The evolution of media, from old to new media, has transformed the way we understand the world around us. New media is interactive and is user-generated, while old media is a more traditional way of communicating through television, radio, newspapers, magazines, books, etc. (Lecture Notes. January 12, 2011). New media offer us a new perspective by allowing us to interact with each other through the Internet. Media has become much more personal and diverse as user-generated content becomes more important in our lives (Lecture Notes. January 24, 2011). We are exposed to various points of view that shape our understanding and knowledge of the social world, but does the form of media actually influence how we understand the content presented to us? For my article, I will determine whether or not the medium is the message by analyzing two different types of media sources and how they influence our understanding of the content. For my old media source I chose a clip from the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric covering the ongoing Egyptian uprising. For my new media source I chose a video blog, or 'vlog', by an Egyptian called Omar who discusses the crisis in Egypt from a personal point of view. Both media sources deal with the same topic, but give rise to different interpretations of the crisis. Although both media outlets focus on the same issue, there are many differences between the two. CBS news uses many visually dramatic effects to engage the audience and make them feel a certain way. In the news there are several images of violence from both protesters and police, however most of the videos are shot from the point of view of the police. This could simply be for security reasons, however this le...... middle of paper ......ts. Simply by posting a photo on Facebook, a movement for fundamental rights began. Because users create new media content, people are able to inspire mass audiences. In conclusion, the medium is the message. The way information is presented to us plays a key role in our understanding of the topic itself. By framing the crisis in Egypt in a particular way, both old and new media are able to offer audiences two separate interpretations of the social and cultural issues at hand. The media is less interested in telling the public the real story and more interested in the underlying societal messages they provide. These underlying messages lead us to frame social and cultural issues the way the media wants us to. Since the media sells us both products and ideas, personalities and worldviews, the message becomes the medium.