Term Paper on Media Analysis

The study of literature of different American, European and South Asian countries reveals that the media has very persistent role in either projecting or discarding a particular group or society. Latest of the events, having occurred at international level in post September scenario, confirm the above analogy. Electronic and print media, very successfully projected a view point of one particular group. Manifestation of media and discrimination shown by one race against the other race, hatred shown by one religion against the other religion lead us to conclude that people from minority group remained under represented and at times targeted on racial grounds.

Projection of Non-Dominant Group
Print and electronic media projected the Northern alliance divided in different factions of North-Afghanistan as the most powerful army of that region and successfully belittled the majority Pushtoon tribes of South Afghanistan, to give an impression to entire world that their allies are justified in claiming the apex slot of war – torn country. Persian speaking Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras remained on TV screen for most of the time to baffle the world and to some extent the Afghans themselves that they were the most legitimate and deserving candidate of president ship of Afghanistan. The ground reality was however different than what the media had been trying to portray.
 

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Henry Frances went on to say that “Press always feels free to critique other institutions but is resistant to criticism of their own standards and practices. The freedom fighting in East Taimur (ex-Indonesia) or blowing of matters regarding self created fears of “Anthrax” in American society are the examples of the fact that how media articulates negative effects and ideas about ethno-racial minority or spreads the unfounded wave of terror in people’s mind due to their erroneous assumptions.

Bias of Dominant Culture
The print and electronic media vehemently deny the existence of any kind of racism because for most of them, as a member of dominant culture, evidence of racial prejudice is never accepted. All such incidents are either dubbed as isolated one or these are attributed to their cultural deficiency. An example of such case can be found, if we trace the history of subcontinent, when people of Pakistan before 1971, avoided enrolling Bengalis to their Army due to physical and cultural handicap of the formers. But after the independence, same people i.e. Bengalis, formed equally good Army in Bangladesh. The similar example is quoted in case of community like African-Canadian, who are reflected by the media as they are prone to deviant behavior which can be described in following words “Political correctness is a term commonly used today by journalists, editors and cultural critics, among others, it is often employed to deride the aspirations of minorities” (Henry – Executive Summary).


Analysis –Oppression through Media
Electronic Media
American TV in the past used to be termed as “wasteland” but the popular series of Emmy Show has now turned the tables. The cheer and joy is there but top nominated programs as had been broadcasted recently showed Ally Mc Beal grappling with discrimination against women in the workplace. The Reality TV is however contributing very positively in providing real entertainment programs like Seinfeld and the Simpson are funny and depict life in quite a joyful manner. Similarly Party of Five is realistic and attracts teenagers. The series illuminates the human condition and was also nominated for 1996 Humanities Prize but the sitcoms shown on television have unfortunately one thing in common i.e. all the dramas are based on getting sarcastic against the woman folk. In another Black Fox Series (The price of the peace), the same theme works when local redneck bully attacks the local Indians due to his wife affairs. Reeve’s bitterness over what happened to his wife and use of objectionable language involving racism marks the drama series a typical case of perpetuating oppression and discrimination. Famous TV series “Black Harbor” too ends up in an awful manner, when characters seem bitchy, as if their underwear is too tight. Tonya Pendleton, a staff writer of BET. COM wrote about how, blacks were depicted in sitcoms i.e. Soul Food. “There is nothing like Soul Food the TV show ----- Network TV had never succeeded in bringing a black family drama to television instead they had concentrated on sitcom that were simplistic at best and downright embarrassing at their worst (Pendleton – 1998).

If the issue is stretched to blacks in sports, race, discrimination and class difference “bias” again becomes the dominant factor in media coverage. News stories about black athletes and sportsmen are framed in racial stereotyped manner. The news media treated Clem Haskin, Gophers the basketball coach (both blacks) differently from the way it would have treated them, had they been white sportsmen. The argument is further strengthened if viewed in the backdrop of opinion of panelist of the top ranking journalist i.e. Keith Harrison, Jay Weiner ex Star Tribune sports reporter etc. at Minnesota News Council and the findings they submitted in the proceedings of council. They opined:-
 

How Media Empowered Non Dominant Groups & Perpetuated Discrimination Ignored Cultural Groups

Main cultural groups which are believed to have been ignored by the media for several reasons are:
 

Small groups of Jews dwelling in Arab Yemen, Burma and India have been ignored by the media of their respective countries. Chechens, Talibans and Bosnian Muslim tribes have been discriminated in western media. Elevating Kurds in Iraq and Northern Alliance tribes in Afghanistan at different times by the West is another example of discrimination done to serve vested interest.

Down playing the heroic role of Kashmiri Muslims or numerous other examples of similar nature prove that media can very effectively be used to either elevate or down play the role / struggle of small religious / cultural groups. The Islamic media i.e. electronic or print have played negative role to undermine the sacrifices of American troops being given to promote perpetual peace and tranquility in different regions of the world due to which the Muslims all over the world are not ready to accept the view point of Americans.
 

General Reaction to Media’s Role
The whole American nation seems to be in the grip of terror harassment and fear of something unknown due to typical role played by print and electronic media of the world. Al Jazeera TV has kept the western media on toes, to continue hunting Osama Bin Laden in their channels to get the credit for reporting first, the news about mysterious character. I in my personal capacity blame western media for having failed to take the proper measure of public sentiments, as their every report about the ‘hidden enemy’ generated more fear then hatred. The media is similarly causing great damage to women folk, which is most of the time being brought on fluorescent screen to either sell a commodity or promote obscenity in a vulgar fashion through different x-rated programs. Western women, is today looking for its identity which she feels to have lost in the quagmire of media war. It is pity, that a woman who remains in the captivity of Talibans for months, embraces Islam on her return from Afghanistan, because she feels she was given extra ounce of respect by the war lords. Incidents of violence having occurred in America against isolated Muslims or foreign nationals are also an outcome of hostile propaganda aired through media windows.