ABSTRACT

I opened this chapter in the second edition of Bryant and Zillmann’s Media Effects series with the same quote. I retained it for this updated volume because it still rings true, despite some significant changes in the media landscape. Although in the movie it is unclear whether his words were those of a madman or a sage, few would be likely to question Howard Beale’s claim that television presents a distorted view of reality. Certainly, one can argue that aspects of media content, format, and presentation have changed significantly in just the last few years, with a rise in so-called “reality programming,” made popular by the initial success of programs such as Survivor and more recently by programs such as American Idol. Yet charges such as scripting of outcomes of competitions, selection of contestants based on audience appeal, and product placements have undermined the claim that these programs present the world as it really is.