Final answer:
The media can extend some senses while suppressing others due to practices like media bias, gatekeeping, and reliance on advertising revenue, which influence the selection and presentation of news stories. This can lead to a lack of depth in coverage and a skewed public perception on various issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The media is often criticized for extending certain senses while suppressing others. This critique stems from the idea that the media, rather than being a neutral conduit for information, can shape our perceptions of reality through the stories it chooses to report and the manner in which it reports them.
Media bias and gatekeeping are key concepts to understand when analyzing how the media can alter perceptions. The media acts as a gatekeeper, filtering information and presenting it in a certain light, which can extend our awareness on some issues but suppress it on others. For example, news outlets might focus on scandals or sound bites while neglecting in-depth analysis or a diversity of viewpoints. Moreover, reliance on advertising revenue and sensationalism can further skew the media's focus.
Media organizations, driven by profit motives, often prioritize stories that are likely to attract larger audiences and please advertisers. This could result in inadequate coverage of important public affairs, arguably leading to a lack of civic engagement and understanding among the public. Bias in the media toward certain views or in how race and gender are portrayed also affects public opinion and policy decisions.
In essence, the question of why the media might extend some senses while suppressing others is deeply connected to the interplay between media practices, journalistic values, commercial influences, and the pursuit of objectivity amidst inherent biases.