social Media PPT  

Table of Content For Power of Media PPT Presentation

• Introduction
• Types of Media
• History of Media
• Power of Media

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Power Of Media Presentation

Management Notes

Power of Media – Major Points Explained in Detail | Media and Society

Power of media.

Media power refers to the enormous influence and impact that print media, broadcast media, and digital media have in shaping public opinion, disseminating information, and driving social and cultural changes. A powerful tool for communication, education, entertainment, and mobilization, the media play a significant role in modern society.

By reaching vast audiences, shaping public discourse, and influencing individual and collective behaviors, it can influence the lives of individuals and communities.

A media outlet’s power lies in its ability to gather, create, and distribute information, frame narratives, and shape public opinion. In order to promote media literacy and responsible consumption of media content, we must understand the power of media.

The power of media can be explained in the following way:

Information Dissemination:

Media acts as a primary source of information for individuals, providing news, current affairs, and factual information. Media’s power comes from its ability to gather, verify, and disseminate information to a wide audience. Keeping people informed about local, national, and global events is the responsibility of journalists and news organizations.

People are able to make informed decisions, understand complex issues, and participate in democratic processes when the media provides timely and relevant news coverage.

Agenda Setting:

The media can set the agenda and determine the issues that need to be addressed and discussed. Public opinion and conversations are shaped and directed by media outlets’ coverage of specific topics, editorials, and investigative reporting.

In order to set the agenda, the media must frame issues, shape narratives, and shape public perceptions. In bringing attention to neglected or marginalized topics, media can shape public opinion and bring about societal change.

Influence on Public Opinions and Attitudes:

The media has a profound impact on public opinion and attitudes, influencing how individuals perceive their surroundings. News stories, documentaries, and opinion pieces can influence public sentiment and shape attitudes regarding social, political, and cultural issues through media outlets.

In order to influence public opinion, media must be able to present information, frame stories, and evoke emotions. Public discourse and societal norms may be influenced by media, which contributes to the formation of collective beliefs, values, and behaviors.

Educational Tool:

Media serves as an educational tool, providing a platform for knowledge sharing and learning. Educational programs, documentaries, and online platforms facilitate access to information and promote lifelong learning. The media can spread education, foster critical thinking, and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge from a variety of fields, including science, history, culture, and the arts.

It is the ability of media to engage audiences through visual and interactive formats that makes complex concepts more accessible to learners and enhances their learning experience that makes it a powerful educational tool.

Entertainment and Cultural Influence:

Media plays a significant role in shaping cultural values and trends as well as serving as a powerful source of entertainment. Popular culture is shaped by movies, television shows, music, and digital content, which influence societal norms, fashion, language, and lifestyle choices.

It is in the ability of media to capture the imagination, evoke emotions, and create shared experiences that media has the power to entertain and influence cultures worldwide. In addition to reflecting and reinforcing cultural values, media introduces new ideas, challenges social conventions, and provokes social change.

Mobilization and Activism:

The media is an essential part of social mobilization and activism. It provides a platform for people and communities to advocate for change and mobilize collective action as well as raise awareness of social issues. Protest organizers, activists, and communities have become increasingly reliant on social media platforms to organize, spread, and mobilize.

By amplifying voices, connecting like-minded individuals, and generating public support for social causes, media can play a significant role in social mobilization and activism. Coverage of social movements can highlight injustice, increase awareness, and inspire people to act.

Advertising and Consumer Behavior:

The media, especially advertising, play an important role in influencing consumer behavior. Through advertisement, media influences consumer behavior, purchase decisions, and brand perception. Advertising is shaped by the media’s ability to shape consumer desires, promote products and services, and stimulate economic activity.

The use of media platforms allows companies to reach potential customers and influence their buying decisions through persuasive messaging and creative storytelling.

Influence on Democracy:

The media plays a crucial role in democratic societies, serving as a check on the government and other powerful institutions. Transparency, accountability, and citizen participation are promoted by the media, which inform the public, scrutinize policies, and encourage political debate.

In democracy, media facilitates the free flow of information, encourages diverse viewpoints, and holds those in power accountable for their actions. In order to facilitate free exchange of ideas and opinions, media freedom and independence are essential for a functioning democracy.

The media has significant power and influence, but it is also responsible for maintaining ethical standards, accuracy, and fairness. Despite media power, there are challenges associated with it, including media bias, sensationalism, misinformation, and manipulation.

In order to navigate the vast media landscape, evaluate sources, and distinguish between reliable information and misinformation, individuals must be literate in media literacy and critical thinking. The ability to understand the power of media empowers individuals to be informed consumers and active participants in shaping society.

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Power of Media

Global media platforms, with access to over 3.8 billion people consuming their content daily, have unique opportunities to leverage their scale for positive societal impact. From the way technology is designed and used to the ways in which digital media is consumed, this initiative explores opportunities to come together across the world’s largest platforms to strengthen communities and to address societal challenges in the current context of the pandemic and socioeconomical landscape.

Launched at the Sustainable Development Impact Summit in September 2020, the World Economic Forum’s Power of Media initiative aims to help media organizations use the power of their platforms for positive impact by finding ways to enhance trust, improve diversity and representation in media, build social cohesion through entertainment, culture and sport, and build back a better and sustainable media ecosystem. The analysis will be centered around three main workstreams:

• Building a Sustainable Media Ecosystem
• Diversity and Representation in Content
• Social Cohesion through Entertainment, Culture and Sport

Goal:  Build support and increase public trust through effective awareness and education of ESG goals. Advance avenues for which brands and platforms can leverage technology, data and the power of communities for social good in health, digital literacy, justice and other areas of society.

Objectives:

•Influence a more trusted, informed and inclusive outlook on how platforms can be used for social good

•Advance public-private cooperation and bridge industry gaps between media, consumer, tech, and digital communications industries to drive new societal solutions that leverage the broad reach and power of media platforms

•Achieve tangible results in improving social justice, health, well-being, education, economic inclusion, and cohesion in society

World Economic Forum projects may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License , and in accordance with our Terms of Use .

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The Power of Media: How It Shapes Public Opinion and Society

by Danny Ballan | Apr 7, 2023 | General Spotlights , Social Spotlights

• ·         Agenda Setting
• ·         Selective Reporting
• ·         Framing
• ·         Opinion Leaders
• ·         Social Media

The Impact of Media on Society

The role of the media in shaping public opinion.

From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed, we are constantly bombarded with news from the media, whether it be through television, newspapers, or social media. As a result, the media plays a crucial role in shaping our opinions on various topics, from politics to entertainment and beyond.

In this article, we will explore the ways in which the media influences public opinion and the impact it has on society as a whole.

· Agenda Setting

One of the most significant ways the media shapes public opinion is through agenda-setting. This is the process by which the media decides which topics and issues to cover and how they are presented to the public. Essentially, the media has the power to frame the conversation around certain topics, which can ultimately influence how people think about them.

For example, during election seasons, the media may focus heavily on certain candidates or issues, leading the public to form opinions based on what they see and hear. In this way, the media has the power to sway public opinion in favor of one candidate or political party over another.

· Selective Reporting

Another way the media can shape public opinion is through selective reporting. This is the process by which the media chooses which stories to report on and which to ignore. By selectively reporting on certain stories and ignoring others, the media can influence how the public perceives a particular issue.

For example, if the media only reports on negative news about a particular group or organization, the public may develop a negative perception of that group or organization, even if there is positive news that is not being reported. In this way, the media has the power to shape public opinion by selectively reporting on certain stories.

· Framing

Framing is the way in which the media presents information to the public. By framing information in a certain way, the media can influence how people interpret it. For example, if the media presents a story about a politician in a negative light, the public may view that politician negatively, even if there are positive aspects to their character or policy positions.

On the other hand, if the media presents a story in a positive light, the public may view the subject of the story in a more positive light. In this way, the media has the power to frame the conversation around certain topics, which can ultimately influence how people think about them.

· Opinion Leaders

Opinion leaders are individuals or groups that have a significant impact on public opinion. The media can play a role in shaping public opinion by highlighting the opinions of opinion leaders. For example, if a celebrity or influential public figure expresses an opinion on a particular topic, the media may give that opinion more weight and influence how the public thinks about the issue.

· Social Media

Social media has become an increasingly powerful tool for shaping public opinion. Through platforms like Twitter and Facebook, individuals can share their opinions and perspectives with a global audience. Social media also allows for the rapid dissemination of information, making it easier for individuals and groups to influence public opinion on a particular issue.

However, social media also has its downsides. With the rise of fake news and misinformation, it can be difficult to discern what is true and what is not. This can lead to the spread of false information and conspiracy theories , which can ultimately shape public opinion in dangerous ways.

The media’s influence on public opinion can have a significant impact on society. For example, media coverage of police shootings and racial inequality has led to a growing awareness of these issues and a call for change. Similarly, media coverage of environmental issues has led to increased awareness and action to address climate change .

However, the media can also have a negative impact on society . For example, sensationalized reporting can lead to a distorted perception of reality , leading to fear, anxiety, and even panic among the public. This can be particularly problematic in times of crisis, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or pandemics, where the media’s coverage can exacerbate the situation and cause harm to individuals and communities.

Moreover, the media’s influence on public opinion can also have political implications. In democracies, the media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and influencing political outcomes. Media coverage of political campaigns, for example, can affect voters’ perceptions of candidates and their positions, ultimately influencing the election results.

However, the media’s influence on politics can also be problematic, particularly when it comes to issues of bias and partisanship. In recent years, the media has been criticized for promoting certain political agendas or ideologies and for perpetuating a polarized political environment.

The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion on a wide range of issues, from politics to social and environmental issues. Through agenda setting, selective reporting, framing, opinion leaders, and social media, the media has the power to influence how people think and feel about certain topics.

However, the media’s influence on public opinion is not without its drawbacks. Sensationalized reporting, fake news, and biased reporting can distort reality and perpetuate negative stereotypes and misconceptions. Moreover, the media’s influence on politics can be problematic, particularly when it comes to issues of bias and partisanship.

As media consumers, it is important to be aware of the media’s influence on our opinions and to critically evaluate the information we receive. By doing so, we can ensure that our opinions are based on accurate information and that we are not being unduly influenced by media bias or sensationalism.

• Media : Forms of communication that reach large audiences, such as television, newspapers, and the internet.
• Public Opinion : Views held by a group of people about a particular issue, product, or person.
• Society : A group of individuals living in a particular geographic area who share a common culture and institutions.
• Agenda Setting : The process by which the media decides which topics and issues to cover and how they are presented to the public.
• Selective Reporting : The process by which the media chooses which stories to report on and which to ignore.
• Framing : The way in which the media presents information to the public.
• Opinion Leaders : Individuals or groups that have a significant impact on public opinion.
• Social Media : Online platforms that allow users to create, share, and exchange information and ideas with others.
• Misinformation : False or inaccurate information that is spread unintentionally or deliberately.
• Fake News : Deliberately misleading or fabricated news stories.
• Sensationalized Reporting : Reporting that exaggerates or sensationalizes the facts in order to attract attention or increase viewership.
• Bias : Prejudice or favoritism towards a particular group or ideology.
• Partisanship : Strong support for a particular political party or ideology.
• Polarization : The process by which individuals and groups become more ideologically divided and less willing to compromise.
• Democracy : A system of government in which power is held by the people, usually through elected representatives.
• Natural Disasters : Events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods that are caused by natural forces.
• Terrorism : The use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.
• Pandemics : An outbreak of a disease that spreads across a large geographic area and affects a large number of people.
• Environmental Issues : Problems related to the natural world, such as climate change , pollution, and habitat destruction.

Election Results : The outcome of an election, usually determined by the number of votes cast for each candidate or political party.

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12.1 The Media as a Political Institution: Why Does It Matter?

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Explain the importance of a free press both in the United States and abroad.
• Describe how the media acts as a watchdog and give examples.
• Understand and define how political information is mediated.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. —The 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution

The press is the only profession explicitly protected in the United States Constitution. Many attribute this protection to James Madison and his writings in the Federalist Papers , but the idea of a free press stretches back to well before Madison wrote out his ideas on what constitutes a perfect democracy. The origins of the free press in the United States can be traced back to Cato’s letters , a collection of essays written in the 1720s by two British writers, John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon . Using the pseudonym Cato, they published their articles in the British press, criticizing the British monarchy for its corruption and tyrannical practices. Decades later, American colonists felt the effects of these letters during their own struggles against the Crown, 1 and in 1776, Virginia became the first state to formally adopt a constitutional provision to protect press freedom. 2 Why is the idea of protecting the press so embedded in the United States’ concept of government, and why is this concept so important? Do other nations protect the media to the same extent, or even more? The next section will examine these questions.

The Fourth Estate and Freedom of the Press

The importance of a free press can be boiled down to a sentence from esteemed University of Illinois at Chicago lecturer Doris Graber ’s seminal work Mass Media and American Politics : “The mass media . . . serve as powerful guardians of political norms because the American people believe that a free press should keep them informed about the wrongdoings of government.” 3 Another common way of defining the media’s role is to say that it acts as the fourth estate , or the unofficial fourth branch of government that checks the others. The term fourth estate is credited to Scottish writer Thomas Carlyle , who wrote, “Burke said there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporter’s Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all.” 4 In other words, people look to the media—the fourth estate—to keep the government in check. The role of the media must be protected if it is to carry out that task.

Throughout US history, the media has fulfilled this role as intended. In the late 1960s, Rand Corporation analyst Daniel Ellsberg provided classified documents to the New York Times and the Washington Post proving that the government was concealing protracted military involvement in the Vietnam War. The New York Times withstood government pressure and a Supreme Court case to go on to publish a series of articles now known as the Pentagon Papers , which revealed the extent to which the American public had been lied to about the country’s progress in that war. The Watergate scandal is perhaps the most famous example of press freedom and the role of the press as watchdog (another term for the fourth estate ). In this instance, a government informant known as Deep Throat fed Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein confidential information about then president Richard Nixon’s corrupt campaign practices. An ensuing series of investigative pieces by the two journalists revealed multiple abuses of power in Nixon’s reelection campaign, and their reporting ultimately led to the indictment of multiple presidential aides and the eventual resignation of the president himself.

In this video clip, investigative journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, editor Barry Sussman, and former executive editor Ben Bradlee recall how, when they worked for the Washington Post in 1972, they broke the story of the Watergate scandal, a story that started with an investigation of a break-in at a Washington, DC, hotel and led to a constitutional crisis, the resignation of President Richard Nixon, and almost 50 criminal convictions.

In the case of the Pentagon Papers, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the president’s argument—that prior restraint 5 was necessary in order to protect national security—was not enough “to abrogate the fundamental law embodied in the First Amendment ,” 6 and this is the most important First Amendment case because it addresses the sweeping right of the press and press protections in the 20th century. Watergate showed how a protected press is free to serve one of its main purposes, which is to reveal government misconduct. New Yorker staff writer Richard Harris wrote at the time that, “The press was potentially Mr. Nixon’s enemy—far more than the courts or Congress, because only the press could dig out and tell the story (whatever help reporters might get from the courts or Congress) in a way that would arouse the people to demand an accounting.” 7

Watchdogs do not have to be journalistic behemoths like the New York Times or the Washington Post. In the United Kingdom, a small, independent newspaper called the Rochdale Alternative Paper revealed decades-long abuse allegations against Liberal Party MP 8 Cyril Smith . The exposé in the paper, which had a circulation of 8,000 at its highest, 9 eventually led to both a police and an independent government investigation into a child abuse ring that involved several high-level government officials, including MP Peter Morrison, the private secretary to then prime minister Margaret Thatcher . 10 Another way to understand the watchdog function of the press is through the term muckraker , referring to reform-minded investigative journalists during the Progressive Era in the United States (late 1800s to early 1900s) who exposed the wrongdoings of industry leaders. One famous example of a muckraker was Upton Sinclair , who wrote the novel The Jungle based on the corrupt and inhumane practices in American meatpacking companies at the turn of the 20th century. The publication of The Jungle led to governmental action on food safety. In his 1919 work The Brass Check , Sinclair exposed the journalism industry’s penchant for yellow journalism , or journalism that relies on catchy titles and human interest stories to drive sales over well-researched articles or pieces on civic affairs. Sinclair was not afraid to take on media titans such as William Randolph Hearst , who owned the nation’s largest chain of newspapers at the time.

Watchdogs and muckrakers act as a check on government action and corruption. They play an important part in exercising the role of a free press as a cornerstone of a functioning democracy. As Yale University professor and member of the Council on Foreign Relations Timothy Snyder writes, “If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so.” 11 The media allows the public to understand what is happening in government in order to hold elected officials accountable. Or, perhaps more simply put, “A free press is important because it is the freedom upon which all of our other freedoms are contingent.” 12

How free is the press? The answer is not black and white, as evidenced by the 2021 World Press Freedom Index . Published every year by Reporters Without Borders , the Freedom Index measures freedom in 180 countries “based on an evaluation of pluralism, independence of the media, quality of legislative framework and safety of journalists in each country and region.” 13 The map in Figure 12.3 below shows that the press is freer in some countries (in pink and purple on the map) than in others (in blue and green).

According to the index and as reflected in the map, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark have the freest presses in the world. Notably, Norway tries to discourage media concentration in order to ensure a variety of outlets, something that will be discussed in later parts of this chapter. The 2021 index ranked the United States 44th, after South Africa (32nd), Botswana (38th), and South Korea (42nd).

George Mason University professor Sam Lebovic explains that two main factors, the rise of concentration in ownership and increased state secrecy, are responsible for the inadequacy of press freedom in the United States, which is an ongoing and serious problem. 14 The modern US media faces unprecedented struggles against declining viewership and revenues, which work to limit the number of outlets and decrease the number of working journalists. At the same time, legislation such as the Patriot Act , passed after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has made it more difficult for the press to verify state information because of increasing pressure on sources not to cooperate and prosecution of journalists who do ascertain information. In addition, the Trump administration further hampered press freedoms through the prosecution of news sources, public statements that discredited journalists, and encouragement of foreign leaders to take steps to restrict their own media. 15 The future of press freedom in America, while still unstable due to media concentration and surveillance laws such as the Patriot Act, may show some signs of improvement; in a speech on Press Freedom Day in 2021, President Joe Biden decried the imprisonment of 274 reporters worldwide, criticized the lack of local media outlets, and said that the United States “recognize[s] the integral role a free press plays in building prosperous, resilient, and free societies.” 16 Despite these laudatory comments about a free press, however, it is clear the United States faces challenges in protecting journalists’ ability to fulfill their roles.

A study of the United States and Latin America provides an example of how this idea of the importance of a free press is shared across cultures. In the study, journalists representing both cultures shared a common definition of a free press as one that functions without government pressure and to promote social and economic development. 17 This study considered whether or not a free press is related to increased economic development, a question that to date has not been conclusively answered. While the notion that political freedoms (such as freedom of the press) should naturally encourage economic growth and increased standards of living is a common one, current research has not found conclusive evidence either supporting or refuting the claim. 18

There is more of a consensus on the benefits of a free press when it comes to preventing corruption. Studies of press freedom around the world, conducted by scholars in England, Argentina, and Australia, confirm this theory. 19 In this way, the watchdog role that the press plays is based on democratic ideals and has real-world effects for the public.

The Mediated Nature of Political Information

The political information most people receive is mediated information . What does this mean? Unless they work directly in government, most citizen’s understanding of politics comes completely from the media, whether via television news, podcasts, or social media feeds. The media may be a gatekeeper, but it is also a storyteller. As such, it is important to realize that what people see in the media is actually a manufactured view of the political world. Journalists and others who create the news follow routines and are influenced by institutional values that manifest themselves in media content. As Columbia University professor Herbert Gans writes in his study of the American media, “The news does not limit itself to reality judgments; it also contains values, or preference statements. This in turn makes it possible to suggest that there is, underlying the news, a picture of nation and society as it ought to be.” 20 Gans acknowledges that professional journalists try to be objective, yet the news does in fact make judgments and value statements. For example, crime news alerts viewers to the idea that there are undesirable actors within society and that criminals should be punished. Judgments and value statements such as these are different from political bias; while some news outlets are overtly liberal or conservative, Gans’s study shows that the media produces stories with cultural values that people may not detect because they are so used to seeing stories presented this way. For example, according to Gans, ethnocentrism and altruistic democracy are two of the key enduring values in the news. Ethnocentrism in the news refers to the idea that the American media values the United States above all other nations. This manifests most obviously in war coverage, where the press rarely questions American involvement—and to do so would be unpatriotic. In a similar vein, Gans explains that the American news media emphasize an altruistic democracy , the ideal held up by the media that politics should be based on public service and for the public interest. 21 In these ways, the news makes statements about what is right and what is wrong and presents political news through these lenses.

Journalists also share other professional values as to what makes a “good” news story, such as proximity, negativity, scope (how big is the story?), timeliness, and unexpectedness (novelty). 22 Because journalists share these professional values, there is a certain homogeneous quality to the news, otherwise known as pack journalism . This means that people receive the same type of news story repeatedly, though this has been changing since the advent of online news, a topic that will be discussed later in the chapter. Journalists’ common ideas about what should be in the news and why color their coverage and presentation of the news—and, as a result, the public’s perception of politics.

It is important here to note that the concept of news values differs across countries—what is newsworthy in the United States may not be in other nations—and the role of the media differs as well. A study on the news in Japan found that strong cultural forces and local needs drive how news is produced and delivered. 23 Other scholars have found that Western news organizations highlight human interest stories, while Arabic news focuses more on social responsibility and Islamic values. 24 University of Leicester Professor Vincent Campbell echoes the sentiment that news organizations in different countries are fueled by different values and that this influences what stories their audiences see. In authoritarian countries, journalists focus less on performing the watchdog role and more on promoting state activities. 25 This is the case in countries such as North Korea and China, where the state government runs the media.

Related to the idea that the media in large part decides what is a good news story is the concept of the media’s gatekeeping role and its agenda-setting powers. In other words, according to agenda-setting theory , the media decides both what to ignore or filter out and what to show the public. As University of Texas professor Maxwell McCombs and University of North Carolina professor Donald Shaw write, “In choosing and displaying news, editors, newsroom staff, and broadcasters play an important part in shaping political reality. Readers learn not only about a given issue, but also how much importance to attach to that issue from the amount of information in a news story and its position.” 26 Whether it is a producer who selects the topics for the evening news or an algorithm that creates a social media news feed, people know what is “news” by what is fed to them, they know what is important based on how often it gets airtime, and they understand that there are lead stories and stories that don’t matter very much. The public doesn’t make these decisions; professionals within the news industry make them for the public. (Later parts of this chapter will discuss how this power dynamic has changed thanks to social media and how, in many ways, it is no longer media professionals who select what the public sees.)

If the media decides which stories to present, it also has a hand in deciding how stories are presented. According to framing theory , the way the media frames political information can affect people’s understanding of it. University of Illinois professor David Tewksbury and University of Wisconsin professor Dietram A. Scheufele explain:

“Artists know that the frame placed around a painting can affect how viewers interpret and react to the painting itself. . . . Journalists—often subconsciously—engage in essentially the same process when they decide how to describe the political world. They choose images and words that have the power to influence how audiences interpret and evaluate issues and policies.” 27

For example, a study on gubernatorial races found that female candidates were more likely to be framed in terms of personal characteristics than their male counterparts, who were more likely to be framed in terms of their positions on policy issues. 28 In a separate study, researchers found that one common way the Dutch national media framed news on the European Union (EU) was in terms of assigning responsibility for social problems to the government. This study suggests that the Dutch media’s presentation of political news reflects the public expectation that the government will provide social welfare programs. 29 By highlighting certain aspects of a story and ignoring others, frames can affect people’s judgments and opinions on policy issues, and just as with agenda setting, elected officials fight to make sure they are framed in the correct light.

The public, and individual viewers, should know that while the media is a critical tool that aids people’s political decision-making, it is guided by professional values that dictate the content. Individuals’ views on politics can sometimes be out of their control, but they can work to assemble a better picture of the world by turning to a variety of media outlets and becoming aware of what goes into story selection. While internal pressures (such as professional norms) or external forces (such as authoritarian governments) can influence how the media portrays information, ownership can also affect what the public sees. The next section will examine the different types of media—and, perhaps more importantly, who owns them and how this affects their role in the political world.

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The Power of Social Media – Positive and Negative PPT Presentation

• by Refresh Science
• October 17, 2021 January 22, 2023

Without us even realize, social media gets so powerful than it ever has. Lots of people and businesses rely on social media. The power of social media has the potential to shape society in certain ways. More than half of the world’s population are active users of social media with an average of 3,9 billion active users.

Social media was originally intended for entertainment and communication purposes l. But now it has transformed into a platform with diversified purposes. That being said, anyone with a smartphone or computer and access to the internet is likely to have at least one username on social media. Everyone with social media accounts has either gain or give something from the platform. Many try to gain the power to influence others in many ways.

Understanding the Power of Social Media

When used strategically, social media is the biggest market research and digital marketing that ever existed. However, it is not an easy task to influence others using social media. Gaining power and influence from social media is real work even if you already have fame. This is because there are too many things are uploaded only from billions of active users. Thus, if you cannot stand to be different and offers what people need, then you will get blend in with the online crowd.

People use social media for real-time update features. This feature allows people to share and receive news faster than any electronic devices. Users with lots of following or famous people have the power to influence others through the things they upload or shares opinion. On the other hand, followers tend to trust the things they heard or read from influencers. That is why it is very easy to spread love as well as hate through the social media platform.

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How social media helps people?

The truth that social media hides the face of people makes people brave than ever. Those who are shy in real life can easily communicate through social media. However, this is a double-edged sword because people can get so evil since they can talk the way they want without thinking. Online hate and bullying grow to be serious issues that anyone can get from people they do not even know. Scary as it sounds, is it?

Though social media can influence people in a bad way, others also gain more positive sides from the platform. Social media is a powerful platform for marketing with no boundary to continents, countries, and even times. Allowing people to sell anything to anyone globally. Big and small companies build trust with followers and turn them into potential customers.

As easy as spreading hate, people also use social media to spread love and empathy. In social media, anyone has the voice to share opinions they never dare to say offline. Also in social media, people have the access to respond to any shared opinions, news, status, and anything alike.

The positive side of social media

Social media is indeed like a double-edged sword. Depending on the users, social media can be positive and negative. Here are some positive effects of social media.

• Easier to meet new people – meeting new people is not an easy thing to do offline. Unless you are the ongoing and fun type of person at a party, it can be quite tough to make friends. The rise of social media allows you to have a whole different concept of friendship. Even the most introverted can get like hundreds of friends on social media. Though it is not like a real friend to hang out in real life, still it is the kind of friends you will talk to through social media.
• Foster empathy – the truth is, we share a little bit too much of our lives on social media. What we share in daily life may be personal, but other people may find it inspirational. This also makes it very easy to empathize with others through the stuff they shared. It is also very easily find people who go through the same situation.
• Faster communication – with the packed daily life schedule, communication time with family and friends is getting smaller. Social media makes communication faster than ever considering the time spent on the platform. You can easily send messages and comments to a long-lost friend.
• Spread news easily – as easy as making friends and communicating, news travel faster in social media. Once the news is uploaded, people have free access to read, like, and share it. The more people who share, the wider the scope of the news.
• Easier marketing – with the power it has, people utilize social media as a powerful platform for marketing. Share some good content for the followers and lead them to be potential customers. Though social media is a complex thing it is a powerful platform to market business.

The Negative side of Social Media

Social media is not all positive though. The negative side of social media is mostly geared due to excessive use of the platform and also lacks users’ understanding. Constantly exposed to other people’s life may lead to anxiety and depression . Some people find they are unconsciously comparing their life with others. This is surely the path to anxiety and depression as what you see on social media is not always true.

Other bad sides of social media are cyberbullying and hate. Though the two are not new it gets worse since people can hide their true selves behind the keyboard. Allowing them to talk freely without considering if it might hurt others.

Spending too much time on social media results in another syndrome of missing out. FOMO or fear of missing out makes you constantly check the messages and social media. You always want to know what others are up to and see if they have more fun than you already have. This is the sign of fear of missing out because you cannot stand for not knowing what happen in your social media timeline .

The influence of the media

Mar 17, 2019

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The influence of the media. Lesson Objectives: To appreciate the influence of the media. To consider the positive and negative effects of the media. As we saw last lesson, the media, in its various forms , is very powerful and influential.

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• media coverage
• large media
• media pressure
• altered event timings
• slow motion replays helps

Presentation Transcript

Lesson Objectives: To appreciate the influence of the media. To consider the positive and negative effects of the media.

As we saw last lesson, the media, in its various forms , is very powerful and influential. • These influences can be seen as both positive and negative.

Positive influences: • Many of these come about due to the closeness between sport and the media. • Demonstrating performance • Showing high standards of performance , especially on TV, often with slow motion replays helps to emphasise good practice and enable individuals to be well informed. • This could be during an activity or after during an analysis show e.g. Match of the Day, 606 phone in.

Demonstrating Participation: • Showing lots of physical activity, highlighting and promoting it along with its health benefits, promotes popularity and participation. • e.g. Tennis participation every Wimbledon fortnight increases.

Increased revenue • Directly through broadcast rights e.g. Sky paying £1billion for Premier League rights. • Indirectly through sponsorship – Sponsors more likely to get involved if they know their will be lots of media (especially TV) coverage. • -Large companies that sponsor teams employ teams to trall media for their sponsorship logo to ensure they are getting value for money… eg is their logo on a photo of a player on the back page of a paper? I expect many of you can name the sponsors of many teams in many sports.

Encourages variety • The various types of media output, eg informative, educational, instructive and entertainment, ensure varied media coverage and cater for many tastes. • -Can you think of an example of each?

Negative Influences: • The media can have negative effects on sport, whether towards sport in general, teams or individuals, but on the whole they do not go out to be negative. • Examples are: • Intrusion on an event • Large events will see masses of cameras, cables, photographers, journalists, commentators etc. These can get in the way of spectators and hinder competitor privacy.

Media pressure • The media can put pressure on competitions to speed events up, make events more dramatic, or fit in with media schedules. (see altered timings below!) • Eg Tennis tie breaks, video refereeing • Edited coverage • TV directors choose what to show! Is it the highlights you want to see. • - How many of you have been to a sporting event, then seen the TV highlights and wandered why the best bits of action in your opinion were not shown.

Altered event timings: • TV needs to televise events to the biggest audience possible (for its advertisement revenue). They can put huge pressure on organisations to change event timings. The American TV channels are especially influential. • Examples include: • -Beijing Olympic swimming finals being changed to the morning so USA audiences could see Michael Phipps win golds. • -Sky TV changing football kick offs – all games were once 3.00pm on a Saturday!!

Undermining officials • Slow motion replays • These were banned in many stadia on their large screens for this reason. • Limited attendance • People can be discouraged from attending a sporting event if they know it is being televised on TV. • - Does a sporting club take the TV money or attendance money. What else does a good attendance provide?

Biased Popularity • Those sports attracting a large media following tend to flourish, those that don’t can decline in popularity. • Minor sports need success in order to attract the media coverage and with it sponsorship. • Homework: • Answer exam style questions found on Yr10 Homework section of PE website. • In for Wednesday!! • Remember Wed & Thur lunch club if you need help!!

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According to all researches on field, the impact of mass media on our daily life is stronger and stronger, especially on particular aspect of our life.

Consumes are the first target of the bombarding media messages coming from TV spots, movies, online ads and even twitters from companies that produce particular goods.

Today, if you have a TV or a computer or even none of these but you simply have a mobile like an iPhone, you are targeted as a consumer and by consequence you might get to receive constant messages and emails that invite you to buy a particular product or to visit a particular website.

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120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience

Updated: January 15, 2024

Published: August 09, 2023

Cooking is easy. The puzzle is figuring out what to eat. As soon as you know that, you can get started. The same holds for presentations. The sooner you can whip up a good, informative, and catchy topic, the easier the rest of the process becomes.

Pick a good topic that resonates with you and your audience to set a strong foundation. But select the wrong topic, and it becomes difficult to connect with your audience, find mutual interests, or hold their attention.

So, let’s learn how to develop thought-provoking and relevant topics for your presentations. You’ll also find some best practices to make your presentation memorable.

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How to Choose a Great Presentation Topic in 5 Steps

120 presentation topic ideas, 5 presentation tips.

4. Choose an appropriate presentation style.

There are many ways to present a topic. Your personality, the topic at hand, and your audience’s personas will help you determine which style would best fit you and your audience.

Select a presentation style that will communicate the main idea clearly and have a lasting impact on your audience.

For instance, explore a freeform style presenter by Sir Ken Robinson.

5. Engage with your audience.

Work on your presentation skills to make a strong connection with your audience, get through to them and leave a mark.

Think of the presenter as the link between the topic and the audience. A strong or a weak presenter can make a difference between a presentation being a thriving success or a boring failure.

Hone your skills by engaging and interacting with your audience. Make them feel like a part of the presentation and not just spectators. 70% of marketers have found presentations with interactive content to be more effective than those without.

Here are a few ways you can make your presentation interactive:

• Start your speech with uncommon questions to your audience. Involve them from the get-go, like ask to raise their hands if X.
• Make eye contact to build credibility and show confidence. Don’t stare at your slides or notes. Smile occasionally and talk to the audience directly.
• Have an active and confident body language. Don’t stand in the same place the entire time. Move around the stage.
• Don’t be monotonous. Speak as you would to a colleague — with enthusiasm.
• Ask close-ended questions in between to keep the audience engaged without losing time. Address them using their names to keep things interesting.
• Share personal experiences and stories that your audience will find fascinating and relatable.
• Practice thoroughly before you present so you’re fluent with the material and delivery.
• Energy and excitement can be quite contagious. Make sure you exude enough to spread some to your audience.

Feeling Inspired Yet?

Now you have all the right ingredients for choosing amazing topics and a hundred ideas to drive inspiration from. So, go ahead and start cooking presentations that will blow your audience away.

Don’t forget to choose a super-relevant topic and add meaty information. Do it with excitement to make it enjoyable for you and your audience. Best of luck!

Don't forget to share this post!

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Codefi, center on rural innovation are gold sponsors for 2024 connecting entrepreneurial communities.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Codefi and the Center on Rural Innovation are joint 2024 Gold Sponsors for University of Missouri Extension’s Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC), a conference dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in rural areas.

The conference, Sept. 17-19 in Fulton, brings together leaders, innovators and change-makers to explore strategies for driving economic growth in rural communities, said Annette Kendall, chair of the MU Extension CEC state team.

“We are thrilled to partner with the MU Extension Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference,” said James Stapleton, president and CEO of Codefi. “At Codefi, we believe in the power of entrepreneurship to transform communities, and we are committed to delivering programs that foster innovation and create quality jobs and economic growth in areas often overlooked. We look forward to sharing our expertise and insights with conference attendees and collaborating with other stakeholders to help create capacity.”

Codefi provides high-growth venture and tech workforce development programs and services that eliminate the skills and opportunity gaps preventing workers and entrepreneurs in smaller metro areas, cities and rural communities across southern Missouri from thriving in the digital economy. Codefi was founded in Cape Girardeau in 2014 and has expanded to Springfield to serve the 47 southernmost counties in Missouri.

Partnering with Codefi as Gold Sponsor is the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing economic prosperity in rural America through entrepreneurship and technology-driven innovation.

“At CORI, we are passionate about creating opportunities for rural communities to thrive in the digital economy,” said Matt Dunne, CORI founder and executive director. “We are excited to partner with the MU Extension Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference to further our shared mission of empowering entrepreneurs and fostering innovation in rural areas. By working together, we can unlock the full potential of rural America and build a brighter future for all.”

Kendall expressed gratitude for the support of Codefi and CORI as a joint Gold Sponsor of the conference. “The partnership between Codefi, CORI and the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference exemplifies our collective commitment to driving positive change in rural communities,” she said. “We are excited to collaborate with Codefi and CORI to create an engaging and impactful conference experience that empowers entrepreneurs and spurs economic growth in rural Missouri and beyond.”

Kendall said the 2024 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference in Fulton promises to be a dynamic and informative event, featuring keynote presentations, breakout sessions and networking opportunities aimed at inspiring and equipping attendees to drive entrepreneurship and innovation in their communities.

The Callaway Chamber of Commerce, serving as the local host for the event, also expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. “We are delighted to welcome Codefi and CORI as Gold Sponsors for the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference,” said Tamara Tateosian, chief executive officer of the chamber. “Their support underscores the importance of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in rural communities, and we look forward to working together to make this year’s conference a resounding success.”

For more information about Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities, visit http://muext.us/CEC .

About Codefi

Codefi is a nationally recognized tech-based development non-profit organization that specializes in deploying an innovation ecosystem by building and attracting software-focused companies, educating and training tech talent and founders, and expanding the tech economy to improve the quality of lives, companies, and communities. Codefi and the efactory at Missouri State University, are co-creators of the Southern Missouri Innovation Network (Innovate SOMO), a regional collaborative working to unlock the full potential of entrepreneurship and innovation to transform entire communities in the southernmost 47 counties in Missouri.

The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) is a national nonprofit committed to advancing economic prosperity in rural America through the creation of inclusive tech economy ecosystems that support scalable entrepreneurship and tech job creation. Established in 2017, CORI is at the heart of a dynamic social enterprise focused on closing the rural opportunity gap. To maximize all possible resources to address this critical problem, the organization partners with a taxable nonprofit, Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. (RISI), and a seed fund, the CORI Innovation Fund, focused on early-stage technology companies located in rural areas. For more information, visit www.ruralinnovation.us .

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Powerful storm system slams central and eastern US, spawning multiple tornadoes: Updates

A major storm system slammed parts of the central and eastern U.S. Tuesday as it moved across the country, damaging buildings, knocking out power to thousands of homes, and toppling trees.

About 78 million people were under severe weather advisories from the National Weather Service , which warned of flash floods, long-track tornadoes, and baseball-size hail. A tornado watch remained in place for parts of Georgia and Alabama on Tuesday night, according to a weather database maintained by USA TODAY.

Meteorologists said the Ohio and Tennessee valleys were at the highest risk. Parts of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana were under a significant threat of tornadoes, with two tornadoes already confirmed in Kentucky on Tuesday.

In Tennessee, Morgan County officials reported a possible tornado touchdown around 5:30 p.m. local time. The storm in the area brought down power lines and trees, and scattered debris on roads.

The severe weather caused at least one death. KJRH-TV reported that a 46-year-old unhoused woman in Tulsa, Oklahoma, died after seeking shelter in a storm drain.

Intense storm conditions may be felt as far south as the Gulf Coast and as far east as western portions of Virginia and the Carolinas, the weather service said. Rain will pour down through midweek from the central Appalachians to the mid-Atlantic coast, according to AccuWeather. Meteorologists warned that the heavy rainfall may cause urban and flash flooding.

More than 316,000 utility customers across West Virginia, Kentucky, and other states were without power as of Tuesday night as winds as high as 92 mph battered the region, according to a database maintained by USA TODAY .

Several possible tornadoes also flattened buildings, uprooted trees and snapped utility polls across a vast swath of the Midwest late Monday and Tuesday. Schools districts canceled classes, delayed their start or let students go home early.

Meanwhile, communities in Oklahoma, Missouri, Indiana and Illinois began to survey the wreckage while others still faced fierce conditions. Along with those in the Midwest, cities on the track of the storm include Nashville, Birmingham and Atlanta. Multiple crashes were also reported, including one in which two commercial vehicles overturned on an Indiana interstate and left several people injured.

The large system fueled storms that have had coast-to-coast impacts since the weekend, when damaging hail fell across the Midwest and heavy rain in Southern California led to the partial collapse of a major highway .

Kentucky officials assess storm damage to homes

The National Weather Service in Louisville, Kentucky, issued a tornado watch for the Louisville metro area until 10 p.m. local time Tuesday. Weather service meteorologist Brian Neudorff said the biggest concerns are tornadoes, wind gusts of up to 80 mph, and baseball-size hail.

Damages were reported across central and eastern Kentucky, and two tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down on Tuesday, according to a  forecast from the weather service .

Emergency personnel were in a "search and rescue phase" after about 10 homes were reported damaged in Oldham County, according to county emergency management director Zack Wilt. Some homes had severe roof damage and at least one home collapsed in Prospect, just northeast of Louisville.

Other damage reports included downed wires and fallen trees. There were no immediate reports of any injuries or deaths.

Crews in Oklahoma survey tornado damage

Severe thunderstorms and hail that developed in Oklahoma on Monday evening spawned several tornado warnings. At least two tornadoes were reported in northeastern Oklahoma, according to the National Weather Service.

The tornadoes caused damage to parts of Osage County, the weather service said. A crew from the weather service surveyed the damage Tuesday to determine an official track and tornado rating.

A spokesperson for the weather service in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said the agency received reports of damage in Barnsdall and Hominy, along with areas near Bartlesville. Many homes and the Barnsdall school building were left without power, causing  Barnsdall Public Schools to cancel  Tuesday classes.

Ohio weather map

'high winds and blowing dust' in texas cause 30-car pileup.

At least 30 cars were involved in a massive pileup crash on a Texas state highway on Monday caused by "limited visibility due to high winds and blowing dust," the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a news release.

A preliminary investigation found that four separate crashes occurred on a less than 1-mile stretch of FM 1555 near SH 349 in Upton County. The crash totaled 12 cars.

No one was killed in the incident, authorities said. Some people were taken to local hospitals for treatment of minor and non-life-threatening injuries.

The roadway was closed after the crash and reopened on Monday night by 8 p.m., according to officials.

Ohio firefighters rescue 2 from flooding

Firefighters in Columbus, Ohio, rescued a couple who were trapped under a bridge by the rising water of the Scioto River on Tuesday morning, the Columbus Dispatch , part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

A boat from the Columbus Division of Fire picked up the couple, who were sleeping under the Broad Street Bridge at around 8:45 a.m. local time. The bridge, also called the Discovery Bridge, stretches more than 600 feet and borders downtown Columbus.

The pair were brought to shore without injury.

Reports of damage in Evansville, Indiana

Shortly after she woke up early Tuesday, Eileen Helmen heard a siren in the distance. Listening to the radio on her nightstand, a tornado warning soon prompted her to take cover in her guest bathroom, where she shut herself in and huddled for about a half hour.

As the rain began to subside around 7:30 a.m., Helmen, 70, decided to head to a church in Evansville, Indiana, where she works as a receptionist. On the drive, she saw tree limbs, outdoor furniture and other debris strewn across roads throughout the city. Several street lights were out, including at busy intersections.

“We were spared,” Helmen said of the Christian Fellowship Church and her neighborhood. “But, there were places that got hit bad...”

The city of Evansville in a post on X said there was, "Significant storm damage throughout the city; particularly north side." The statement added that city crews were working to clear the roads and urged residents to "please be careful if you have to go out!"

There were no immediate reports of injuries in Vanderburgh County, which encompasses Evansville, according to Sheriff Noah Robinson, who told the Courier & Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, that deputies were still canvassing damaged neighborhoods.

As of mid-morning,  CenterPoint Energy reported more than 22,000 of its customers in Southwestern Indiana were without power because of storm damage.  Several hundred outages were reported by utility company Kenergy in Western Kentucky, as well.

The Evansville Wartime Museum announced it would cancel all events and issue refunds to those who had purchased tickets, saying it had "heavily sustained damage." Photos posted on the museum's Facebook page show caved in ceiling tiles and exposed insulation.

"It's a little rough out here in the county, though the city has some power outages as well," Robinson said. "We're dealing with dozens of downed trees and in some cases power lines."

Thunderstorms to hit Northeast and Southeast

Throughout the week, the large storm system will bring showers and severe thunderstorms across the mid-Atlantic and parts of the Southeast, meteorologists said.

The National Weather Service issued a slight risk of severe thunderstorms for Wednesday and Thursday, warning of frequent lightning, strong wind gusts, hail and "a few tornadoes," throughout both regions.

The major storm conditions in the southeast and mid-Atlantic are expected to subside by Friday, according to the weather service.

Heavy snow forecast in Midwest, Northeast

Heavy snow was forecast Tuesday across northern Illinois, much of Wisconsin and Michigan, the weather service reported.

At least 4 to 8 inches of snow was possible across these areas. The greatest chances of heavy snow was in eastern Wisconsin to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The same storm will also unleash snow throughout the Northeast, beginning Wednesday and lasting through Friday, the weather service said.

Significant amounts of snow are likely to fall over Upstate New York and northern New England. With gusty winds, there's a high likelihood that the storm will disrupt travel because of low visibility and slippery roads. The heavy snow and powerful wind gusts may also damage trees and impact infrastructure, the service said.

US weather watches and warnings

National weather radar.

Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY; Ryan Reynolds and Jon Webb, Evansville Courier & Press ; Shahid Meighan, Bethany Bruner, and Nathan Hart, Columbus Dispatch ; Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez and Rachel Smith; Louisville Courier Journal; Alexia Aston, The Oklahoman; Knoxville News Sentinel

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• Q&A: Tips for viewing the 2024 solar eclipse

Q&A: Tips for viewing the 2024 solar eclipse

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On Monday, April 8, the United States will experience a total solar eclipse — a rare astronomical event where the moon passes directly between the sun and the Earth, blocking out the sun’s light almost completely. The last total solar eclipse in the contiguous U.S. was in 2017, and the next one won’t be until 2044.

If the weather cooperates, people across the United States — from northeastern Maine to southwestern Texas — will be able to observe the eclipse using protective eyewear. Those in the path of totality , where the moon entirely covers the sun, will have the best view, but 99% of people in the continental U.S. will be able to see a partial eclipse. Weather permitting, those on the MIT campus and the surrounding area will see 93 percent of the sun covered, with the partial eclipse starting at 2:15 p.m. and reaching its peak around 3:29 p.m. Gatherings are planned at the Kresge Oval and the MIT Museum , and a live NASA stream will be shown in the Building 55 atrium .

Brian Mernoff , manager of the CommLab in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is an accomplished astrophotographer and science educator. Mernoff is headed to Vermont with his family to experience the totality from the best possible angle — but has offered a few thoughts on how to enjoy the eclipse safely, wherever you are.

Q: What should viewers expect to see and experience with this solar eclipse?

A: When you’re watching TV (the sun) and your toddler, dog, or other large mammal (the moon) blocks your view, you no doubt move over a bit to try to get a partial or full view of the TV. This is exactly how the path of totality works for an eclipse. If you are exactly in line with the moon and sun, it will be completely blocked, but if you start moving away from this path, your view of the sun will start to increase until the moon is not in the way at all.

The closer you are to the path of totality, the more of the sun will be blocked. At MIT, about 93 percent of the sun will be blocked. Those in the area will notice that things around you will get slightly darker, just like when it starts to become overcast. Even so, the sun will remain very bright in the sky and solar glasses will be required to view the entirety of the eclipse. It really goes to show how incredibly bright the sun is!

Within the narrow path of totality, the moon will continue to move across the sun, reaching 100 percent coverage. For this short period of time, you can remove your glasses and see a black disk where the sun should be. Around the disk will be wispy white lines. This is the corona, the outermost part of the sun, which is normally outshone by the sun’s photosphere (surface). Around the edges of the black disk of the moon, right as totality begins and ends, you can also see bright spots around the edges, known as Bailey’s Beads, caused by sunlight shining between mountains and craters on the moon.

But that’s not all! Although you will be tempted to stare up at the sun throughout totality, do not forget to observe the world around you. During totality, it feels like twilight. There is a 360-degree sunset, the temperature changes rapidly, winds change, animals start making different sounds, and shadows start getting weird (look into “shadow bands” if you have a chance).

As soon as totality ends, and you start to see Baily’s Beads again, put your solar glasses back on as it will get very bright again very fast as the moon moves out of the way.

Q: What are the best options for viewing the eclipse safely and to greatest effect?

A: No matter where you are during the eclipse, make sure you have solar glasses. These glasses should be ISO-approved for solar viewing. Do not use glasses with scratches, holes, or other damage.

If you are unable to obtain solar glasses in time, you can safely view the eclipse using a home-made projection method , such as a pinhole camera or even projecting the image of the sun through a colander.

The best view of the eclipse will be from within the path of totality, but even if you are not within it, you should still go outside to experience the partial eclipse. Use the NASA Eclipse Explorer to find the start, maximum, and end times, and then find a nice spot outside — preferably with some shade — put on your glasses, and enjoy the show.

For a closer view of the sun, find a friend that has a telescope with the correct ISO-certified solar filter. This will let you see the photosphere (or chromosphere if it is an H-alpha scope) in a lot more detail. If you do not have access to a telescope, NASA plans to livestream a telescope view throughout the eclipse. [The livestream will be displayed publicly on a large screen in Building 55 at MIT, rain or shine.]

The only time you can look at or image the sun without a filter is during 100 percent totality. As soon as this period is done, glasses and filters must be put back on.

After the eclipse, keep your glasses and filters. You can use them to look at the sun on any day (it took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize that I could use the glasses at any time instead of lugging out a telescope). On a really clear day, you can sometimes see sunspots!

Q: How does eclipse photography work?

A: This year I plan to photograph the eclipse in two ways. The first is using a hydrogen-alpha telescope. This telescope filters out all light except for one wavelength that is given off by hydrogen. Because it blocks out most of the light from the sun’s surface, it allows you to see the turbulent upper atmosphere of the sun, including solar prominences that follow magnetic field lines.

Because this telescope does not allow for imaging during totality as too much light is blocked, I also plan to set up a regular camera with a wide-angle lens to capture the total eclipse with the surrounding environment as context. During the 2017 eclipse, I only captured close-ups of the sun using a regular solar filter and missed the opportunity to capture what was going on around me.

Will it work? That depends on if we get clear skies, and how many pictures of my 1.5-year-old need to be taken (as well as how much chasing needs to be done).

If you would like to take pictures of the eclipse, make sure you protect your camera sensor. The sun can easily damage lenses, sensors, and other components. Here are some examples of solar damaged cameras . The solution is simple, though. If using a camera phone, you can take pictures through an extra pair of solar glasses, or even tape them to the phone. For cameras with larger lenses, you can buy cardboard filters that slide over the front of your camera or even buy ISO-approved solar film and make your own.

Q: Any fun, unique, cool, or interesting science facts about this eclipse to share?

A: If you want to get even more involved with the eclipse, there are many citizen science projects that plan to collect as much data as possible throughout the eclipse.

NASA is planning to run several experiments during the eclipse , and researchers with MIT Haystack Observatory will also be using four different technologies to monitor changes in the upper atmosphere , both locally and across the continent.

If you are interested in learning more about the eclipse, here are two of my favorite videos, one on “ unexpected science from a 0.000001 megapixel home-made telescope ” and one on solar eclipse preparation .

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