Why is mass media a powerful agent in shaping public opinion, and what biases are commonly observed?

• A. Media frames issues and biases include selection of sources, framing, ownership influence.
• B. Media colors choice of fonts.
• C. Media biases are impossible to observe.
• D. Media reports only raw data with no interpretation.

Answer: (C)

Mass media shapes public opinion by controlling what issues get attention and how they are perceived. This happens mainly through framing—presenting a story in a way that highlights certain aspects and omits others—and through gatekeeping and agenda-setting, which determine which topics rise to prominence. Biases show up in the sources it selects, the wording and emphasis used in reporting, and the influence of owners or sponsors on coverage. These factors combine to steer what people think about and how they think about it, even if the raw facts are similar.

The other options miss these essential dynamics. Font color has little effect on opinion, biases aren’t impossible to observe (they’re studied in how stories are selected and framed), and journalism typically involves interpretation and context rather than reporting only raw data.