"What role does the media play in shaping our country and the minds of the people?"

The media has the largest role in shaping the minds of the people. The media has the ability to broadcast ideas to a large variety of people within a very large range. It impacts everyone in the sense that it becomes common knowledge. If you ask anyone how to save 15% or more on car insurance, they'll tell you to switch to Geico. It makes an impression on people, it sticks with them. So when you see a repetitive commercial that says something like, "Look like a model, buy this product.", you think not only do you need that product but you need it because you should look like a model. It instills ideas in our mind that we did have previously. Essentially the media has the ability to do whatever it wants. Like Republicans use the media to smear Democrats when in reality Democrats are the good guys. Not that people know that because Republicans are hell bent on destroying the Liberals. Anyway yeah media brainwashes people.