The media is the source of information for the majority of people today. It shapes how we view world events and provides us with insights into various industries. It also has a surprising impact on numerous fields, one of which is education. In this article, we discuss 4 effects of media coverage on education.
4 Effects of Media Coverage On Education
Below are 4 of the effects of media coverage on education:
- Student debt forgiveness.
- Athletics.
- Every Student Succeeds Act.
- Blended learning.
1. Student debt forgiveness
Going to school is usually pretty expensive, which is why many students search for financial aid. While some of this aid can come in the form of scholarships, other types of monetary help can include government loans. The idea is that after you graduate and you start earning a salary, you can begin to pay back your loan. However, students without high-paying jobs or those who are unable to procure employment often struggle to keep up with their debts. Due to the media highlighting this issue, we have seen many political candidates use student debt forgiveness as their talking point. Due to the positive coverage of this topic by the media, there’s currently a plan from the White House to forgive $10,000 in student debt per borrower.
2. Athletics
College sports are something most students around the world carry out as part of their curriculum. However, due to media coverage of popular sports like swimming and basketball, students become even more interested in sports. It can be an opportunity for a young athlete to be discovered by recruiters. That said, sometimes the stress is too much for students trying to combine sports and academics. Many learners even choose to buy research paper reports from top writers at affordable prices o relieve some academic pressure. By media covering important sports events, schools are also able to increase their visibility, thus encouraging such schools to prioritize their athletics squads.
3. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
ESSA, which replaced No Child Left Behind (NCLB), was signed into law by Barack Obama in 2015. This was done because of how clear it was that many disadvantaged students were not able to do well in their academics. Media coverage of minority students protesting sparked a debate across the country. This eventually led many lawmakers to agree that a review of the NCLB act was necessary. While `there are pros and cons to ESSA, it still remains in effect today. There are critics who argue that this act doesn’t address the root cause of the inequalities; it does require every student to be taught at a high academic level.
4. Blended learning
Of recent, the pandemic forced many schools to shut down due to health regulations. This meant that many students were forced to stay at home. At first, online learning was provided as the only solution, but as more cases of students feeling the effects of isolation from their peers made their way to the news, we saw the government and schools make adjustments to their policies. One such adjustment is blended learning, which helped reduce the number of students in a classroom while at the same time giving students the opportunity to attend classes in person.
Final Thoughts
The media can have a significant say in how we view matters. By covering certain events in education, the media has been able to create an interest in these events, which led to positive change. Education has seen policies created, changed, and even removed due to their media coverage, and this trend isn’t expected to subside.
Author’s Bio
Joanne Elliot is an English tutor and freelance copywriter. Her experiences as a tutor have allowed her to learn a lot about education, and now she is able to share her insights with her audience. Besides this, Joanne is also an avid reader and traveller.
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