Does the mass media have too much power?

The Swine Flu thing is one more time an example of mass hysteria provoked by the media.

The Mexican economy is being forced on its knees for a virus that is not much more different than the usual yearly virus flue mutations, or the 'usual' 36'000 casualties of 'regular' flue in the USA. In Mexico there are 22 confirmed swine flue casualties. Just compare.

The WHO initiated a badly planned media frenzy, the media loved it, the Chinese overreacted, the french wanted to put a country in quarantine and so many more are happy to cancel whatever communications they have, just for the sake of 'own national protection'.

I'm happy to live in Mexico and disgusted by the international media and the WHO.

Yeah, it has too much power in fact much much power. How? the media can make or break anything e.g it made Britney Spears & now who's reporting negatively 'bout her?However, the media's power isn't absolute, this' why gov'ts legislate it because absolute power would corrupt the media e.g journalists would become selfish, unobjective, biased.........you name it. This' why its power is rationed.In summary, media as a watchdog of gov't enables some degree of efficience of gov't officials not forgetting its educational, social responsibility role amongothers.

This' question is really big