Social Movements and the Media

1. Who determines the news or sets the agenda?

According to these productions, money, big corporations and government set the agenda for the media. These productions focus especially on the role government plays in the media. For example, the “Buying the War” film was particularly keen on pointing out that upon first entering into war any critiques of war were snubbed. I believe it was CNN that endured much criticism (from FOX news station, which is rather right-winged) that it was less than patriotic, critical of the war in a way that was anti-American, etc.

2. Why do we need a media that specifically represents difference interests of people of color?

Aren’t those interests everyone’s interests? What can be done to increase the mainstream media’s interest in other topics and concerns? Aren’t those interests everyone’s interests?
Society today has media that represent different sectors of the population because the media is simply filling society’s demands. Minority societies want more minority radio stations, television stations, etc. It’s unjust that certain minority populations don’t get the same media attention as the majority, but I’m not entirely convinced that the ‘majority’ feels it gets enough coverage either. For example, if European-Americans, or whites, are the ‘majority’ there are still differentiating factors within the ‘majority’. (religion, socioeconomic class, political affiliation, etc.) For example, do those whites who are not Christian think their perspective is equally represented in mainstream media? Probably not.

To increase mainstream media’s interest in topics and concerns of minorities it’s important to introduce minorities as leaders within the media. For example, have those from minority religions, low socioeconomic backgrounds and various ethnicities become part of media organizations. I agree with Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) who “…says the FCC needs to push broadcasters to serve their communities' interests…” Also, I agree with his proposition that “…the Commission should do more to help women, African-Americans, and Latinos buy radio and TV stations.”

3. How was the war initially reported by the media?

According to these productions, the war was initially reported as an undeniably necessary act of patriotism. Heading into war was an act of defense and an action that sought preservation of everything our country stood and stands for… freedom, justice, etc. Any opinion that contradicted the war was considered unpatriotic. In hindsight, it’s clear that the basis of reasoning for entering war was an incorrect association between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda.

4. What has the media covered recent social protests? Jenna Six – Proposition Eight

An ABC affiliate provided coverage over a proposition eight protest. This was in Lake Forest, California and the protest rallied many people from all over Southern California. Shortly thereafter, I only found non-mainstream media outlets that reported what could be called “follow-up” stories to the protest.

5. Was the media beneficial for the Civil Rights Movement?

It was beneficial in spreading the truth about racial segregation and racial subordination in the South. The reality of the racial, hate-crimes was much unnoticed outside of the southern bubble. Sadly, it was more noticeably effective at garnering national attention when white individuals were victims of crime. Whites were victimized for participating in the civil rights movement, for example, the northern students serving as freedom workers seen in the in-class video.

6. Your thoughts and reflections on setting the news agenda, minority media and the media and reporting the war.

I personally believe that the media is dominated by whoever has the loudest voice. At times this coincides with those who have the biggest bank accounts, other times it’s those who have the most sympathy evoking stories and still other times it’s simply those who are most dramatic. For example, I believe the Britney Spears saga continued so long because it was dramatic.
On the topic of minority media, I think it is pitiful that our country continues to support any type of segregation. Here, the segregation is of the media between the following two groups: minorities and non-minorities. I can take this blanket statement in two directions. First, it’s sad that the ‘non-minority media’ is insufficient at covering minority topics to the point that blacks, Hispanics and other minority populations are driven to create their own media outlets. Second, I think every individual American citizen, no matter what your ethnicity, needs to make an effort at not supporting segregation.

In other words, we need to quit differentiating ourselves. If you really want to go the differentiating route, then we are ALL different, even white people… those who call themselves white can posess bloodlines of everything from Italian to Swedish to French to German to English to Native American and so on. My point is this, if there’s so much effort going into differentiating ourselves all the time then how can we ever expect to truly become a united nation? No one is superior to another, we are all equal. It’s time we start not only believing it but acting like it. Comments and thoughts like the one below from Santita Jackson, WVON’s mid-morning show host, particularly incense me. This is what she said: “And so, we (African Americans) really are the bell weather. For example, the Iraq War-- African Americans overwhelmingly felt this was a horrible idea. That it was just a really bad move. Not for lack of or for want of patriotism, but, really, because of patriotism. We said, ‘We're a better nation than this.’ And WVON put that message out there. Now, the rest of America has simply caught up.” Oh, please! No one sector of the American population can be accredited for first having the “right” opinion. First because opinions are inherently neither right nor wrong and second because I believe we each think as individuals and not as a representative for the entire white, black or purple community.

Finally, I’d like to discuss the media and reporting on the war. In accordance with my previous statement about the media being dominated by whoever has the loudest voice, I believe that prior to the less than great approval ratings of the Bush administration there was a positive slant on war reporting. Sequentially, when the Bush administration’s and thus the war’s approval ratings (or vice versa) became low, the undertone of war reporting became negative. As a sidenote, I say ‘the Bush administration and thus the war’ because the idea of this war being former President Bush’s war is adamantly supported by the media and the current Obama administration.