The Meaning of Authority in the Context of Media and Popular Culture

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Authority
The term authority means different things in different contexts. Some people consider authority as power; others see it as control, and still, others consider authority as the mastery of something. All these aspects of authority intersect and point to the same idea of the term. It is said that knowledge is power. Therefore, when someone acquires knowledge, it is synonymous with acquiring authority in a particular subject. The above explanation coincides with mastery, which entails understanding how a particular thing works or the intricacies of a certain field. With regard to control, authority is exemplified through one’s command or dominance in an aspect or field. Therefore, the definition of authority is having power, control, or mastery in a particular area, subject, or specialty.
In the context of media and popular culture, authority is a term that I greatly use. For example, it matters a lot where I am getting daily news. Today, there are numerous sources of news. There are the old or traditional means, with examples, including newspapers, televisions, and radios. There are also current or new media platforms that help to propagate news. Each of these sources claims to have credibility. However, for me, the source of any information I come across matters. On Twitter, for example, I will not believe everything I see trending. Some of the trending topics have been debunked as blatant lies, but millions have been duped into adopting the same as truth. So, I use the concept of authority to interrogate the sources of information and then take an informed stand on whichever topic that is being discussed.
Secondly, the ...