The portrayal of older adults in print media

Introduction

The media consist of television, radio, newspapers, magazines (print media called newspapers and magazines) and internet. Media plays the role of informing, educating and masses. Also media provide both positive and negative portrayals of people that allow individuals to develop ideas and characterize people based on certain attributes like age, race, and gender. Elderly populations suffer from negative stereotyping more than any other identifiable social group. Media portrayed ageing in a stereotypical light, typically old age equating to disease, or death.

Methods

This paper is a literature review, which reports the way that pint media present older people. The researcher studied: a) the portrayal of seniors as they presented by the print media, b) the subjects that related to seniors, c) the type of magazines and newspapers which present seniors and d) demographic characteristics relating to this presentation. The samples were senior people, of both sexes without specific health problems.

Results

Concerning the results older people remain incapable of working, enjoying sex, exercising and taking care of themselves, weak and passive. Men are presented more than women, in magazines and newspapers. The subjects, which reported to seniors relating with health, violence and quality of life.

References

[1]. Buchholz, M., & Bynum, J.E. (1982). Newspapers presentation of American`s aged: A content analysis of image and role. The Gerontology, Vol. 22, 83-87.
[2]. Krouhi, R.G. (1999). Passia Seminars. The Role and Power of the Mass Media. Media and Communication skills. (p.p. 1-2).
[3]. Miller, P., Miller, D., McKibbon, E., & Pettys, G. (1999). Stereotypes of the elderly in magazine advertisements 1956-1996. International Journal of Aging and Human development, Vol, 49, No. 4, 319-337.
[4]. Mundford, N., & Brownell, W. (1990). Media preferences of older and young adults. The Gerontologist, Vol. 30, 685-691.