The media, especially television, plays an extremely important role in
             informing and influencing public opinion. While in many instances, the role
             of the media is a necessary and important one; the fact is that in some
             cases, it can end up negatively affecting public consciousness. Indeed,
             this appears to be the case as far as the presence of violence in media
             news and entertainment programs is concerned, as evidenced by nearly 3000
             research studies, which have found a connection between television violence
             The link between the presence of violence in media and the prevalence
             of real-life violence in America is not surprising given that the average
             American child is estimated to have witnessed more than 8,000 murders on
             television even before leaving elementary school (FRONTLINE). Such
             statistics are proof positive that the media can, and does, have a negative
             effect on the consciousness of the American people. Naturally, this is an
             issue of major concern for the American nation and its people since there
             are new psychological theories that say, "â€children who watch a lot of
             television may develop a view of the world based on the television they
             watch rather than on their own experience." (FRONTLINE).
             The specter raised by such theories is particularly disturbing post
             the several incidences of school shootings such as Jonesboro, Arkansas in
             March 1998; Edinboro, Pennsylvania in April 1998; Fayetteville, Tennessee
             and Springfield, Oregon in May 1998; and the Columbine shootings in April
             1999 (Witham, 2002). Indeed, such incidences have served to further fuel an
             already existing debate on the negative effect of the media on the
             consciousness of the American public, especially children.
             Of course, the media alone cannot be held responsible for the spread
             of violence or the propensity to resolve all conflicts through violence.
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