According to the videos, the government is the key contributer to what sets the agenda. Along with the government, money and big corporations also contribute to the setting of the agenda. The "Buying the War" series points out that before America entered the war, criticisms of the war were dismissed and seen as unpatriotic.
2.Why do we need a media that specifically represents difference interests of people of color?
I believe that it is important that the media target all races and genders. It should be the interest of all forms of media. It would be an unfair society if only "white" people had targeted media. However, it appears that that is the case in today's society. Although the media may be targeted towards a white society, there are other factors that need to be looked at, too such as gender, economic status, religion, etc.
The media needs to focus on targeting all types of people, races and beliefs. It is crucial to do this in order to have a well-structured society. The media also needs to focus on their target population. If a news medium is in a highly Latino populated area, they should focus on values that are important to Latinos. The same should be said for a black or white community.
3.How was the war initially reported by the media?
When the war first began, America was all about "patriotism." America practically saw the war as a necessity to protect the values and beliefs of American society as well as the safety of the American people. Those who didn't believe in the war were seen as unpatriotic.
4. What has the media covered recent social protests? Jenna Six – Proposition Eight
Although there were many protests regarding Prop. 8, only a few were given media coverage. Most of the other coverage came from non-traditional media sources.
5.Was the media beneficial for the Civil Rights Movement?
I believe that the media was extremely beneficial for the Civil Rights Movement. It was one of the first publicly televised and reported events in U.S. history. Americans from all over had the ability to see what was happening to blacks and the hardships they were going through. However, whites also got a lot of attention from the media during the Civil Rights Movement as well. For example, when whites were seen taking part in the movement and were getting scrutinized for it.
6. Your thoughts and reflections on setting the news agenda, minority media and reporting the war.
I personally believe that the media is controlled by who is willing to spend the most money, not necessarily what is the most newsworthy. Media look for stories that are going to bring a lot of attention. This means stories that are very dramatic as well as stories that will bring sympathy. It is unfortunate to me that the media works this way.
This past summer I had the opportunity to intern at a big television station in Tulsa and got to see first-hand what happens at the assignment desk. There were many occasions that I would sit at the desk and think I found something newsworthy but would be turned down, not because it wasn't a good story, but because it wouldn't bring a lot of viewers.
I have always been very proud to be an American but this class has made me question some of our so-called values. It is sad for me to discover how much racism still occurs in our country. Media needs to react to all races, not just whites. Media needs to cover news that are relevant to the location, which means forget race in general.
Like I mentioned earlier, at the beginning of the war, the coverage was patriotic and positive. As the war began to not go as planned, war coverage changed as well and the reporting on the war became more negative and focused more on the death totals rather than the patriotism that was seen at the beginning. I wouldn't say that is a bad thing, however. I think it is evident that that was going to happen. If something is going well in a country, the reporting will be upbeat. On the other hand, if something is wrong or not looking good, the reports won't be as positive.
You will be the media, right?
ReplyDeleteAfter September 11, President Bush declared to the nation that the US was rushing to war with Iraq. He then addressed in a statement to the citizens “you are either with us or against us.” With no Sadaam found, weapons of mass destruction found yet, more than 2,500 American soldiers and civilans killed, and the country in utter chaos and dismay. I never thought I would live through a time that would be talked about in history books. First, the war in Iraq and now this economic downfall. Many people love this country enough to defend its actions, including rushing into war. An American patriot is an active, informed participant who is passionate about upholding the ideals the United States of America stands for. For example, when the Dixie Chicks interviewed with Diane Sawyer over the hatred of President Bush and the war, one country fan disagreed so much with the remarks of the country stars that the fan wanted the musicians “strapped on a missile and dropped over Baghdad” for criticizing Bush. Although I feel this specific remark is very controversial, I feel inspired by those who have publicly spoken out against our actions in Iraq, despite the risk that they will probably be mocked and discredited. This helps me broaden my understanding of patriotism and become a more educated, active citizen.
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