JL 3

Two weeks back we talked about how some journalists are doing things differently. We listened to the NPR story about the high school football player who fasted during Ramadan and still endured grueling hours of practice. His dedication and commitment to both football (the American tradition) and Ramadan, the Muslim tradition was amazing. I'm not sure i would be able to do something like that.

The point is that that story and some of the others we listened to, focused on unique aspects of people's lives. they were not about the food, fun and festivals that Reisner tells us to avoid. They reported on a more personal level. As a reader, i understood the importance of Ramadan for these people. It wasn't generic. it was full of emotion and personality.

We also learned about the importance of code words. as journalists, we have to be mindful of what we say or write because different words have different connotations. Words like urban, suburban, ghetto - are all words we just throw around. we don't even realize what they mean. We need to be careful when writing because readers may take offense. if we think that the reader may be unclear about the meaning of he word, we should just scratch it all together. Other words on the list like Eskimo or Mulatto are words I've used, and i was surprised to find out their meaning.

That goes hand in hand with one of the readings about ethnic media. The 2004 article by Keith Woods about the "Latino" and "Black" vote was really helpful. He made a good point when he asked what the words really mean. He said that by grouping Blacks and Latinos by just color or ethnicity, you lose "the hint of nuance, intellect and free will". It's all grouped together, so we don't appreciate the "complexity we share". He said it's important to report on all sides of a story. Look at each group individually, and report about them fully, from all angles.

The article by Tom Huang and the multi-ethnic wave that led Obama to victory was very interesting. I did not realize the numbers of minorities that voted for him until i read it. I voted for Obama because he spoke to me as an individual. He was different form any other presidential candidate i had ever seen. He was smart, caring and actually had a sense of humor. The way he spoke about immigration and education, and a number of other things really caught my attention. I felt like he really cared. And most surprisingly of all, he was black! what?! I thought i would see a woman president before i ever saw an African American in office.

I remember my mom saying he would never make it. She was definitely skeptical, and although she'd registered independent, she leans toward the right. She told me that he's never make it because he was black. she was certain the old white guy was going to win.
I remember telling her there was no way McCain was going to win. I knew in my heart Obama would take it. I had never seen so many young people be so passionate about politics. I myself didn't care much for it until he came on the scene. He made look at politics differently. I became interested all of a sudden. I cared. I registered and I was extremely proud on the day i voted.

The percentage of voters in the article stunned me. To know that 67% of Hispanics, 95% blacks and % of the Asian community voted for him makes me realize how revolutionary he is. As the daughter of two Hispanic right wingers, it felt good to go against my parents' traditional beliefs, but especially, because it was for the right reasons! Like Huang pointed out, "he's the outsider that got in".

the article also highlights the growing number of Asians and Hispanics in this country. It's amazing to read that in 2050 there will be around 133 million Hispanics (making up 30% !) and 41 million Asians in this country.

ethnic newspapers and other publications, as we have learned, are a link between the people in those communities. The Miami Herald Article about foreign language newspapers highlights the importance of ethnic/community papers. They are a networking vehicle, as well as a link to the mother country. They help individuals feel connected to their fellow countrymen.
The problems facing each community and each country are vastly different. These newspapers cater specifically to these groups and help them build a sense of community. They provide lifelines and crucial information about legal rights and job opportunities. Large National papers cant do this.

Papers like El Paracaidista provide Argentinians with educational opportunities that allow them to further advance their careers here in the states. these papers provide a sense of comfort and familiarity. They focus on local issues and highlight other locals' achievements.

The COLORLINES article titled Ethnic Media Grows up talked about NBC's acquisition of Telemundo. A study showed that one half of the people questioned preferred ethnic broadcasts or publications. It also revealed that 40% of them paid more attention to ethnic ads. So NBC has had a huge advantage over the past few years. By partnering with Telemundo they can reach out to the booming number of Hispanics in the country.


We saw all throughout the election process how news outlets advertised people's rights to vote. in the Hispanic communities, Latinos were urged to exercise their rights and let their voices be heard. In the black community, they highlighted the struggle of African Americans and urged them to become more active members in their communities. In the white media, advertisements catered to young college students, and asked them to exercise their rights.

So all in all, ethnic media touches people's minds and hearts. it links them to others like them and gives them a sense of community. It helps them cope in a world that at times may not care about their problems or even know they exist.