Teachers Must Not Pass Along Popular "Myths" Regarding the Supposed Omnipotence of the Mass Media

High school teachers must not use that time devoted to the study of the mass media to "beat up" on the press or to "frighten" students with stories which exaggerate the power of the mass media industries. At the same time the potential enormous impact of the contemporary mass media must not be ignored. This means that teachers must not overstate or understate the potential impact of the media on both individuals and society. Such an equilibrium will occur only if teachers acquire at least a moderate level of intellectual sophistication germane to the subject matter being considered. Acquiring such a level of expertise requires much more than an occasional reading of the local daily newspaper or spending 30 minutes viewing the evening network newscast.