Friday, March 27, 2009

Social Movements and the Media

In my opinion, news media and the government are probably the biggest contributors as to whom determines a say on a certain subject. They cater their information that they reveal to the American people, and they swing its portrayal in however they want. Over the years, people have been getting very passionate about getting certain news stories mentioned in the news; however, those stories are not often heard because they do not have anything to do with the goals aimed by the news media. Essentially, the public has very little say in what gets presented from the news media. In Bill Moyer's video, he mentions that there are many stories that do not make the news because of how the media and the federal government want to depict certain issues. 
In my opinion, it is very important for the media to depict all issues dealing with race and gender. The majority of all crime-related cases discussed in the news and in the newspapers and magazines today are all, at least the majority of, committed by the hispanic or African American populations. However, crime incidences dealing with white people should be equally displayed. They are just as much a threat as someone of another race that commits a crime. The American people have a right to be aware of everything that affects their well-being, whether it be economically, socially or otherwise. No matter what. We all know that this world is far from utopia; however, it does not help when matters concerning our lives is covered by the media in order to protect a person, company, etceteras reputation. The American public is beginning to fight back against the media and the government for not reporting stories that matter to them, which is great. However, we are a long way from correcting the situation of "non-reporting."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dqMfNR4B0o
This you tube video discusses how the new media and non-stream media are the sources
that are helping to express information about the war in the Gaza. For the first time, people
finally beginning to provide important information so people can begin to officially understand
what is really going on in the Gaza. Both sides involved in the war, have been battling about
who is depicting the war better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9_kvURVi_A
She discusses how the news media only talk about what they want you to know. Although 
much of her video discusses how the political candidates have not been represented accurately
in the news media. Certain news media outlets report certain things about a political candidate
in order to present them in a good light or make the other candidate look bad to the people.