How+does+media+use+Innuendo+and+Gossip+as+News+to+gain+an+attraction+and+influence+the+attitudes+of+viewers+like+you?+Rachael+Edwards

Step 1: Question How does media use Innuendo and Gossip directed towards a specific event or celebrity as News to gain an attraction and influence the attitudes of viewers like you?

Step 2: Research Method online research, interviewing, observation, and media content analysis

Step 3:Research Proposal I believe it is interesting that innuendos and gossip have a powerful influence over more than their “intended audience”. Young children to our older generation can relate to a specific topic during a specific time period depending on what is top news. Gossip as news is a widely apparent and admired phenomenon that is brought up in multiple forms of media that can catch a viewer's attention almost anywhere at anytime. From the pharmacy to the supermarket this propaganda will be apart of your day. My main focus will be on Michael Jackson and how he was and is now displayed in the media. From the innuendos involving him in cartoons to the repulsive news report. But how did this cruel depiction begin and why did it continue to be all the range then suddenly stop? Why are people more sympathetic to his "Childhood" and appreciative of his work and service to several communities.  What role do experts and celebrities play in this propaganda; who helped influence these interpretations? How does innuendos and gossip use social and psychology aspects to shape the addiction to misinformation in news? For example, the propaganda before his death purposes that people who once enjoyed Michael as an artist may hesitate to listen to his work because they may be parents and what parents would want to support a potential child molester? Why do we trust this form of propaganda to the point where we do not even view some as a propaganda? Did people take this as informative, important, and necessary news especially compared to everything else that was happening in our world? Did anyone ever question themselves or a journalist or an interviewer on why is was so vital and important to get the latest scoop on Michael Jackson? Does it ultimately reflect our culture's "taste" on what we look forward as important news? Is the information simply informative or dangerously brain washing? I will use online research to find popular media content on Michael Jackson (TV shows, articles, interviews, news reports, etc.) and their impact on people of different ages to begin this project. I will then go out with my initial thoughts on this topic and with the knowledge I have gained through research to interview and observe a variety of audience members who are subjected to this propaganda of innuendos and gossip as news targeting Michael Jackson, aka viewers like you. Finally, I will analyze the content the viewers are influenced by in order to draw connections and ultimately a conclusion. I hope to answer my questions from the research I do and learn how our culture uses this technique to build our society's opinions.

I want to explore why his name was instantly connected to words like "pedophile" or "wacko" and then the sudden change of heart form the criticism and focus more on his brilliant talent and have an altered opinion of him. Could it be that while he was living the media shaped the public's opinion of him but then when he passed and the media changed their portrayal of him and the audience followed or was forced to change theirs? Also, why is it that no one hardly spoke of Farrah Fawsett who also died that night, was the world too wrapped up in the numerous news reports, tweets, and texts about Michael's death? Is it a matter of free-will or do people just take in the information? I want to further investigate society's "taste" of this matter.

This is an important topic but right now, y**our plan is still too broad.** Find an appropriate focus that connects to ideas of propaganda. I would suggest you look at the book by Cass Sunstein called, "On Rumors" which is a fascinating look at the issue specifically in relation to social media. If you don't want to explore this book, you might consider taking a look at a specific celebrity (ie Oprah or Jon Stewart) or a specific example of gossip that shaped public opinion (ie, Shirley Sherrod, or a politician's sexuality) to explore the topic.