Newspaper companies have always had a strong influence on public opinion, and this influence has never been as powerful as it is today. In today's globalized economy, there is no excuse for not being informed about the latest events. News companies now have more power than they ever had before. These companies are dedicated to providing unbiased information, but the definition of impartiality varies by country. Articles purporting to be unbiased often have a strong underlying bias towards the common beliefs of the country in which the article will be published. This bias has the ability to influence the reader's opinions and judgment. A good example of this ability is the way two of the world's most powerful leaders, United States President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin, are portrayed. Both leaders are well-liked in their respective countries, but due to weak relations between the United States and Russia, both leaders are vilified by their opposing countries, especially in the media. Using the example of Putin versus Obama, the global media could be seen as an evil for society, due to its ability to influence public opinion in negative directions. Weak relations between the Untied States and Russia can be blamed on war and other acts of destruction. The Cold War was a downward arms race between the Soviet Union, which included Russia, and the United States. Each country had to have the most powerful and best weapons to prevent war. Since the Cold War, relations between Russia and the United States have been difficult. Vladimir Putin is the current president of Russia, the former Soviet Union. Putin is very popular, with popularity ratings of around 80% (Adomanis). President Barack Obama...... middle of paper ......europe/08russia.html>. “The influence of the media on public opinion during the war: a good or a bad capacity? » Public opinion during the war. Np, and Web. May 22, 2014. .Stent, Angela. “Why America doesn’t understand Putin.” Washington Post. The Washington Post, March 14, 2014. Web. May 22, 2014. .Swift, Art. “For the first time, Americans' views of Russia are becoming negative.” For the first time, Americans' opinion of Russia has become negative. Np, and Web. May 6, 2014. .19 posted by Обамы Trans. Google. Np, and Web. May 22 2014. .