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The media is a phrase that is used to describe the services like radio, television, newspapers and magazines. They deliver news, entertainment, education, data and advertising. Some media are state-owned but usually they are privately-owned. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is owned by the government. The media have a responsibility to be accurate, fair and balanced in their reporting but it always pays to check the facts against other sources of information.
The media have a great influence on everyday life. Items of news and entertainment can make people feel happy, sad, worried or even very angry. They can influence which political party people vote for in elections. The media can also play a big part in overcoming or reinforcing stereotypes.
Showing nurses as always being female or men always doing practical jobs are examples of this.
Some people have become very rich and well-known because of their involvement in the media, for example, Rupert Murdoch. He formed a media company that became global (operates in many countries of the world). In the UK, he bought the companies who produced the News of The World (closed down in 2011), the Sun and the Times newspapers. Sales of newspapers have fallen as more people now have access to the internet.
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