The way Americans get their news has completely changed within the last 10 years.
Before the technology boom, those wanting to keep up with current events had very few choices. The local morning paper and network news were the only ways people could stay informed. But the creation of the Internet and the emergence of talk radio has forever altered the sources Americans use for hard news. We no longer are dependent on major media conglomerates to decide what stories are considered newsworthy.
The coverage of the recent protests about immigration reform in America as well as the labor riots in France are good examples of how the media don’t cover all sides of a story.
The magnitude of the Los Angeles protests to proposed congressional reforms on immigration took many by surprise. Public demonstrations have taken place in cities across the country but were off the charts in Southern California. The images were overwhelming as hundreds of thousands marched down city streets with flags and signs. However, it’s interesting to see what newspapers and cable news failed to show about these large protests.
Some of the banners held by the huddled masses were radical and should have been shown by the mainstream media. The protesters held signs with slogans such as “Indigenous people against white racists” or “Stop the Nazis,” according to La.indymedia.org. These individuals have every right to protest the proposed reforms with which they disagree, but it’s unfortunate that some chose to take to the streets only to bash Americans who want a secure border.
From the beginning, the American media seemed reluctant to report the entire story of the immigration protests. Most news outlets haven’t reported the fact that Hispanic disc jockeys, such as El Pistolero (Rafael Pulido), have been the chief providers of information to the Hispanic community about protests against the immigration bill, according to National Public Radio.
Additionally, incomplete coverage by the major American news agencies is not limited to the coverage of protests in this country.
The current labor protests in France have also garnered attention recently. Yet, the cable and network news programs once again put a biased spin on the situation. The media made the French government and police out to be bullying their citizens who are protesting proposed changes to the French labor laws, but they failed to provide details of how unbalanced French labor laws are to begin with. The legislation being considered in France would give employers more rights in regard to firing employees who don’t perform their duties, which is a right they should have.
The historical lack of power given to French employers over their employees is precisely why France has the highest unemployment rate in Western Europe – 22 percent, according to ABC News.
France, heavily influenced by socialist politics, is starkly different from what we have in capitalist America. Most French citizens enjoy generous unemployment benefits, government healthcare, early retirement and ample pensions. French employers are simply trying to level the playing field – this important information was left out by most of our news agencies.
It’s no wonder Americans have turned away from traditional news sources such as newspapers and network news and have embraced the Internet and talk radio for straight talk on world events. Newspaper circulation in particular has consistently declined in recent years.
According to the Newspaper Association of America, national weekday circulation fell 2.6 percent, and Sunday circulation fell 3.1 percent in the second half of 2005; even the progressive San Francisco Chronicle dropped by a whopping 16.4 percent during that period.
Cable news seems to have become obsessed with sensationalized stories that have little meaning to most people’s lives.
Shows such as Fox News’ “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” and personalities such as CNN Headline News’ Nancy Grace are only concerned with the latest missing person, rape or murder case.
The inability of traditional media sources to provide comprehensive, “no-spin” news has paved the way for alternative sources that will forever change the way Americans get their news.
-Jeff Bracken is a business management junior.
-This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed – include your full name, major and year in school.
