Different people depending on perspective can define diversity differently. Diversity in terms of news delivery can be viewed within the framework of existing institutions (i.e. current news operations such as Viacom, Time Warner) or it can also be examined through the lenses of power. Who ultimately owns and controls the news delivery mechanisms?
Community-based newspapers and other media operations may prove to be the most valuable asset that average folk have in their quest to obtain socioeconomic justice and power in their own backyards. Often times it is difficult for people to truly understand and relate to the poor immigrant and their cause or the low-wage laborer wanting to unionize their workplace, for example. Access to the Internet allows the average person an ability to organize and mobilize masses of people around a particular cause.
However, true power, by my definition must encompass ownership and control of resources. Point being, marginalized communities are yet to realize fundamental control/ownership of a significant number of news media outlets. While the internet begins to level the field, especially in the context of a global economy, there is still a long way from realizing such power.
Eric Gutierrez
Cerritos, CA
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
I hear you. Diversity opens a whole bag of issues and grievances, frustrations and hopes. I will blog about this on my own, but I agree that recognition of who is in power, who controls the resources to communicate news and stories, and what it will take for marginalized communities to reach equity lies below this thing we call diversity.
ReplyDeleteThroughout history, the printed press has been a way for unions, women, communities of color, immigrants to organize and educate. One would think the internet will be the next form of communication to empower the marginalized groups. There is great potential for that as 1) little or no cost to maintain, 2) immediate and unbound geographically, 3) the younger generation has access to this technology somewhat regardless of race and socio-economic background. We don't know what/how this will be achieved, but the work we do in the class/newsrooms will contribute to it.