As this class ends, I would take this opportunity to claim that it has been a privilege to take part in it. Not only did it help me understand the different elements involved when dealing with race and gender, it also provided me with the tools necessary to better screen the images of the media.
The way the class was set, giving each student an opportunity to give his/her opinion and allowing all of us to have different perspectives through dyads and contributions, has definitely reached my expectations. In fact, this class dealt with important topics such as race and gender and we were so lucky to take this class in an historical moment through primary elections featuring black and female candidates.
The topic of race is mainly difficult to deal with as it always primarily appears uncomfortable. Yet, with the help of the instructor, I could say that all the students have found their way to understanding that race and gender are issues worth debating and debates would help us better probe the different problems this country is facing when dealing with minorities.
One of the most important concepts that I actually came across in this class is the concept of White privilege. White privilege is all around us but I never paid attention to it until we get to it deeper in this class. It helped me understand the frustration of minorities who also have their own privileges as males also have it in relation to gender issues.
Over all this class has been an enriching experience. It definitely helps me use critical lenses as far as the images we are getting from the media are concerned. The media are just giving us what they want to give us, reason why media literacy will stand as an antidote to the negative side of what the media are offering. I will definitely recommend this class to all my friends so that they could benefit from this experience.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
DON IMUS: DEJA VU!
Is Don Imus a racist? It is just not believable. Don Imus, the one in the middle of the big controversy over Rutgers female basketball players did it again. To the questions if he was racist, I did answer by giving him the benefit of the doubt as he apologized and recognized that he was so wrong. I did not really think he was a racist but now after this second blunder it would be difficult for me to give him another chance.
In fact, being a racist is not something that is intermittent, it is something that will dwell for a while in the persona of those who are. Sometimes, they act like they a not racist but it actually turns to a dormant habit that surges in unexpected circumstances.
The reason why I’m pointing it out is the fact Imus did not really need to ask about color. What color is it? This actually is the stupidest question that a media actor can ask ON-AIR. I really wonder if Imus himself know exactly anything about the sensitive topic of race in this country. Why ask about color as anybody can do bad things or good thing. This is not really related to race.
Imus really needed a lot of hours of diversity sessions after his first blunder. The other issue with media and mainly these talk-shows is that they are not professionals. It just happened that they can or think they can talk without really understanding what is at stake every time they say something. Imus is actually just the tip of the iceberg. Rush Limbaugh is also one of those talk show people who are strongly in need of diversity training.
I do think it is in the role of the media owners to make sure diversity in the airwaves is a reality. They need to set tangible guidelines and rules to help things like this not to happen. Anyways, they have to as their audience is dramatically dwindling.
In fact, being a racist is not something that is intermittent, it is something that will dwell for a while in the persona of those who are. Sometimes, they act like they a not racist but it actually turns to a dormant habit that surges in unexpected circumstances.
The reason why I’m pointing it out is the fact Imus did not really need to ask about color. What color is it? This actually is the stupidest question that a media actor can ask ON-AIR. I really wonder if Imus himself know exactly anything about the sensitive topic of race in this country. Why ask about color as anybody can do bad things or good thing. This is not really related to race.
Imus really needed a lot of hours of diversity sessions after his first blunder. The other issue with media and mainly these talk-shows is that they are not professionals. It just happened that they can or think they can talk without really understanding what is at stake every time they say something. Imus is actually just the tip of the iceberg. Rush Limbaugh is also one of those talk show people who are strongly in need of diversity training.
I do think it is in the role of the media owners to make sure diversity in the airwaves is a reality. They need to set tangible guidelines and rules to help things like this not to happen. Anyways, they have to as their audience is dramatically dwindling.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Weekly Media Assignment #3
Articles: Media Charged With Sexism in Clinton Coverage, By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE and JULIE BOSMAN and Age Becomes the New Race and Gender, By ADAM NAGOURNEY
I chose these two articles as they all summarize the main issues in the primary elections. In fact by changing the main theme of the election from race and gender to age, the articles open new avenues of reflections about the nature of the race. The age of John McCain has really become such an issue in these elections that it overshadows the mainstream of conceptions surrounding the candidacy of a man of color and a woman. In fact, these two articles alone are telling us what people should expect in the general elections. Now that Hillary Clinton is out of the race, there will not be a gender issue in November. The race issue dwells as we have a White and Black candidates. Yet the issue of age will be remarkably decisive because everything is all about change. The American people are looking for change in Washington. John McCain has even started talking about change with a different way than Obama.
Media Charged With Sexism in Clinton Coverage: The articles talks about angry Clinton supporters over the way the media portrayed their candidate during the primary elections. Clinton supporters, mainly women, have suggested the boycott of the media and by creating video on a “Media Hall of Shame”. The main objective of the move is to push Barack Obama to address the issue.
Yet the reaction of media actors is that the Clinton campaign has just highlighted a minute part of the coverage that is more sexist for its main argument. For this reason, said CBS Evening News anchor, Katie Couric, reporters does not feel the need to reconsider their coverage of Hillary Clinton during the primaries. The main argument from the reporters is that the Clinton campaign has seen it as an opportunity to its advantage. Some recognized the sexist turn the coverage has taken mainly in the last day of the primaries.
Age Becomes the New Race and Gender: The article starts with the surge of age as an issue during the primary campaign. Gender and race primarily became the focus of the campaign but age, with senator McCain’s 72 years has gradually taken over the important issues of race and gender. On the one hand we have an old McCain, on the other end, Barack Obama with his 47 years adds to the contrast between the two remaining candidates.
Each of the articles deals with a particular issue related to the election. The first article is interested in how the media has used a sexist approach to cover Hillary Clinton. This article is more about the role of the media in politics with the presence of a female candidate. The second article features the appearance of a third element in the race, i.e. age. The article suggest that race and gender issues have primarily appeared to be the main elements of the election but another third important element has emerged in the debate. Both articles are actually real opportunities for the reader to better understand the main issues of this race.
Race and gender are strongly present in the article. Yet gender has been more covered. The first article is all about gender. It talks about how the media have relied on a sexist approach to cover Hillary Clinton. The whole article is dedicated to gender issues. In the second article gender and issue have been taken over by the issue of race. It is only at the beginning of the article that the author talks about race and gender by laying the emphasis on how they are being overwhelmed by age.
These two articles are well articulated with supporting elements to address the main issue of this race. I really liked the second article as it brings insight on the issue of age in the primary elections. Most of the articles over the election did not deeply go over the issue of age. This very important in the sense that it will allow the public to embrace several approaches that would help determine the better candidate for this country in a critical period. There is also a need to recognize that the media have sometimes given Hillary a hard time even if it was not obviously intentional. The race and gender was framed using clichés. Everything revolves around the first woman and the black running for president of the Unites States. These are two categories that have been playing second roles in politics and then came 2008. Race will definitely play an important role in the upcoming elections. In fact, the role of race will be twofold. There will be those citizens who always dreamt of that day to see a black president in the United. Those are the same as those who do not want to miss this historic opportunity to see this country go beyond the issue of race by helping elect Barack Obama. In this situation it will not just about seeing black people voting for Obama but everybody including other races. In fact with black people only Obama cannot win. The second role of race in the election is to show how America will behave in race issues. There will be certainly a lot of people whose vote will be definitely determined by race.
Overall, these elections have so far shown that this country is under favorable circumstances to settle the issues of race and gender that have for years marked the evolution of this country. The world is watching the United States making an important turning point that will influence many future generations not only in this country but in the whole universe.
I chose these two articles as they all summarize the main issues in the primary elections. In fact by changing the main theme of the election from race and gender to age, the articles open new avenues of reflections about the nature of the race. The age of John McCain has really become such an issue in these elections that it overshadows the mainstream of conceptions surrounding the candidacy of a man of color and a woman. In fact, these two articles alone are telling us what people should expect in the general elections. Now that Hillary Clinton is out of the race, there will not be a gender issue in November. The race issue dwells as we have a White and Black candidates. Yet the issue of age will be remarkably decisive because everything is all about change. The American people are looking for change in Washington. John McCain has even started talking about change with a different way than Obama.
Media Charged With Sexism in Clinton Coverage: The articles talks about angry Clinton supporters over the way the media portrayed their candidate during the primary elections. Clinton supporters, mainly women, have suggested the boycott of the media and by creating video on a “Media Hall of Shame”. The main objective of the move is to push Barack Obama to address the issue.
Yet the reaction of media actors is that the Clinton campaign has just highlighted a minute part of the coverage that is more sexist for its main argument. For this reason, said CBS Evening News anchor, Katie Couric, reporters does not feel the need to reconsider their coverage of Hillary Clinton during the primaries. The main argument from the reporters is that the Clinton campaign has seen it as an opportunity to its advantage. Some recognized the sexist turn the coverage has taken mainly in the last day of the primaries.
Age Becomes the New Race and Gender: The article starts with the surge of age as an issue during the primary campaign. Gender and race primarily became the focus of the campaign but age, with senator McCain’s 72 years has gradually taken over the important issues of race and gender. On the one hand we have an old McCain, on the other end, Barack Obama with his 47 years adds to the contrast between the two remaining candidates.
Each of the articles deals with a particular issue related to the election. The first article is interested in how the media has used a sexist approach to cover Hillary Clinton. This article is more about the role of the media in politics with the presence of a female candidate. The second article features the appearance of a third element in the race, i.e. age. The article suggest that race and gender issues have primarily appeared to be the main elements of the election but another third important element has emerged in the debate. Both articles are actually real opportunities for the reader to better understand the main issues of this race.
Race and gender are strongly present in the article. Yet gender has been more covered. The first article is all about gender. It talks about how the media have relied on a sexist approach to cover Hillary Clinton. The whole article is dedicated to gender issues. In the second article gender and issue have been taken over by the issue of race. It is only at the beginning of the article that the author talks about race and gender by laying the emphasis on how they are being overwhelmed by age.
These two articles are well articulated with supporting elements to address the main issue of this race. I really liked the second article as it brings insight on the issue of age in the primary elections. Most of the articles over the election did not deeply go over the issue of age. This very important in the sense that it will allow the public to embrace several approaches that would help determine the better candidate for this country in a critical period. There is also a need to recognize that the media have sometimes given Hillary a hard time even if it was not obviously intentional. The race and gender was framed using clichés. Everything revolves around the first woman and the black running for president of the Unites States. These are two categories that have been playing second roles in politics and then came 2008. Race will definitely play an important role in the upcoming elections. In fact, the role of race will be twofold. There will be those citizens who always dreamt of that day to see a black president in the United. Those are the same as those who do not want to miss this historic opportunity to see this country go beyond the issue of race by helping elect Barack Obama. In this situation it will not just about seeing black people voting for Obama but everybody including other races. In fact with black people only Obama cannot win. The second role of race in the election is to show how America will behave in race issues. There will be certainly a lot of people whose vote will be definitely determined by race.
Overall, these elections have so far shown that this country is under favorable circumstances to settle the issues of race and gender that have for years marked the evolution of this country. The world is watching the United States making an important turning point that will influence many future generations not only in this country but in the whole universe.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
ON THE OCCASION OF TIM RUSSERT'S WAKE TODAY
I wrote this ealier but I did not post it. I just wanted to share it with you guys!
When I clicked on CNN homepage that day, I was just thinking about political news, not really expecting to know about the sudden death of a man of news, Tim Russert. I was really stunned and incapable to click on the link to continue to read the story. America has lost one of his most prominent advocates of balanced journalism; I would say journalism per se.
Tim will be remembered as the one who always endeavored to make political journalism a way to influence and at the same time change Washington for the whole benefit of this country he loved and cherished so much. As a future actor in the media arena, Tim will definitely constitute the mirror with which I will always look at myself to evaluate what I’m doing wrong or right. He will remain a perennial source of inspiration in my future career. During the 17 years he served as “Meet the Press” host he was able to remain unanimously appreciated among all political actors of this country. His fairness and openness to all his guests; regardless of political color, religion and culture will definitely inspire younger generations of journalists in particular; and all the future media actors in general.
Tim was a champion of diversity. In fact he helped a lot of minority journalists jostle their way in a carrier that has never been obvious by providing them with the assurance and tools they needed to reach higher levels. When other journalists remained skeptical about new journalists’ capabilities, Tim always stood as a counselor, an opportunity giver to them. As he said in his book, the most good somebody can do to himself is to believe in himself. Now, as we lost a guide and a man of inspiration, the best way to make his appeal vivid and the best way to remember him is to make his positive attitude, professionalism and fairness our everyday creed. I hope he will remain an opportunity for our own betterment right in the threshold of a fresh career in the media. (RIP TIM).
Monday, June 16, 2008
THE FUZZY LINE OF APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE WHEN DEALING WITH BLACK FOLKS IN THE MEDIA
The primaries have brought important changes in the way information is handled through the media. Not only did the campaign provide an opportunity to probe the relationship between races and genders embodied by the presence of black and female candidates, but it also inaugurated the use of Black language to suit an unprecedented political atmosphere.
The use of Black language in the media has been subject to a lot of controversy as many actors in the corporation do not really understand the language of black people. Many journalists unconsciously hurt people by using the language of black folks on television.
The last blunder in this election season came from fox news. Last week one of the screen text described Michelle Obama as “Obama’s baby mama”. The script exactly read the following title "Outraged Liberals: Stop Picking on Obama's Baby Mama!” It suddenly prompted a lot of reactions from different audiences expressing their anger. The reactions are understandable as “baby mama” is inappropriate to describe somebody who is married to her kids’ father.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “baby mama” stands for "the mother of a man's child, who is not his wife nor (in most cases) his current or exclusive partner." The term has been used mostly in hip-hop lyrics and celebrity magazines.
In this new political atmosphere, one observer notes "this campaign has shown that people are excited to use black language for the first time in presidential politics." It explains the reason why word choice for appropriate language might be a big issue for all those journalists out there that really do not know a lot about black people. Sara Lewis, a faculty member at Yale University School of Art, contends that: "But as they do it, often they're putting their feet in their mouths because they don't fully understand the culture."
This is once again a reason to make newsrooms as diverse as possible to make sure such inappropriate use of language would not be an issue.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Weekly Media Assignment # 2
Local News analysis
· Include the station’s call letters and owner: KOCO 5, EYE WITNESS NEWS 5. Hearst Corporation is the owner.
· Part of a media conglomerate: An affiliate of ABC Television Network. It is owned by Hearst Corporation
· CEO: David J. Barrett
· Date and Time: Thursday, May 12, time not specified, watched from computer.
· Anchors with their race and gender: Maggie Carlo (white female), John Flick (White male), Mark Opgrande (white male), Jessica Schambach (white female), Jiao Jiao Shen (Asian-female), Darrielle Snipes (black female)
· Anchor Jessica Schambach is female
· Reporters in field are White, Asian-Americans, Black
· Include what communities were discussed in the newscast: Report on burglaries in Northeast Oklahoma City in a black neighborhood. They showed another burglary caught in camera and involving two black male, but the anchor said the two burglaries are not related. A house was burning and the owners are black. Two black girls were rescued by neighbors and the only neighbor shown was white. We have also the story of the two Oklahoma girls that were murdered with press conference of OSBI
· A critical analysis/description of the newscast, images, and stories (including stereotypical images/portrayals, language, etc).
I noticed that all the negative news featured black people in action. In fact, the language was appropriate in telling the story. All the reporters in these stories were white. What is striking is the way they showed a previous burglary caught on video which involved two black male. The anchor just said that these two burglaries are not related. I really do not think they needed even to bring the previous burglary up in a completely different story. The other thing is about the fire that destroyed a black guy’s house where they showed a white guy who rescued two girls that were in house when the fire started. It is a very positive image of white people given in this neighborhood.
Reality analysis:
· Name of the program: The Hills
· Objective of the show/goals of the show: an MTV reality television series and a spin-off of the popular MTV show Laguna Beach. It is about the life of Lauren Conrad and her friends after leaving her home in Laguna Beach, California.
· Main characters:
Lauren Conrad: pursues fashion design and works for fashion design
Heidi: Lauren’s former roommate, she works for Bolthouse Productions
· Where can the program be found: cable
· The demographics/audience for this program: Young, middle class white audience
· Executive Producer: Liz Gateley, Producer: Hisham Abed
· When it originated: The season 1 started in 2005-2006
· A critical evaluation of the characters, the images and the program rationale.
heidi is shown as a fool for leaving a great job by preferring to stay with Spencer who is really a mean guy. Jealousy is the main element that can describe Audrina who is leaving that nice house.
What follows this program: I watched it on the internet
Entertainment analysis should include:
· The name of the program. Late Show with David Letterman
· Whether it is a comedy or drama: Comedy
· The main character: David Letterman
· When the program originated: Started in 1982 on NBC and went off in 1993. Letterman left NBC and moved to CBS with the show.
· Where can the program be found: The program can be found on network
· What are the demographics of the audience: The program is being watched by a diverse audience. Mainly a young white audience but other minorities also watch it.
· The plot or synopsis for this program: The program is built on the news. The everyday news is treated with humor. The show has always had guests
· A critical assessment of the characters and the images: Letterman is a very interesting guy who really knows how to entertain people. He has been dragging on the primary elections talking about Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and McCain. Yet, when he talks about gender related issues you really do not feel any offense. It is shallow and just for the sake of entertainment.
· Who produces the program: Norman Lear and Don Kirshner
· Investigate whether it is belongs to a media conglomerate: CBS is a broadcast television and radio net work owned by CBS Corporation which is acquired by Viacom.
· Who is the CEO: Les Moonves
· The type of advertising that takes place during this program: Auto commercials, Beauty products like lotions, technology such as cell phones.
· Include the station’s call letters and owner: KOCO 5, EYE WITNESS NEWS 5. Hearst Corporation is the owner.
· Part of a media conglomerate: An affiliate of ABC Television Network. It is owned by Hearst Corporation
· CEO: David J. Barrett
· Date and Time: Thursday, May 12, time not specified, watched from computer.
· Anchors with their race and gender: Maggie Carlo (white female), John Flick (White male), Mark Opgrande (white male), Jessica Schambach (white female), Jiao Jiao Shen (Asian-female), Darrielle Snipes (black female)
· Anchor Jessica Schambach is female
· Reporters in field are White, Asian-Americans, Black
· Include what communities were discussed in the newscast: Report on burglaries in Northeast Oklahoma City in a black neighborhood. They showed another burglary caught in camera and involving two black male, but the anchor said the two burglaries are not related. A house was burning and the owners are black. Two black girls were rescued by neighbors and the only neighbor shown was white. We have also the story of the two Oklahoma girls that were murdered with press conference of OSBI
· A critical analysis/description of the newscast, images, and stories (including stereotypical images/portrayals, language, etc).
I noticed that all the negative news featured black people in action. In fact, the language was appropriate in telling the story. All the reporters in these stories were white. What is striking is the way they showed a previous burglary caught on video which involved two black male. The anchor just said that these two burglaries are not related. I really do not think they needed even to bring the previous burglary up in a completely different story. The other thing is about the fire that destroyed a black guy’s house where they showed a white guy who rescued two girls that were in house when the fire started. It is a very positive image of white people given in this neighborhood.
Reality analysis:
· Name of the program: The Hills
· Objective of the show/goals of the show: an MTV reality television series and a spin-off of the popular MTV show Laguna Beach. It is about the life of Lauren Conrad and her friends after leaving her home in Laguna Beach, California.
· Main characters:
Lauren Conrad: pursues fashion design and works for fashion design
Heidi: Lauren’s former roommate, she works for Bolthouse Productions
· Where can the program be found: cable
· The demographics/audience for this program: Young, middle class white audience
· Executive Producer: Liz Gateley, Producer: Hisham Abed
· When it originated: The season 1 started in 2005-2006
· A critical evaluation of the characters, the images and the program rationale.
heidi is shown as a fool for leaving a great job by preferring to stay with Spencer who is really a mean guy. Jealousy is the main element that can describe Audrina who is leaving that nice house.
What follows this program: I watched it on the internet
Entertainment analysis should include:
· The name of the program. Late Show with David Letterman
· Whether it is a comedy or drama: Comedy
· The main character: David Letterman
· When the program originated: Started in 1982 on NBC and went off in 1993. Letterman left NBC and moved to CBS with the show.
· Where can the program be found: The program can be found on network
· What are the demographics of the audience: The program is being watched by a diverse audience. Mainly a young white audience but other minorities also watch it.
· The plot or synopsis for this program: The program is built on the news. The everyday news is treated with humor. The show has always had guests
· A critical assessment of the characters and the images: Letterman is a very interesting guy who really knows how to entertain people. He has been dragging on the primary elections talking about Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and McCain. Yet, when he talks about gender related issues you really do not feel any offense. It is shallow and just for the sake of entertainment.
· Who produces the program: Norman Lear and Don Kirshner
· Investigate whether it is belongs to a media conglomerate: CBS is a broadcast television and radio net work owned by CBS Corporation which is acquired by Viacom.
· Who is the CEO: Les Moonves
· The type of advertising that takes place during this program: Auto commercials, Beauty products like lotions, technology such as cell phones.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
DIVERSITY ON TRIAL IN THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS
The primaries, with the loss of Hilary Clinton, has prompted harsher critiques about the fact that the political media in this country is strongly sexist and dominated by men and mainly white men. The overwhelming majority of observers of American media, despite efforts to include professionals of color or women by main television channels, argue that “the race was still refereed, scored and narrated by white male commentators, an influential constituency in presidential politics.”
One can notice that there were a lot of talks in the media about the progress made by the United States concerning gender and race embodied mainly by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Yet, “the media continues to employ, groom and promote a commentators corps that is disproportionately white and male.”
Deborah Howell has found that only 12% of the Washington Post guest pieces were from women. Representation of women in the New York Times shows there are a lot of efforts that need to be done to make diversity in the newsroom an actual fact. In fact, “Eight of the ten weekly columnists are men; one is black.”
The disparities are more visible in television. What is most striking is that most anchors during the campaign are women, but when it came to primetime commentators or hosts, they are most of the time men. CNN, FOX and MSNBC are good examples as featured above. Yet, some media have tried to recruit women or black people as commentators and contributors during the primary election season as it was obvious that women and black journalists’ perspectives were much more needed with Obama and Clinton being the main political actors.
As Mister Hight suggested the other day, diversity needs to be nurtured and made permanent in any newsroom. I do think major media outlets must not intermittently promote diversity because of some binding circumstances such as the presence of black and female candidates in the race. Diversity should be made permanent so that there would not be any circumstances that would prompt its reinforcement. Diversity should be the everyday creed of any media outlet that endeavors to promote balanced representation.
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