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Biased Media
The newspaper is one of the most powerful forms of media.
What the newspaper interprets about a particular ethnic group influences how they
are perceived. Therefore, when the newspapers continuously focuses on
negative reports about that group, they assists in reinforcing racial ignorance and misunderstanding. It distorts and perpetuates negative stereotypes about the group being portrayed. Every time I open a newspaper, I am bombarded with countless negative reports about black males. I am constantly reminded of the negativity from the continual negative images of them being dragged off to a police station in chains and/or handcuffs. One would conclude that crime was the only worthwhile report about black males. This is why it is undoubtedly clear that black males are generally depicted in newspapers as murderers and sex offenders.
Black males are represented in our daily papers as murders. Along with this stereotype, follows the nostalgia felt by people when they have come to associate a black male with negative propaganda. Consider the tremendous amount of newspaper coverage that the O.J. Simpson�s murder trial received on July 1994. The newspapers intentionally portrayed and described the two butchered bodies of the white victims, Nicole, and Ronald. By illustrating this image of two white and upper class people in connection with a black male, O.J. Simpson, an image of inferiority is created for all black males. The newspapers covered the trial for weeks showing distorted pictures of O.J. across their headlines. Consider the two Palatine murderers, a white male and a white-Hispanic male, I do not recall seeing their faces on the front covers of major newspapers. The only pictures that were shown were those of victims. What's the reason for this? Was it not worth the public�s awareness? Or is because the media did not want to put a distorted image out about white males? Whatever the reason, the photo of a black male is more likely to make the headlines than that of a white male. During the Simpson trial, his picture was always featured in newspapers. The newspapers chose to give full coverage of the Simpson trial, which perpetuates negative stereotypes about black males and labels them as people capable of committing murder rather than simply focusing on the crime.
What is the difference between a white sex offender and a black sex offender? Nothing! But the media depicts the two differently. I am not defending this atrocious act of defilement, but merely stipulating my observations on the matter. When the media found out about Michael Jackson and R. Kelly's allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor, they had a field day. There pictures made headline news. Despite the fact that they were still under investigation, not convicted, the newspapers depicted them as guilty. I was totally disgusted at the tactic used by the newspapers in validating their groundless reporting of the situation. On the other hand, Richard Baker, a white multiple sex offender, was giving a favorable coverage. Despite the fact that he violently sexually attacked twelve women in south and east sides of London and taking their money. His picture was rarely shown in the papers and when they were shown he was depicted as a "ladies" man, contrary to his crime. Although the Baker case had innumerable amount of evidence against him, he received a generous reporting compared to the Michael Jackson and R. Kelly's cases. Consider the recent revelation of child molestation in the church. The newspapers never published a single photograph of the pedophile priests. But did publish numerous photograhps of R.Kelly and Michael Jackson. These types of biased reporting keep stereotyping black males as sex offenders.
These biased methods of reporting attribute to the negative connotations associated with black males. The newspapers simply report what sells at the black males� expense, which subsequently affects the public�s view of them. These stereotypes continuously reinforce negative attitudes toward black males. The issue is not to condone criminal activities, but about combating the inequalities which exists between the two ethnic groups. The root of the problem stems from the misrepresentation and negligence of non-Europeans in countless societal engagements. In addition, the newspapers foster the misrepresentation and negligence. Until there is a seizure on falsified reporting of black males, they will never be adequately acknowledged and the negative cycle will continue. Everyone is her or his own individual and the community must reinforce this. The under represented communities must take a stand in the fight against injustices because as we all know, the media will never do anything to amending the problem.
by FA
