racism withnin the media
...imited changes have occurred in a few media organizations such as the Toronto Star, City TV and the CBC, the major media corporations across this country have demonstrated massive resistance to employing people of colour and First Nations People in their organizations. [2] Media images, stories and language carry powerful but coded meanings and messages. “Media stories are often filtered through a White, male, middle class or corporatist perspective. Journalists’ own limited knowledge and interaction with minority communities leads to basic, and inaccurate depictions of complex social, cultural, and political issues.” [3] The news whether in print form or electronic has one main function, it is supposed to educate us on all of the currents events occurring in our city or in our country. Every newscast is usually comprised of gang shootings or violence, drugs, murders, kidnappings and overall crime. Majority of these incidents are traced back to a person of minority or colour. Its not often a story about a white person shooting up a club is seen on the news. Rather, it’s a daily occurrence to hear stories of gangs, drugs and murders involving people of a minority. The media has divided the working class and stereotyped young African-American males as gangsters or drug dealers. As a result of such treatment, the media has crushed these youths' chances for any future employment and or development. [4] The media tends to focus on the negative aspects of the black community and or minority groups with such stories as stories involving violence and overall crime. Movies are another from of media that promotes racial and ethnic inequalities when dealing with minorities. If they are not showing someone of Middle eastern decent blowing something up or taking someone hostage, they are showing black teenage males shooting each other, doing drugs, dropping out of school and living in the ghettos of their society. It is very seldom a movie is made that breaks the stereotypes of minorities. Is it so hard to produce a movie where there is no gang violence among blacks? “One of the main reasons for the inadequate coverage of the underlying causes of racial stereotypes in the Canada is that the condition of blacks itself is not a matter of high interest to the white majority.” [5] If this is true one should ask themselves, is this how blacks or other minorities want to be portrayed in the media? If not why do they support these movies by going to see them. If they are not interested in changing this, whose responsibility should it be? Television sitcoms are another form of media that does not help in promoting racial equality among minorities. Many of the sitcoms that are currently being aired involve white families where they live in a big house, mom and dad have good jobs, usually of high status, the son and daughter both attend school and try to be active members in their community. If a colored person was to be on this show they usually are portrayed as a lower class citizen or they play the role of a criminal. When there is a televisio...