Monday, January 20, 2020

Black People Essay -- Racial Relations, Equality

Familiar to almost every individual in this country is the passage in the Declaration of Independence that states, â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Jefferson par. 2). This statement would seem imply that all people, regardless of creed, gender, race or ethnicity, have equal access to advancement in all facets of life. However, despite this concepts’ status as a foundational American ideal, complete equality among all groups of people has never been a reality in this country. Instead, different categories of people are ranked into a hierarchy and maintain various degrees of wealth, power, and prestige, often as a result of prejudice and discrimination. An area where this stratification is extremely pronounced is the difference in opportunities for women relative to those of men. Since the conception of this nation, women have been the subordinates of men. For many years, women were denied basic freedoms, such as the r ight to vote and own property, and they are still currently denied the right to make some decisions regarding their own bodies. In today’s society, it is widely recognized that men control more wealth, have greater opportunity for advancement, hold more powerful positions, and are more respected than women. In this paper, I will explore several aspects of inequality that contribute to gender stratification. In the past century, the number of women in the labor force has increased dramatically. In 2009, â€Å"[w]omen comprised 46.8 percent of the total U.S. labor force (Quick). This stands in stark contrast to the number of women in the labor force in previous years. However, women are still disproportionately represented in many occupations, such as secretaries, administrative as... ...ly stated, women, occupational segregation is a problem for many categories of people in the United States. All of these disadvantages in employment have resulted in an over-arching problem for ethnic and minority groups: low income. Income varies drastically between different groups of people in the United States, a fact which suggests that discrimination is widespread in this country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average median income for families was â€Å"$58,407† in 2006. Considering this fact, the $40,000 that the average Hispanic American family makes is extremely low. Even lower is the average median family incomes of African Americans and Native Americans, which are $38,206 and $38,800, respectively. Income is such an integral part of every person’s life, affecting not only a person’s house, car, and clothing but also their health and education.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Erythropoietin and Athletes

Erythropoietin and Athletes Steven D. Jackson Student, American Military University Abstract Erythropoietin (EPO) use as a performance enhancing agent in sport carries both significant and detrimental risks to go along with its suggested benefits. As such, it was banned by the International Olympic Committee in 1990. Shortly thereafter, successful and reliable testing methods have been developed to test athletes for its potential use.Despite widespread knowledge of its potential adverse effects and the testing for its attempted use, EPO use remains substantial amongst endurance athletes of nearly all ages and disciplines, both professional and amateur. This paper will provide a history of EPO as a performance enhancing substance, explain its associated risks and perceived and actual benefits, attempt to analyze why athletes feel compelled to use it, and examine the sanctions, regulations, and weighty repercussions associated with its use. Erythropoietin and AthletesIn sport, there ar e a virtually limitless number of ways in which one can influence or positively impact physical or mental performance. These methods can come in the form of mechanical aids, pharmacological aids, physiological aids, nutritional aids, and psychological aids. Regardless of its source, any means by which one seeks to improve performance by enhancing the physiological capacity of a particular system of the body, removing psychological constraints which adversely affect performance, or by accelerating recovery from training or competition is called an ergogenic aid (MacKenzie, 2001).These may include something as simple and innocuous as a healthy meal consumed the night prior to a competition, but seemingly, the ergogenic aids which athletes are turning to more increasingly are those that have been banned by organizations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee, and the like. Often, these substances have been banned because they not only represent perver se and unethical behavior, but also, as is the case for a substance like recombinant erythropoietin, because they can have serious adverse health effects for heir users. Over time, these substances have changed, but the desire to gain an unfair competitive advantage remains. Hematopoiesis is the process which involves the production of mature cells in the blood and in lymphoid organs. Mature erythrocytes, or red blood cells, have no nucleus, so they cannot reproduce in the traditional fashion as other cells can. Erythropoiesis, then, is the process by which erythrocytes are produced. Erythropoietin is a naturally occurring hormone found within the human body which controls this red blood cell production.It is released by the kidneys, and to a lesser extent the liver, and in very little quantities in the brain in response to a negative feedback. The physiological stimulus of erythropoietin production is hypoxia, or prolonged oxygen deficiency in body tissue, and in the majority of in stances is related to the number of circulating erythrocytes within the kidneys. At high altitudes, for example, where the pressure oxygen in the air is reduced, oxygen delivery to the body’s tissues initially decreases.This drop in oxygen triggers the release of erythropoietin, which travels via the blood to the red bone marrow and stimulates red blood cell production (Shier, Butler, & Lewis, 2011). This is important to note, as this negative feedback of loss in oxygen is essentially no different than the body observing a loss in blood, which also necessitates the release of erythropoietin. In cases of hemolysis or hemorrhage, erythrocyte production will also increase rapidly and substantially for the body to attempt to accommodate for the amount of blood lost.However, overproduction of erythrocytes does not occur, both in extreme hypoxic environments and even after the most severe loss of erythrocytes (Robinson, et al. , 2006). This balance is very important, because adequa te oxygen delivery to tissues depends on having a sufficient number of red blood cells to transport oxygen. Decreases in their number or function can hinder oxygen delivery and thus affect exercise performance. Red blood cells serve a primary function of facilitating this transport of oxygen, which is bound to the hemoglobin found in red blood cells.Hemoglobin contains iron, which binds oxygen. As such, the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood is determined by its hemoglobin content. Accordingly, when hemoglobin levels fall, exercise performance is subsequently impaired. Being familiar with this, athletes, trainers, and coaches often practice iron supplementation in an effort to prevent anemia and attempt to boost hemoglobin levels. However, this supplementation cannot boost the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity beyond that which is normal.Consequently, doctors, trainers, and athletes have come up with various alternative means to try to boost blood’s oxygen-carrying capac ity, and in turn boost performance (Mottram, 2011). In traditional medical settings, the need for a means to raise red blood cell counts in patients suffering from kidney failure in order to alleviate their extreme anemia, as they have so few red blood cells that they typically experience near-permanent exhaustion. The demand for a way to treat these kidney patients precipitated the development of synthesized erythropoietin.There was no question that they needed red blood cells, and the proposition of providing them via erythropoietin seemed logically safer than the more natural and traditional repeated transfusions and dialysis. The same logic applied to the much larger number of people whose kidneys were weak or damaged, but not yet failing. Raising their red blood cell count, and subsequently their hemoglobin levels, up to a normal amount like the more attractive option, and it was only a matter of time before it could be discovered (Burch, 2011).In 1985, the gene responsible for the synthesis of erythropoietin was successfully cloned for the first time. This synthesized erythropoietin is known as recombinant erythropoietin, and first became available in Europe in 1987 and was later patented by Amgen in 1989 (Mottram). With this development, it quickly became evident that recombinant erythropoietin would be used illegally as a performance enhancer in endurance sports. As such, the International Olympic Committee elected to ban this drug in 1990, even though all forms of blood doping had been officially banned since 1984 (Robinson, et al. ).In its earliest clinical trials, recombinant erythropoietin proved very successful, and it was quickly put to use with patients requiring their hemoglobin be raised to normal levels. The trials showed the drug’s benefits outweighed its risks, but not by much. In 2005, researchers and kidney specialists concluded their trials ahead of schedule when they were stunned by what they found. After years of raising red blo od cell counts in patients to normal healthy levels, which also raised their hematocrit—the proportion of red blood cells to total blood volume—doctors were not seeing decreased occurrences of troke, heart complications, and even death. These rates were actually increasing. Therein laid the problem with EPO use, especially in uncontrolled environments and when used by athletes (Burch). Before EPO’s adverse effects were widely known, and to a great extent even today, its proposed benefits led to its immediate abuse by endurance athletes. The first cases were reported in several newspapers within the four years after recombinant EPO appeared in Europe. These articles claimed a link between rumored EPO abuse and the deaths of 18 Belgian and Dutch cyclists.This unfortunate wave seemed to roll on for some time, seemingly striking hardest amongst in the sport of cycling, and often resulting in death. For some time, cyclists publicly denied using EPO, but at the 1998 T our de France, a masseuse for the Festina team was caught with EPO and several other banned drugs. The entire team and its staff were ejected from the Tour, and eventually seven of the nine Festina riders admitted to doping. Even the winner that year, Marco Pantani, was ejected the following year for signs of EPO use in an earlier drug test (Eichner, 2007).Though the bulk of EPO use reported in the media comes from cycling, other sports are not free from it. Chinese runners, swimmers, and rowers, Russia’s top female cross-country skiers, Finland’s tops skiers, and Germany’s top runners all have been caught for suspected EPO use of some kind or another. Russian and American runners and sprinters, including American sprinter Kelli White, have been stripped of medals and handed bans for their admitted EPO use after failing drug tests.Even Lance Armstrong—who has always denied any EPO use—has been suspected of illegal EPO use brought about by claims of his former teammates (Eichner). Perhaps the greatest contributing factor for the prevalence of continued illegal EPO use is in its difficulty of detection. While some athletes may think that they are using a drug for which there is no means of detection, which is not the case, others may simply know that EPO can be a very elusive drug to detect.Early detection strategies for EPO use as a drug were limited to blood testing only. Though blood tests could confirm inconsistent hematocrit levels and other blood markers compared to base samples in athletes who may have been using EPO supplementation up to, and sometimes over, a week prior, or those that had been using EPO when they originally provided a base sample and had discontinued its use, a direct method for detection in urine had yet to be established.Furthermore, early attempts at developing a urine test proved to be expensive, overly sensitive, and unreliable. Since blood doping had been common practice in some endurance sports for decades due to its clear performance advantages, it regrettably became even more attractive once recombinant EPO became available. Athletes have exploited these limitations of testing, particularly in sports that relied solely on urine specimen testing (Robinson, et al. . Successful urine testing had finally been developed and came into the picture in 2000. Serving as the only direct method of recombinant erythropoietin detection approved by the Court of Arbitration for sport, this method utilized electrophoretic techniques to separate the isoform profiles of recombinant and endogenous erythropoietin found in urine according to their isoelectric points (Diamanti-Kandarakis, et al. , 2005).Not only could this newly approved testing mathematically and scientifically identify EPO use—or discontinuation of its use—but it could also isolate the various forms of forms of EPO, including erythropoietin alpha, beta, omega, and delta, as well as newer generations of EPO anal ogues like darbepoetin and mimetic peptides. The disadvantage of such an effective urine testing method, however, was that it discouraged athletes from recombinant EPO use. Athletes now fearful of getting caught moved back to using—or rather misusing—blood doping and transfusions in an attempt to raise hematocrit and hemoglobin levels.For that reason, some international sports federations elected to limit their testing to either blood or urine. However, more recently the trend has been to attempt to keep their current testing procedures randomized (Robinson, et al. ). The risks of illegal EPO use remain high. Some athletes choose to supplement with EPO in smaller doses with the intent of limiting their potential exposure in drug tests, and, just as likely, with the expectation that this practice would be â€Å"safer. Regardless, the results of EPO use are largely unpredictable, and tests have revealed that hematocrit values in EPO users can greatly exceed what is cons idered the healthy or normal upper limit of 50 percent. Once the hormone has been put in the body, the athlete is at great risk for substantial increases in blood viscosity. This places the individual in danger of thrombosis, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, hypertension, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. However, with the ever-increasing pressures to excel in competition, and the draw of larger rizes, purses, sponsorships, and notoriety in sport today it is not beyond reason as to why teams, athletes, trainers, and coaches would feel compelled to explore an option which may offer athletes a clinically documented six to eight percent increase in their VO2max and 13 to 17 percent increased time to exhaustion (Kenney, Wilmore, & Costill, 2012). Athletes who use banned EPO also risk disqualification from a particular competition, with the risk apparently greater if the athlete’s result is good, as the top-placing finishers in competitions almost certainly are subje ct to testing more and more frequently.They can also be banned from their sport, typically for a minimum of a year, but potentially for life. In their quest for enhanced performance, athletes can easily get caught up in the hype surrounding these sorts of substances and the purported benefits they might bestow. Unfortunately, too many athletes are blinded by ambition and do not consider the consequences of their actions until their careers have become jeopardized or their health has been seriously affected.Considering recent reports of even amateur athletes being dealt bans and imposed fines after testing positive for EPO use in events that are considered recreational, the need is definitely present for the likes of the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee to take more aggressive and decisive action in the battle against doping and illegal drug use. The misuse of medical and biotechnological advancements to enhance athletic performance is an issue that wi ll clearly not go away on its own.It is imperative for sports federations to be able to collect blood samples from their competitors and institute a continuity system which keeps track of appropriate individual values. The appropriate way to fight blood doping and EPO use is to markers for each individual athlete to have a record of each marker and measure of their blood. In this way it will not be necessary to take into account complicating factors during testing and analysis such as sex, ethnic origin, and the kind of sport in which the athlete is participating.With a system such as this, it would be possible to identify which athletes are manipulating their bodies based on their own set reference values and markers over time. This, combined random, unannounced testing is the only way currently possible to effectively mitigate doping. Even still, it is supremely difficult for sports organizations and control agencies in sport to stay ahead of the always sophisticated doping method s. Summary Erythropoietin and all of its forms were developed with the intent of rehabilitating and alleviating the extreme symptoms of kidney patients.Their appeal is strong to competitive athletes, especially with more and more on the line each year. Despite their undeniable ability to enhance performance, EPO can cause serious negative health effects. In an era where performance-enhancing drug abuse is rampant across nearly all disciplines of sports despite rigorous legislation and testing throughout the world, it is necessary to understand the harmful effects of all substances when considering their use.The undesirable effects of EPO use are virtually countless, but—and perhaps worse yet—the potential long-term effects of chronic use are not well known. References Burch, D. (2011). Blood sports. Natural History 119(6), 14-16. Diamanti-Kandarakis, E. , Konstantinopoulos, P. , Papiliou, J. , Kandarakis, S. , Andreopoulos, A. , Sykiotis, G. (2005). Erythropoietin abus e and erythropoietin gene doping. Sports Medicine, 35(10), 831-840. Eichner, E. (2007). Blood doping. Sports Medicine, 37(4/5), 389-391. Kenney, L. W. , Wilmore, J. H. , & Costill, D. L. (2012).Physiology of sport and exercise (5th ed. ). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Mackenzie, B (2001). Ergogenic aids. Retrieved from http://www. brianmac. co. uk/ergoaids. htm Mottram, D. R. (2011) Drugs in sport (5th ed. ). New York: Routledge. Robinson, N. N. , Giraud, S. S. , Saudan, C. C, Baume, N. N. , Avois, L. L, Mangin, P. P. , & Saugy, M. M. (2006). Erythropoietin and blood doping. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 40, i30- i34. Shier, D. , Butler, J. , & Lewis, R. (2012). Hole’s essentials of human anatomy & physiology (11th ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill

Friday, January 3, 2020

Cultural Model Essay My Family - 772 Words

Cultural Model Essay My family history is rather unclear and unexplored. I do know that my maternal grandmother was adopted. My paternal side is said to be Italian. I come from an English speaking family. The geographic range is also unexplored and limited to western Pennsylvania. I grew up in the small town of Nolo, Pennsylvania. I can recall moving from one house to another but within the same county. I did change school districts one time. I would consider this to be very stable. Currently, I reside in Indiana county where I grew up. I have been married for six years and have a two year old son that will soon be a big brother. My wife and I built a home within the same geographical location as our parents. My spouse was also raised in a stable nuclear style family structure. I value both independence and interdependence. I believe it is very healthy to create a balance between the two. My wife and I are independent with our financial responsibilities. However, when it comes to aiding in a family project we are eager to participate and likewise. Having a two year old places my spouse and I in the muck of things when it comes to our discipline approaches. I would have to say that we practice an egalitarian or democratic parenting style with our discipline approaches. We attempt to give our son the opportunity to make choices with this actions. The rewards and consequences are clearly explained to the best of our abilities. However, given certainShow MoreRelatedCultural Autobiography Analysis1531 Words   |  7 Pageswithout a doubt that culture plays an important role in the life of each individual. However the essay argues that there is significance difference in global cultures. Concerning this perception, the aim of this paper is to compare Nigerian culture with Finnish culture and examine the different meanings of culture. Furthermore a Cultural Autobiography’ questionnaire will be used to create a cultural autobiography which will identify the major influences on personal life. A similar process will beRead MoreJapan s Demand For British Based Capital1568 Words   |  7 Pagesof qualification between workers and their managers. Brought to the little size of entreprises, this is suitable for a flexible division of labor and straightened hierarchy systems inside the firm. In this last section, this essay will examine whether creative workers ‘model entrepreneurs’ in post-Fordist economies by looking at immaterial labour and precariousness in the post-Fordist economy. By the beginning of the 21st century, ‘creativity’ become very important in our society. After the electionRead MoreCultural Myths About Gender And Sex Essay1484 Words   |  6 PagesThere are several Cultural Myths about gender and sex. Gary Colombo, who wrote: â€Å"Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths† explains that a cultural myth is a â€Å"shared set of customs, values, ideas, and beliefs, as well as a common language (3).† In â€Å"Sisterhood is Complicated† by Ruth Padawer, a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine, she focuses on gender and social issues. Padawer shows various stereotypes about gender roles and sex, and how they form multiple cultural myths. PawaderRead More Parenting Styles and Childrens Devel opment Essay1374 Words   |  6 PagesStyles and Childrens Development There are several parenting styles which guide children throughout their life. These parenting styles can be either good or bad and this will have an effect on the child; either a positive or a negative one. This essay investigates the parenting styles from which emerge questions about the role of the mother and the father. It also focuses on the ways that either too much mothering or too much fathering might have an effect on the child’s identity later on in itsRead MoreWhat Historical And Governmental Policies Influenced Asian Americans1171 Words   |  5 PagesAsians have been referred to as the â€Å"Model Minority† for decades, but is it an accurate representation of Asian America culture today? This notion derives from the stereotype that Asian families are stable and Asian culture produces success in regards to grades and professions. My questions are as follows: what historical and governmental policies influenced the term, how did it affect Asian-Americans, wh at should Asian Americans do to be treated equally to improve the rights of their people, andRead MoreSocial, Political, Geographical, Cultural, And Historical Changes Essay1507 Words   |  7 PagesThis essay will discuss my work partner Ben’s migration to New Zealand in 2012. 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ThereforeRead MoreEssay on Reflection: Education and Culturally Diverse Students634 Words   |  3 PagesRunning head: Reflection Application: Reflective Essay Pamela Harvey Walden University EDUC-6650H-1 Enhancing Learning through Linguistic and Cultural Diversity Dr. Marylou Dantonio June 22, 2011 Reflection Reflective Essay This course has really enlightened my view of being able to learn the value of linguistic and cultural diversity and the influential learning opportunities it gives today’s classrooms and schools. We as teacher educators were allowed to examine ourRead MoreWhy Is Learning A Language?1387 Words   |  6 Pagesmuch further time in his life. In his essay, â€Å"Homemade Education,† he explains his struggle of his education transformation while being convicted. For Christine Marin, a Mexican-American, she perfected her first language, English. She was not fluent in her native language, Spanish. Even though she was raised without learning her native tongue, she overcame her American side and became a very successful women, but there is no escaping her ethnic identity. My native language is English, until thisRead MoreETHICAL (MORAL) RELATIVISM Essay1022 Words   |  5 Pages figuring out what is moral and immoral in specific circumstances differs according to the person. O n another note, moral relativists have a disbelief in universal truths or common law. This essay will examine and highlight major details about problems surrounding individual moral relativism and cultural moral relativism. It will reflect post-modern and modern methods of belief in order to exhibit its valuableness in ethical decision-making in overcoming problems (Owen, 2011). In particular, it

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Analysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth - 829 Words

Malavika Madan English 10 May 12, 2016 Macbeth Essay Macbeth, by William Shakespeare is a tragedy that happens At the very beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is provoked by the letter she receives by Macbeth and starts plotting the murder of Duncan. She also wishes she were a man such that she could commit the murder all by herself saying so in Act 1 Scene 5, â€Å"Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty† (Macbeth 1.5.36-52). She appeals to these spirits to remove all aspects of her femininity and seeks to gain power through the prophecy of the witches. Her fear about the ability of her husband to commit the murder is subdued in her designated gender. Lady Macbeth manages her feminine power through her sensuality and pretended weakness through her fainting streak at the notice of Duncan’s death. Manipulation, usually through sexuality is often depicted as the source of women’s power still Lady Macbeth uses this power of hers to commit murder, a masculine demonstration of power. Lady M acbeth in her soliloquy about the planning of Duncan’s death refers to her husband as an individual who plays honestly and does not engage in wrongdoing. â€Å"What thou wouldst highly That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win.† Lady Macbeth’s role shows the audience a reflection of Macbeth’s attitude and character, especially that he was honest and loyal towards his kingdom.Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth 1785 Words   |  8 PagesScotland! A man has a great ordeal on his hands. Some might say that Macbeth has a second chance or a life long dream that could change his future forever. Deep in the heart of Birnam forest, a castle sits upon Dunsinane Hill, with a man made foundation built from paved bricks that have housed the many Kings that have ruled this Kingdom. Macbeth hears a prophecy from three evil and dilapidated witches foretelling his future. Macbeth, terrified yet surprised, is unsure of his morals and is battling betweenRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Macbeth By William Shakespeare1351 Words   |  6 PagesKnown for his tragedy, intrig ue, comedy, and romance, Shakespeare extends his boundary of prowess in the play Macbeth. The irony present in the play, the double-meaning of the characters’ actions, and the complexity of setting all contribute to a thrilling story of murder and looking beyond the superficial. Dramatic, situational, and verbal irony greatly contribute to the theme of things are not what they seem in Macbeth text and film. Shakespeare uses the contrast in irony to convey this in the character’sRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Macbeth By William Shakespeare1236 Words   |  5 Pagesit. This idea of equivocation is abundant in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth. In Macbeth, Shakespeare exposes literary devices such as illustrative imagery, sarcastic similes, and dubious diction to unveil one of his many themes: Things are not always what they seem. Shakespeare beautifully illustrates this fact through the duplicity of Macbeth, his wife, the three suspicious witches, and king Dunca n . Starting the play, Macbeth is a very much regarded saint who seems, by all accounts, to be an incredibleRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Macbeth By William Shakespeare2081 Words   |  9 PagesShakespeare Essay Shakespeare uses language in his literary creations as a technique to enrich the ideas of his works. In his play Macbeth, Shakespeare uses metaphor as a useful way to enhance language and construct the overall idea. Macbeth revolves around the prospect of ‘power,’ and also focuses on what one is willing to do in order to gain power, and also to maintain it. Throughout the novel, Shakespeare uses metaphors and comparative techniques that link together to develop theRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth 1668 Words   |  7 Pagesthe meaning of a story. When we first studied Macbeth, I thought that the word â€Å"hand† would be used in a strictly literal manner. Instead, I discovered that through the play the term embodied a rather dark connotation and symbolized Macbeth’s submission to evil instead of the literal meaning. As early as act one, Macbeth prevents â€Å"the eye† from winking at â€Å"the hand† because à ¢â‚¬Å"the eye fears, when it is done, to see† (Shakespeare 1.4.335-336). Macbeth lusts for the throne, but in order to retrieveRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth 1169 Words   |  5 Pagesentertainment. Syfy has been around a lot longer than the 21st century though. William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth uses instances of the supernatural to make the main character Macbeth act unorthodoxly, to disquiet and to make him sanguine, by using witches and apparitions. The three witches make Macbeth lean towards acting unlike himself by convincing him that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. When Macbeth does indeed become Thane of Cawdor, he believes that he will become theRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth 1149 Words   |  5 Pagesplaywright, William Shakespeare remains to this very day a man with a past shrouded in mystery. Very few documents provide historians insight on his personal life. In fact, the record of Shakespeare in his earliest years is limited to a mere baptismal record that reveals his birth date to be around April 26, 1564. Fifty-two years later from that day, Shakespeare would be interred at Trinity Church. Born near London in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon as the third child to John Shakespeare, the localRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth1451 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in the early 1600’s. Macbeth was written during a time of polit ical unrest in the Jacobean era, political context is a strong theme of the play. It seems that politics have not changed much over the centuries. Although politicians may not be murdering each other for their chance at the throne, the majority are corrupt and committing felonies to get to and stay in a position of power. Political corruption today facilitates numerous criminal enterprises. Macbeth’sRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth 1887 Words   |  8 Pagesdisaster. â€Å"Macbeth’’ is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare and is considered one of his darkest and most powerful works. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford -upon -avon, in Warwickshire and was baptized a few days later on 26 April 1566. William Shakespeare was educated at the local King Edward grammar school Stratford and is considered by many to be the greatest playwright of all time.(Bio.) In Macbeth, William Shakespeare used ambition to show us Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and theirRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth 2339 Words   |  10 PagesIn this essay I will be analysing in great detail how William Shakespeare the writer of a variety of plays, describes the range of different features and techniques that he has used in both Macbeth (Act 2 Scene 2), and Capulet (Act 3 Scene 5), and how he Shakespeare has represented the main characters of each play to be shown as disturbed emotionally, physically, and psychologically during the plays. Firstly, when Capulet is shown he is seen by the audience as being in a good, cheerful, happy, and

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

In “Kyoto Climate Change Conference”, Al Gore, The Former

In â€Å"Kyoto Climate Change Conference†, Al Gore, the Former Vice President of the United States, calls on the heads of state to take action on reducing emissions and protecting the Earth s environment. Gore mentions environmental problems such as polluted water, dirty air, and destruction of critical habitats that we are experienced have threatened people’s living and future. Gore highlights aerosphere, the most important and most vulnerable part the Earth’s environment, are damaged by gaseous wastes which stops aerosphere dissipating heat and lead to the global warm. Moreover, he emphasizes the global warm causes more serious consequence such as floods, droughts, stronger storms, rising sea level, etc. which will affect the survival of†¦show more content†¦And it is working.† (857) He shows an example that we have done this before and it works, which enhances the reliability of his speech. He emphasizes that â€Å"The first and most important task for developed countries is to hear the immediate needs of the developing world. And let me say, the United States has listened and we have learned. We understand that your first priority is to lift your citizens from the poverty so many endure and build strong economies that will assure a better future. This is your right: it will not be denied.† (857) He shows that the United States knows the developing world wants to improve the living standard of their citizens for their first priority and he understand this is their rights, showing that he also cares about the development of developing world. He also asserts the developed countries should hear what the developing world needs, which shows developed countries and developing countries should in the same group. Besides, he shows that the developed countries will help the developing world, so the developing world doesn’t need to care about protecting environment will increase the poverty level. All of these make Gor e’s speech more reliable and ethical. In â€Å"Wrath of Grapes Boycott Speech†, Cesar Chavez emphasizes that â€Å"We farm workers are closest to food production.† (690, Chavez) He highlights he is a farm worker working closest to foodShow MoreRelatedA New Commitment Period For Kyoto Protocol938 Words   |  4 Pagesface a devastating cascade of natural disasters that will change life on earth as we know it. UN Climate Change Conference in Doha, 2012, agrees to a new commitment period for the Kyoto protocol In December 2012, a UN climate conference in Doha, agreed to a new commitment period for the Kyoto protocol, a treaty that limits the greenhouse gas output of some developed countries, and affirmed a previous decision to adopt a new global climate pact by 2015. Much of the evidence already seems apparentRead MoreThe Debate Over Global Warming2192 Words   |  9 Pagesbeing enforced. Everyday we can read or hear about â€Å"climate change† and how it’s affected our world and us. New solutions are made up everyday but all have a common factor, they cost big bucks or in the end will cost someone their money. The immense cost and dramatic changes to our everyday lives like transportation and energy is something you can’t change overnight and needs to be passed by the government before making any serious changes. This is where you’ll see politics get involved. You thenRead MoreGp Essay Mainpoints24643 Words   |  99 PagesNew vs. Traditional GENERAL Intro: †¢ The first quarter of 2043 will be when the last newspapers land on front process all over America. This is the prediction the author of ‘The Vanishing Newspaper’ †¦ †¢ Advent of tech has brought a radical change in the media industry †¢ No longer confined to reading news, watching television †¢ Click of mouse, people can access instantaneous info and news online †¢ Proliferation of online blogs and social networking sites such as Twitter threaten

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Benefits of training and development for individual †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Benefits of training and development for individual. Answer: Introduction In the present competitive and modern business world, the organisations are striving hard to manage their businesses. There are several changes that took place both in the internal and external business environment due to a number of factors. To sustain such dynamic business situations and perform in an effective manner, there is a need to have adequate resources such as organisational management, labour, material, methodology, etc. It is essential that all these resources are utilized in the best possible manner for the attainment of the business objectives. Among all the various factors, the most significant factor is the human resources as no organisation can live without the ability of the adequate human resource. In all the organisations, the workforce or the human resources are regarded as one of the significant, creative and innovative resources (Elnaga and Imran, 2013). Several researches highlight the importance of human resource and their importance in performing effectivel y in competitive business environment. Thus, the most valuable and crucial assets of the organisation is human resource. To manage the human resource and to enhance the efficiency and productivity, the organisations take several initiatives. There are number of strategies which the companies implement in order to enhance the productivity such as the most preferred one is employee training and development (Gruman and Saks, 2011). The paid on-job training can be utilized for improving and developing the performance of the employees, the attitudes, skills and knowledge. Employee training is one of the key human resource management functions and it is utilized for moderating the motivation and behaviour of the employees which directly contributes in the performance of the employees. This study comprises of two key variables i.e. job training (Independent variable) and employee performance (Dependent variable). The study will highlight the relationship between these variables with the he lp of a conceptual theoretical framework to have an in-depth understanding of the concept. Identification of a problem The contemporary business organisations are facing numerous issues due to continuously changing business environment which force business organisations to strategically adapt those changes and attain sustainability. The organisational performance is highly depends upon the performance of the human resource. The employee performance is completely depended upon the knowledge, motivation, attitude and skills of the employees and also the training offered to them. In past few decades, several theorists and researchers have tried to develop a relationship between the paid on-job training and the performance of the employees (Nassazi, 2013). The study is an attempt to highlight the key factors which develops a link between the employees performance and organisational training. Specific Research Issues What is the link between the productivity of the employees and the job training? What is the link between the performance of the employees and the job training? What is the link between the job satisfaction of the employees and the job training? Literature review Review of Literature In the changing and uncertain world of business, the companies experience a number of limitations in sustaining the business challenges. The literature states vital importance of training programs in improving the performances of the employees and making the employees competent enough in dealing with the uncertainties. Effective training is advantageous for the business organisations in number of ways, such as, it act as significant in maintaining as well as building the abilities, both on the organisational as well as the individual level. Therefore, it is necessary for the employees to participate in the process of organisational training (Ndunguru, 2015). Moreover, it improves the retention capability of the workforce and thus decreases the turnover and job rotation of the employees. Furthermore, it presents the commitment of the organisation towards the employees and upsurge the motivation of the workers. The several training contributions results into attainment of the competiti ve benefits and improvement in the organisational productivity and performance of the employees (Shilongo, 2013). Job Training Training is considered as the approach of teaching the organisational employees in order to make them gain the basic skills for performing their individual jobs. For the organisational employees, the paid on-job training not only enhances the job related knowledge but also helps in identification of the organisational objectives. The job training results in acquisition of the know-how, skills and knowledge (Malik, Danish and Munir, 2012). According to the author, the paid on-job training enhances the performance of the employees but it is also supportive for the satisfaction of the employees future needs. The training emphasis upon the current job while the continuous developments help the employees in preparing for the future job. The key aspect of job training is to improve the employees performance who all participates in the organisational training process. For identifying the impact of training on the employees performance, there is carried out the literature review (Manzoor, 20 12). On the job training support the individuals in getting adequate insight of the job and improving the overall performance. In paid on-job training (OJT), the individuals learn from their own experiences and it is considered as one of the most time saving and cost effective manner. It is highly significant as well as efficient for the business organisations to offer the job training to the employees. Training is a vital part of the human resource for which is directly associated with performance of the employees (Fawad Latif, 2012). Effective training programs and on-job training objects at improving the performance of the employees. Training is useful in bridging the existing gap among the standard desired performance and the current performance of the employees. The pain on-job training could be offered by the means of various methods such as the mentoring and coaching, subordinate participation and the peer cooperation (Amin, Saeed, Lodhi, Mizna, Iqbal and Tehreem, 2013). All such methods enable the organisational employees in participating in the job and attain better and improved performances, thus resulting in improved organisational performance. The training programs focus of the development of the employees and also help in attaining the most effective use of the companys human resources by achieving a number of competitive benefits. Thus, it acts as necessary for the organisations to plan and conduct training programs for the employees in order to increase their competencies and abilities required at th e organisational workplace (Noe and Peacock, 2002). The paid on-job training enhances the capabilities of the workers as well as sharpens the creativity level and thinking competence so that the employees can have better decision making approach. Moreover, it also enhances the ability of the employees to effectively deal with the customers and have a positive approach towards their queries or complaints. Training improves the self-efficacy which resulted in the improved job performance by the means of substituting the old-traditional practices by the contemporary and efficient practices (Khan, Khan and Khan, 2011). Training is also considered as a planned intervention objects at improving the aspects of the job performance of the employees. The various on-job training programs support the employees in reducing the level of frustration and job related anxiety. The inability of the employees to perform the job, results into employee turnover (Tahir, Yousafzai, Jan and Hashim, 2014). If adequate trainings are offered to them, there can be increased chances of motivation and employee retention. The more there is a gap among the skills required and skills possessed, the greater will be level of job dissatisfaction. Authors suggests the continuous training sessions as a tool for the improving the satisfaction of the employees and enhanced employee performances (Hameed and Waheed, 2011). The Importance of Training Training is considered as a vital and imperative aspect for the business organisations for revamping the employees performances and their individual success and growth. It is advantageous both for the employees as well as the employers in various aspects. The employees develop as more productive and efficient as the training is offered to them. The businesses improve the competence of the workers by offering them comprehensive trainings (Falola, Osibanjo and Ojo, 2014). The trainings are not only important for up surging the organisational productivity but also for increase the motivation level of the employees by letting them inform about the significance of their respective jobs. The key advantages which can be gained through the employee training comprises of reduced employee turnover, innovation in products and strategies, capacity to adopt new methods and technologies, resulting in financial gain, increased efficiencies in processes, increased motivation, increased job satisfact ion and improved employees performances (Aguinis and Kraiger, 2009). Employee performance As per the various authors and a number of researchers, the employees who tend to remain satisfied with their respective jobs possess higher job performance which ultimately results in high job retention and contended workforce. Moreover, it is also regarded as that the workers have high turnover rate when they are not satisfied and thus it results into demotivation of the workers a decreased employee performance (Saks and Haccoun, 2010). The performance of the employees is higher in the satisfied and contended employees and the organisational management feels relaxing in order to motivate them and attaining the desire targets. The organisational employees feel satisfied if they feel that they are capable enough to perform the job which is attained by the means of improved training programs (Bulut and Culha, 2010). By identifying the importance of training practices in the organisations, the mangers or the executives can develop improved working environment which results in enhanced motivation and performance of the employees. As per the author, a business organisation that laid down high emphasis upon the trainings as a source of competitive edge, build effective systems which can ensure regular on-job training sessions to the employees (Khan, 2012). The researcher highlights that the trained and competent employees are more competent in attaining the performance targets and achieving competitive benefits in the market. The organisational on-job training is considered as the approach of enabling the workforce for the accomplishment of the tasks with higher level of efficiency, therefore regarded as extremely vital part of managing the performances of the employees in a strategic manner (Phillips, 2012). The significance of paid on-job training for the performance of the employees, by the means of fastening the learning process, is also stated in a number of researches. The performance of the employees attained by the means of training is regarded as a tool for immediate improvement in the skills, abilities and knowledge of the employees for performing organisational tasks. Therefore, an increase level of employee commitment is achieved for the achievement of the organisational objectives (Cekada, 2010). The authors described that the training must leads to a culture of improved learning for enhancing the performance of the employees and thus results in higher organisational returns. The employee performance includes various factors which indirectly or directly affect the employees work. The performance of the employees can be classified in five specific aspects i.e. rewarding, rating, developing, monitoring and planning. The first stage is planning where the training goals are set, strategies are developed, the tasks are outlines and thus the goals are accomplished (Olaniyan and Ojo, 2008). In the monitoring phase, the organisational goals are outlined to analyze that whether the trainings are going well or not in order to meet the goals. Monitoring is done for measuring the employee performance and continuous feedbacks are offered to them so that there can be faster attainment of goals. The continuous monitoring offers an opportunity for evaluating how well the employees can meet the standards and perform. In the development phase, the employees improved their performances and the deficiencies are also addressed through effective training sessions (Owoyemi, Oyelere, Elegbede and Gbajumo-Sheriff, 2011). Theory for dependent variable and independent variable A variable can be understood as an aspect which can be changed or modified. There are two variables i.e. independent variable and dependent variable. The dependent variable is the one which is measured by the experimenter and the independent variable which is manipulated by the experimenter on the basis of changes made in depended variable. There is a cause and effect relationship between the dependent and the independent variable (Achen, 2000). Explaining Independent variable The independent variable can be better explained through learning theory such as according to the learning theory, the individuals give different answers to the situations or there are different individuals learning based upon the behaviour or the cognitive. Such as, here the independent variable is job training so the job training is perceived differently by different employees. If there will be a behavioral approach then the training will be used according to the individuals behaviour but if it is seen as cognitive then it will be seen or taken as for problem solving so that there can be gained a better control upon the job or work (Akdenix, et al., 2016). There are several authors and researchers that eave developed a relationship between the learning approach of the individuals and their learning outcomes (Pritchard, 2017). Explaining dependent variable The dependent variable can be better explained through motivation theory, According to the motivation theory of Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, there are some specific needs of the individuals which are necessary to be accomplishing in order to keep the individual motivated. As per the Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, it is essential that in an organisation, the employer must satisfy the physiological as well as safety needs of the employees in the initial stage. In this study, the dependent variable is employee performance, it can be analyzed that f the training provided to the employees are satisfactory in nature, then only the individual can eb motivated and there could be attained improved employee performance (Gopalan, Bakar, Zulkifli, Alwi and Mat, 2017). In the views of various other authors, it has also been stated that it is one of eth vital part of eth organisations to keep the workforce motivated and meet their needs so as the employees expect a return of their work done. So both f or the satisfaction of needs and expectancy of the employees, it is necessary that effective training must be offered to them to keep them motivated (Beck, 2003). Theoretical Framework: Understanding the relationship between on-job training and employees performance To implement the study, the following independent variable as well as dependent variable is demonstrated in the theoretical framework. The on the job training, training and development and training design are the major independent variables and employees performance is the dependent variable. The theoretical framework will explain the relationship between these variables. Impact of training design, training and Development and on the job training on Employees performance The several studies and researches offer an evidence of robust and positive association among the employees performances and the on-job training. The training and the development programs are regarded as the vital practice of human resource management which directly impacts the employees performance quality in respect with the skills and work-related knowledge (Nassazi, 2013). Therefore, all such things results in improved employee performance. The relationship between the performance and training ultimately contributes towards the excellent organizational performance (Lamba and Choudhary, 2013). The training design and paid job training is one of the most significant ways for the identification of the deprived employees needs and then helps in building the required capability and competence level so that there can be improved performances and faster attainment of the goals. There are several authors who have examined variations in the performances of the employees experienced due to the training programs (Ahmad and ud Din, 2009). The implementation of the training programs acts as a solution for the business organisation which lacks motivation, higher productivity and competence level among the employees. According to the author, the competency and the motivation level of the employees keeps on changing according to the trainings programs (Gruman and Saks, 2011). There are several employees which undergone these training program and develop their capabilities to understand the job profile in more effective manner and perform in an improved way. The trainings not only enhance the performance of the employees by performing the current job with increased knowledge, attitude and skills (Elnaga and Imran, 2013). With the help of training design and training programs, there is development of the employees competences and also enable them to perform the job related work in an effective manner and attain the business objectives and gaining competitive benefits (Ndunguru, 2015). The performances of the employees is also impacted by few environmental aspects that comprises of politics and power, performance appraisal systems, job design, organizational structure and corporate culture. If there are issues in all such afctors then the performance of the employees also decreases because of absence of adequate knowledge, attitude and the skills (Shilongo, 2013). To achieve effective training and to attain assured positive impact of the training programs on the performance of the employees, there must be effectively considered al these factors. The authors stated that the employees feel more committed towards their work as well as the organisational goals when the trainings are offered to them and so the overall performance of the employees also get elevated. The various reports and researches develop a positive relation among the productivity of the employees and the effective training sessions (Malik, Danish and Munir, 2012). It is the key responsibility of all the organisational managers to first recognize the various aspects which act as a barricade in the implementation of the training programs and thus there must be taken effective steps to neutralize the impact upon the performances of the employees (Aguinis and Kraiger, 2009). The authors also concluded and stated that there is attained improved level of commitment when the training attained the learning outcomes and enhances the overall performance both at the organisational as well as the individual level. Usually, it can also be debated that the impact of the training sessions on the employees results in higher level of motivation, enhanced organisational commitment and improved job satisfaction (Elnaga and Imran, 201 3). The work related attitudes, the capabilities and the approach towards the jobs, all have significant relation with the trainings offered to the employees. There is a need that all the trainings must be planned and strategically scheduled so that it can raise the organisational commitment (Manzoor, 2012). Conclusion The key objective of all the training programs is to increase the value of the employees performances. Therefore, all the various business organisations must design the training and development sessions of the workers as a regular activity. The purpose of training programs is that what all the employees will achieve after experiencing the training. The business organisations plan as well as implement the trainings for the employees by identifying the key objectives and purpose and gaining adequate skills, abilities and knowledge of the employees so that the training session can give the best possible results and improved employees performances. Thus, the organisations must develop and design the training session with clear set of objectives and goals while keeping the focus on the needs of the organisations as well as the employees. The study chiefly emphasis upon the impact of job training upon the performances of the employees. Training plays a significant role in building of capab ilities of the employees for performing the jobs in a more efficient and effective way. It also help in preparing the workforce to have effective hold of the future positions in the business organisations with higher level of competence and supports to overcome the incompetence of any job area. The study concludes that effective training is regarded as a key aspect for the improved employees and organisational performances and thus it can increase the firms competence. It also helps in supporting the gap that exists among the current and the required skills of the employees for improved performances. Thus, it can be concluded that the trainings session must be designed in an effective manner and regular trainings must be given to them so that the overall performance of the organisation as well as the employees can be improved. References Achen, C. H. (2000). Why lagged dependent variables can suppress the explanatory power of other independent variables.Ann Arbor,1001(2000), 48106-1248. Aguinis, H., Kraiger, K. (2009). Benefits of training and development for individuals and teams, organizations, and society.Annual review of psychology,60, 451-474. Ahmad, I., ud Din, S. (2009). Evaluating training and development.Gomal Journal of Medical Sciences,7(2). Akdeniz, C., Bacanl?, H., Baysen, E., akmak, M., elikz, N., Do?ruer, N., Yal?n, H. I. (2016). Learning and Teaching: Theories, Approaches and Models. Amin, A., Saeed, R., Lodhi, R. N., Mizna, S., Iqbal, A., Tehreem, R. (2013). The impact of employees training on the job performance in education sector of pakistan.Middle-East journal of scientific research,17(9), 1273-1278. Beck, R. C. (2003).Motivation: Theories and principles, 4/e. Pearson Education India. Bulut, C., Culha, O. (2010). The effects of organizational training on organizational commitment.International Journal of Training and Development,14(4), 309-322. Cekada, T. L. (2010). Training needs assessment: Understanding what employees need to know.Professional Safety,55(03), 28-33. Elnaga, A., Imran, A. (2013). The effect of training on employee performance.European Journal of Business and Management,5(4), 137-147. Falola, H. O., Osibanjo, A. O., Ojo, S. I. (2014). Effectiveness of training and development on employees performance and organisation competitiveness in the Nigerian banking industry.Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov. Economic Sciences. Series V,7(1), 161. Fawad Latif, K. (2012). An integrated model of training effectiveness and satisfaction with employee development interventions.Industrial and Commercial Training,44(4), 211-222. Gopalan, V., Bakar, J. A. A., Zulkifli, A. N., Alwi, A., Mat, R. C. (2017, October). A review of the motivation theories in learning. InAIP Conference Proceedings(Vol. 1891, No. 1, p. 020043). AIP Publishing. Gruman, J. A., Saks, A. M. (2011). Performance management and employee engagement.Human Resource Management Review,21(2), 123-136. Hameed, A., Waheed, A. (2011). Employee development and its affect on employee performance a conceptual framework.International journal of business and social science,2(13). Khan, M. (2012). The impact of training and motivation on performance of employees. Khan, R. A. G., Khan, F. A., Khan, M. A. (2011). Impact of training and development on organizational performance.Global Journal of Management and Business Research,11(7). Lamba, S., Choudhary, N. (2013). Impact of HRM practices on organizational commitment of employees.International Journal of Advancements in Research Technology,2(4), 407-423. Malik, M. E., Danish, R. Q., Munir, Y. (2012). The impact of pay and promotion on job satisfaction: Evidence from higher education institutes of Pakistan.American Journal of Economics,10(5), 6-9. Manzoor, Q. A. (2012). Impact of employees motivation on organizational effectiveness.Business management and strategy,3(1), 1. Nassazi, A. (2013). EFFECTS OF TRAINING ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE.: Evidence from Uganda. Ndunguru, S. (2015).The Impact of on the Job Training on Employees Performance: The case of Secondary School Teachers in Songea Municipality(Doctoral dissertation, The Open University Of Tanzania). Noe, R. A., Peacock, M. (2002). Employee training and development. Olaniyan, D. A., Ojo, L. B. (2008). Staff training and development: A vital tool for organisational effectiveness.European Journal of Scientific Research,24(3), 326-331. Owoyemi, O. A., Oyelere, M., Elegbede, T., Gbajumo-Sheriff, M. (2011). Enhancing employees commitment to organisation through training.International Journal of Business and Management,6(7), 280. Phillips, J. J. (2012).Return on investment in training and performance improvement programs. Routledge. Pritchard, A. (2017).Ways of Learning: Learning Theories for the Classroom. Routledge. Saks, A. M., Haccoun, R. R. (2010).Managing performance through training and development. Cengage Learning. Shilongo, H. N. (2013).The impact of performance related pay on employees-A case study of the performance incentive bonus scheme at the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund(Doctoral dissertation). Tahir, N., Yousafzai, I. K., Jan, S., Hashim, M. (2014). The Impact of Training and Development on Employees Performance and Productivity A case study of United Bank Limited Peshawar City, KPK, Pakistan.International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences,4(4), 86.

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Effects of Media on Politics

Introduction Media refers to the various venues for messages meant to be consumed by a large audience. As a source of vital information, the media is charged with the responsibility of educating, informing and empowering the public. Consequently, the media has had significant effects on politics in most countries.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Effects of Media on Politics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The effects of media on politics can either be positive or negative. These effects are determined by a number of factors which include but not limited to media regulation, relationships between politicians and the media and the quality of journalism. This paper seeks to highlight how media influences the political process. The Positive Effects of Media Educating the Public on Government Polices The mass media has always provided the public with relevant information about the policies the government intends to implement. This has enabled the public to understand the impacts of such policies on their lives. During presidential campaigns, various presidential hopefuls use the media to highlight the policies they intend to implement if elected. Consequently, the public has been able to make the right voting decisions by comparing and contrasting the policies proposed by each candidate. Public policies associated with significant effects on the citizens are usually evaluated by the public before being implemented. The mass media provides the platform for analyzing or evaluating such policies in order to achieve consensus. Promoting Accountability The media has always played a critical role in enhancing transparency and accountability in the political process and governance in general. Through investigative journalism, the media exposes corruption within government cycles and the political leaders involved. Politicians associated with corruption are likely to lose their jobs if the media exposes their corrupt deeds in public. This is based on the concept of the powerful effect of media which implies that the impact of media messages on politicians’ reputation is significant and immediate. The media has always been on the forefront in evaluating the extent to which the politicians deliver their development promise to the public. This has resulted into accountability and transparency in the government. Facilitating Public Debate on Political Issues The mass media provides an effective platform for discussing important political issues especially during policy formulation. The debates are meant to obtain the public’s opinion on the political issue at hand. Through the mass media, the citizens are able to express their views on various policies or political decisions taken by the government. Incorporating public opinion in policies and political decisions has helped to restore public confidence in the government. This has led to political stability and harmony.Advertising Looking for research paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Enhancing Democracy The mass media has made significant contributions in enhancing democracy especially in developing countries that were earlier governed by dictatorial regimes. By pushing the government to allow the citizens to exercise their freedom of expression, the media has enabled the citizens to air their political opinions. The mass media has been used by citizens and interest groups to campaign against ineffective governments. This has been achieved through media messages that seek to activate the public to vote against ineffective regimes. Interest groups and reformists use the media to strengthen pro-democracy values that are popular in the country. The media has also been used to achieve vote conversion. The civil society has always campaigned against corrupt governments by using the media to shape the vot ing patterns. This means that they focus on encouraging supporters of the leaders they are opposed to shift their support to better leaders. Consequently, the politicians have been forced to promote democracy in order to be reelected. Negative Effects of Media on Politics Determining Political Agenda The mass media determines the issues to be considered by the public as important by concentrating on particular problems and ignoring others. This means that when the mass media focuses on a given issue, the issue becomes a priority of both the public and the government. However, such priorities are changed the moment the media shifts to a new issue. Thus the media’s attempt to shape voters’ perspective on political reality has always been biased. The political process in a democratic situation involves indentifying the issues that are of great importance to the citizens. The process of identifying such issue should involve widespread participation. However, this has not b een possible since the media unilaterally determines the agenda in regard to public discussions. This undermines the spirit of democracy and leads to the prioritization of political issues which may not reflect the felt needs of the public. Lack of Objectivity The information obtained from mass media in most cases is the product of those in power. In most cases, the journalists depend on the information they obtain from government sources or from politicians instead of conducting their own investigations. Such sources might not be reliable and gives the politicians a chance to influence public opinion. In some instance, the journalists are manipulated by the politicians. Thus they only report what is in the interest of those in power. This not only leads to biased reporting on politics but also encourages corruption, lack of accountability and impunity. By giving the ruling class a great control over the information that forms public opinion, the media weakens the public’s po wer over the political process.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Effects of Media on Politics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Instead of highlighting the plight of the citizens, the media has become a tool for perpetuating the political interests of the ruling elite. In the last decade, the media has been found to work together with the government. Consequently, the media only criticizes the government when they are in conflicts. The government and the journalists decide on what should be in public knowledge or otherwise. This has led to poor governance and public ignorance on government affairs. Understanding of Political Issues The manner in which news is framed determines the way the citizens understand the causes as well as solutions to political problems. Owing to the fact that electoral accountability forms the basis of representative democracy, the citizens should be in a position to identify those responsible for socio-political problems. However, the media systematically sort out the issues to be prioritized and avert blame from the ruling class by presenting news as a fad without context. Most media houses engage in episodic news framing. This means that their news reports highlight only specific cases or aspects of political issues. However, some media companies embark on thematic news framing by reporting political issues in a general perspective. Episodic framing highlights major political issues. Thematic framing on the other hand provides collective evidence. Those who watch episodic news reports are not likely to consider the government responsible for the social problems. For example, a news report on poverty in a particular area may be blamed on the laziness of the poor. Those who watch thematic news reports are likely to blame the government for social problems. For example, news report on a countrywide poverty rate is likely to be attributed to poor governa nce. This means that the media can use its reporting styles to influence the publics’ perception of socio-political issues and how such issues can be solved. Thus if the media collaborates with the government, the later can manipulate its subjects to accept its policies even if they are not beneficial. Civic Literacy Under normal circumstances, the media is expected to facilitate civic literacy by providing a forum whereby the public and the prospective leaders can share views on political issues. However, the media has misused its role in facilitating civic literacy by monopolizing the process of determining the way political issues are to be discussed during elections and how the candidates should present their views. This means that the media has alienated the public from the civic literacy process. Thus the public is systematically losing its control over the democratic process.Advertising Looking for research paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion The mass media is a source of information meant to be utilized by the public to make vital decisions. As a source of information, the media has the ability to influence public opinion. Besides, it influences the socio-political decisions made by the public. As discussed above, the media has significant effects on politics in US and other countries. Despite its significant contributions in promoting democracy and enhancing accountability, the media also has negative effects on the political process. In order to maximize the positive effects of the media on politics, the media should be independent and objective. Besides, it should focus on involving the public in shaping the political agenda. This research paper on The Effects of Media on Politics was written and submitted by user Talon to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.