Changing Representations in the Media
Feature Story by Jenna Wandres - 9/2/2008
Slant. Bias. "Selective" reporting.
No matter the label, the problem persists, that of a mainstream media that decides how any given issue is going to be presented to the American people.
Mark Lloyd
In the media tent outside the Democratic National Convention, a panel sponsored by Common Cause addressed the impact of mass media on public perception of issues like climate change, youth political engagement, and civil rights.
All the panelists faced the challenge of trying to reframe their issues in a positive light in the media. Gene Karpinsky, executive director of League of Conservation Voters, said that he works to make sure candidates are addressing climate change in their platforms and with the press. Heather Smith, executive director of Rock the Vote, tries to dispel the myth that youth are apathetic by replacing those images in the media with images of exuberant and engaged teens.
Mark Lloyd, vice president for strategic initiatives at the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, said that media coverage of civil rights hasn't progressed since the 1960s. "The big challenge that the media faces is that they are trapped in the notion that civil rights is the same thing as black people," said Lloyd.
Lloyd argued that turning a blind eye to inequality not only harms those being discriminated against, but it also creates the perception that we are living in an environment where race does not matter.
Heather Smith, Gene Karpinsky, Mark Lloyd, David Bennahum, and the panel moderator
"The fact that an African American is running for president is great," said Lloyd. "However, it does not mean that the struggle for equality is over. The media doesn't really cover the incidences of discrimination that happen on a regular basis across the country, and it creates a fantasy world where inequality isn't an issue anymore."
David Bennahum, the founder of the Center for Independent Media, observed that a common thread running through each panelist's account was "a recognition that the news shapes public opinion in this country." Traditionally, media bias has played a big role in shaping public discourse and thought, but new technologies and media have created avenues for many people to participate and create their own stories.
"Thanks to new media, we can present new, fact-based information about these issues that themselves potentially help to drive the conversation surrounding the news," said Bennahum.
All of the panelists cited stories of successfully promoting their issues in blogs and other non-traditional media outlets.
"These really are good stories," said Lloyd about the panelists' experiences. "Unfortunately, they're not stories that the media is set up to tell. I think that new media has the potential to change that."
This panel was held in the "Big Tent" in Denver. The Big Tent is a gathering of speakers and bloggers who discuss and distribute information regarding issues facing the candidates in this election and is not officially affiliated with the Democratic National Committee. For more information and live video streaming through the end of this week, visit www.bigtentdenver.org.
