Online Print Media

Media's effect in society depends on the source and whether the purpose is to sell an idea with accurate facts or just making up sensationalist stories to get more attention and therefore more money.

This article by Brian Stelter from the New York Times, is a good example of how media can be a useful tool to inform yourself by getting both sides of the story without an attempt to convince you on what the truth really is.

The article is about how the media's attempt to debunk the idea that president Obama is not a U.S. citizen, actually triggered more speculation about the issue.

"... reporters tried to debunk those theories. But opinion polls found that doubts among Americans about his citizenship grew over time, as if the very fact of the debate caused the issue to fester in more minds. "

I think this article is effective because it describes the situation just as it is, without deviating from its purpose.