Topic: Are famous people treated unfairly by the media? Should they be given more privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?
Nowadays, the media has greater and greater influences on people, especially those who are in the limelight. It is a controversy whether the media is treating celebrities unjustly or not. Weighing up the pros and cons, many people believe that the media both advantages and disadvantages the famous.
On the one hand, mass media such as magazines, newspaper and television benefits the famous in many ways. To begin with, it provides a link between famous people and the audience. Through the articles, other people can learn much more about their background and lifestyles. Without the press, how many people would know about Michael Jackson’s childhood, for instance? The second important factor is advertisement. To politicians, the media plays an indispensable role in their running for election. To entertainment stars, the media helps popularize the upstart as well as spread the others’ latest information, which allows their fans to keep track of their activities and morally support them timely. The success of Justin Bebber’s albums is one such example. Lastly, the media enhances more or less the well-known people’s self-improvement. While the pressure of criticism demands celebrities to work more efficiently to create high-quality products, which is beneficial not only to the famous but also to their audience. Having their private life be constantly noticed forces the famous to lead a model life. This explains why teenage stars such as Miley Cirus have to learn how to behave properly. In general, the media brings about several good things to the well-known.
On the other hand, celebrities’ lives are also negatively affected by the media. First, it makes the scandals and rumors travel so fast. Providing a music star makes a slip of the tongue, her mistake will be well-known swiftly. Furthermore, the media annoys the famous by invading into their privacy life. Many paparazzi ambushing outside a celebrity’s house to hunt for information is now an old same story. This may cause great troubles to the famous and their families.
On the whole, the media has both pros and cons to a famous person’s life. However, compared to the number of advantages it brings about, the drawbacks of mass communication are inevitable. That said, famous people should constantly improve themselves to make their images better and better in public opinion.
Thank you very much ^^
TOEFL listening discussions: A conversation between two students (2)