Race relations news on most local newscasts consists of police scenes where a robbery, shooting or murder has occurred. That seems to be the standard. Isn't there more going on than these negative episodes?
Until a standard segment on race relations that address a broad array of issues becomes a regular part of the local and national news as sports and the weather, we will forever be content to think that such episodes define entire communities and groups of people.
This is not only what is covered on local news but on the national level as well.
There is a great deal of coverage of high profile acts that seem to be racially motivated. We all remember the Trayvon Martin killing in Florida, which was the center of demonstrations, hearings, and television talk shows for weeks on end. The trial of George Zimmerman, the shooter, had a spot on the Evening News until the verdict was rendered.
Whenever there is a racially-motivated beating, killing, or other actions in a community, at a social gathering or wanton graffiti and racial slurs glaringly displayed, major media rush to report it. There are so many examples we can recall that have occurred in recent times.
Many of us likely remember the wanton killing of a Muslim mother of five in California. The killer or killers left a calling card imploring the family to get out of America.
Then, there was the senseless killing of a black man in Mississippi who happened to be walking to a convenience store when he was beaten and run over by a pick-up truck driven by white teens who were looking to kill a "Nigger." They found an innocent unsuspecting black man, and killed him.
But where is the ongoing conversation so such incidents will not be repeated in the months or years to come?
During the last several months, we are seeing more and more racially-infused incidents on our college campuses, involving future generations that will be our leaders for tomorrow.
There are so many other low profile incidents, those that do not make national news, that are occurring on a daily basis in communities all across America, involving people of all racial and ethnic groups.
Until we are willing to take inventory on an individual, group and societal level, of all those factors – factual and fictional – that shape our attitudes and actions as we interact with others who are different from ourselves, race will continue to be used as a divisive and destructive force.
Incidents that would otherwise be considered as everyday encounters and common conflicts take on a life of their own, fueled by the stereotypes and labels that we hang on to and allow to order our world view. Do we care whether they are accurate or inaccurate? Are we afraid to examine their veracity, for fear it might lead us out of our comfort zone, shatter the monochromatic world to which we predictably retreat?
How can that conversation occur in family rooms, around the dinner table, in classrooms, cafes and clubs if we are to move beyond the labeling and stop falling into the same old perennial cycle of accusation and denial about the state of race relations in our neighbors, communities, cities, our nation?
Would a regular segment on the evening news that covered more than who shot John or robbed Peter be of value as a source of education and enlightenment?
What do you think?
Comments
A special segment, weekly or monthly
A special segment that is weekly or monthly might be appealing. Look at what attention was brought about when NBC Dateline news started to do their "To Catch a Predator" series. I think a special series of news that features events and stories around the nation that focus on improving race relations. Not scandalous news about hate crimes, but things being done to educate and to make changes. This could be a positive uplifting and inspiring way to encourage people to see and do things differently.
To some extent, I agree with
To some extent, I agree with you. The special segment should be either weekly or monthly. Through this, the matters up for discussion in the news should be weighty and fully concentrate on issue relations. However much the government is determined to end racial discrimination, these issues are not many to the extent that they could be aired daily. Furthermore, by having them once a month, they could attract the viewership of many people
I agree that a weekly or
I agree that a weekly or monthly special would be a great way to give Americans some lighter and more positive news while not boring them with a segment on race relations every day. If it is only once a week or once a month, it would be something that people would look forward to watching to see the positive things that are happening in the world today relating to race relations.
The term "To Catch a Predator"
Even the term used by the news is considered traditional journalism. It is highlighting the word "Predator", predator in the dictionary means 2 things: 1. an animal that naturally preys on others. "wolves are major predators of rodents" 2. a person or group that ruthlessly exploits others. "a website frequented by sexual predators". When the news says "To Catch a Predator" they are using words like "monster" or that the person isn't a human being. Is this really what we need to hear about a person, give us the facts with using words to excite us and pass judgement before the story even starts.
I personally do not think
I personally do not think that such issues should be accorded a regular slot in the evening news. However much our country is dedicated to end racism, there are some mechanisms that can be employed and have a more effective impact than giving it a slot. As a matter of fact, there are several issues in America that are important. If people argued that they all get some airtime during the evening news, then chances are that the news would take a lot of time. The most important thing the Government should do is to toughen the rules pertaining to racism issues. The culprits should face more tough rules as this may scare the potential racists. It is not true that by having such segment in news daily will be effetive, since it would be difficult to change a person's perception to racism
Building off of some of the
Building off of some of the comments about the news not relating to today's youth, I think that race relations should get it's own primetime special. During the special I think networks could focus on individuals who are working against stereotypes and to improve current racial situations, especially younger individuals.
True
Yes i believe this can be the only way that people can actually get the information through without crime going up. To power the youth is to put hope into our young so that they will not grow up and learn to hate.
How many people know about
How many people know about what is going on in the Ukraine right now?
I assume not a whole lot.
The problem with the news here is that they focus on what is going on within the borders of the United States. They don'y pay much attention to what is going on in the world - at least not permanently. They rather concentrate on who killed whom or what ethnicity the culprit belonged to. This pokes discrimination as it sure not helps to refute people's stereotypes.
The news should rather spread out what things are happening around the world - important negative stories but also positive ones supporting that not the whole world has gone bad. It is not all about murder, robbery, and who belongs to which ethnic group. Rather, the daily news should be about who is fighting where for freedom or their rights, what political issues are going on - national as well as international.
I never looked at it like
I never looked at it like that, the news broadcasts most of the time being within our own borders that is. Seems like the only time you do see anything international is when it involves negative stories such as when it hurts the US. I agree, the news should spread out events throughout the world at least dedicating one broadcast a day or even a week about what's going on overseas. That way we as a nation do not seem so self involved like what I am sure most other countries think anyway.
Eaither way
This could go either way because too much of something could come back and hurt people by inspiring others to come back because a hate crime was committed near by. So making this a daily thing could cause consequences but it all depends on the way people view the messages.
- I'm just sayin
I rarely watch the news
I rarely watch the news anymore because of the rarity of good events being reported. The only things i ever hear about in the news are rapings, murders, genocide, natural disasters, etc. If the news reported some of the positive things in daily life such as upcoming organizations and other happenings with positive outcomes i would be more heavily inclined to watch the news.
I also don't watch the news
I also don't watch the news much because everything is a constant negative story. If I do ever sit through the news, it's to see the story of the one good thing that happened that day. News channels do typically highlight one short positive story. But the problem is that the one story they show is very short. It lasts less than 30 seconds while a three minute conversation goes to a single negative story.
I totally agree. The lack of
I totally agree. The lack of positive news makes it not as interesting to watch because all you hear is how bad the human kind is anyway. Additionally, I think it is already enough to read about celebrities in journals and magazines as that we have to hear more about their deeds and stories every night in the news. Instead of such - kind of superficial - themes, reports of stories with negative outcomes should become more common. I'm sure it would change and improve people's view about one another and the world at least a little bit.
Same applies to me for real I
Same applies to me for real I rarely watch the news because to the large extent news use to deal with positive episodes than negative ones, so at least they could be positive things appearing there in the evening news which can make people even be more interesting on watching news even those concerning with race relation, and not always the crimes at they use to be. That could make even me, myself being interesting on watching evening news
it could be anythng
I agree with a lot of everyone on the page. In my eyes I agree we should cover more racially motivated stories whether it be bad or good. Whether it's interesting or not, people will see it. I think that if more people are aware of the problems going on in their community and country, the better understanding we all can have of one another. It's 2014 and people really feel like nothing has changed, but it has, there's no way it hasn't. Like I said its my opinion. Now I can also say that too much negative coverage over racist acts can be detrimental to what everyone's trying to steer away from in the first place. It may add fuel to the fire of racist people, because whatever is covered enrages them, or makes them happy. On the other hand it could help those people and maybe shed light onto another cultures struggles and show them that we are all alike. So in general I don't think a little more coverage on the local and national level would be a bad idea.
present, but not exclusive
I also don't think that race relations needs its own segment.
There are already lots of things out there that has the same need to be debated.
Race relations could be included in a "good things happening" highlights in order to creat a positive reinforcement about the topic, but maybe not as a exclusive thing.
For my side It is true and
for my side It is true and wise enough to give a wide chance on race relation to appear in evening news like sports and weather, and not only in a negative side like the robbery, murders and other things related to that t race relation issues but to consider also the race relations on a positive way. and involve even conservation in the shows that will keep on educating people about race relations.
''News''
Are the new important today? I think that most that new do is to create fear into society. I dont mean that is not right to show what is going on everyday at the streets because that is a part of reality, but there are also many things that news does not show that could be even more important than things that they show. It is because of the ''rating''. Rating is money and its proved that guns, murders, sports and foolishness is what people like the most. But what about issues with education at some poor zones that causes a low quality of educated people who are raised to be gangsters, murders, or convicted.
The racism starts with a low quality of education, then people that collect hatred because of the bad salary and long days at work to finalize with the kinds of crimes that are showed in the article above.
I do not support the work that news are doing today. they are taking advantage of this name (News) to show to socity what is not actually the real news. We need to stop these kind of entities that only care about money over the real importance.
since racism isn't really
since racism isn't really illegal, i don't think there should be a regular "news story" about it, i just don't think it would be effective, but i do think that there should be more awareness
Seeing this on the news a
Seeing this on the news a little bit at a time would help us realize how much of the race issue that we have. Like someone said earlier, we have habits and those are hard to break. Most people freak out and get stressed when you have to go out of your "norm" or even better comfort zone. Personally I don't like going out of my comfort zone because I know what it is and how far I can go without crossing it.
Disagree
Anything race related, even if its a hint of expressing an issue is caused by racism, sparks outrage. It is such a sensitive topic that instead of trying to find ways to fix issues, people become defensive and shut down when they hear about racist issues. Creating a news segment showing the world the racism that occurs, I feel might back fire since not every one feels the same way about racism as those who are aware of it.
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