I use these means to learn about current events happening in the world and the opinions of others on these issues. I do not let these opinions control my thinking in the sense that they become mine as well, but I take into account the opinions of those I hear and generate my own judgments. The same goes for all forms of mass media. I am aware that it has an effect on me, whether that effect is through music, movies, television or other forms. For example, the kind of music a person listens to can greatly influence their mood. I consider myself fair in this category because I haven't looked at the news as often as I should, which demonstrates that I don't use this method of communication as often as I should. For greater media participation, I can set a goal to consult a news source once a day to stay up to date with current events around the world.