Burntoshine (burntoshine) wrote, @ 2006-02-08 10:07:00

the impoverished state of media coverage of the poor
yesterday i listened to a reporter, who actually covers the poverty beat mind you, defend the media's coverage of poverty issues

i also listened to a poverty activist cry for more media coverage, even though more media coverage leads to the closing of loop holes in legislation that helps his organization and the thousands of people they help

the thing that stuck with me the most however, was how the journalist defended the media by saying that "we the people" don't need "them the media" to get the message out. how because of the internet explosion, people can do what i'm doing right now and get the message to the masses.... well, how many masses read the globe and mail every day? and how many people read the hamilton spectator everyday? and how many people read www.blurty.com/users/burntoshine everyday? i think you see my point. yes, i can reach a few people, who can share it with a few people, who can share it with a few people, but the globe and mail reaches all those people at once... timeliness is a buzzword in media, and the internet is a medium, and it doesn't always have that if it takes time to reach the people

with all that said, i do believe that my voice here, and yours over there (www.blurty.com/users/makeyourself) and yours (www.blurty.com/users/underthewaves) and yours (www.blurty.com/users/rollingalong) are great things. but we don't have the reach of the globe. or the spec. and that is not going to make THE BIG difference.

for more:
http://www.wlu.ca/news_detail.php?grp_id=37&nws_id=1225
and
http://www.wlu.ca/news_detail.php?grp_id=37&nws_id=1217

underthewaves 2006-02-09 14:39 (link)

"I also listened to a poverty activist cry for more media coverage, even though more media coverage leads to the closing of loop holes in legislation that helps his organization and the thousands of people they help" 1) I'm confused - what's odd about a poverty activist crying for more media attention? Wouldn't he be in favour of closing loopholes in legislation that help his organization? 2) Why in the ever-lovin' world would journalist declare himself redundant? The internet is truly revolutionary in its ability to democratize access to ideas...but dangerous for a million more reasons...anyone can post anything and you have no idea if what you're reading even approximates anything remotely resembling objectivity. My inner cynic suggests the same might be true about the newspaper...But I love newsprint stains on my fingers. And the smell of a fresh Sunday paper. And the way it makes Sophie sneeze. (Reply to this) (Thread)