Month: March 2010

The Power of Headlines

jkwami / / Uncategorized

It can be scary to wonder how much the media actually affects our views of news topics.  When we pick up newspapers in the morning, we are putting ourselves at the mercy of the editors.  Unlike other media forms, the newspaper has only one front-page with a limited amount of space.  The newspaper decides every day what the most important headlines are, and place them in front to be seen instantly.

Does this mean that a breach of airport security on the front-page is more likely to receive an emotional response than one on the back? Absolutely.  Newspapers have the valuable power to decide what is important.  Coverage of terrorism since the 9/11 attacks has been a striking example.  Gloomy headlines dominated the 2000’s while America struggled to cope with the new War on Terror.  It almost seems as if the word terrorism warrants a story automatic front-page status.

Despite the proven fact that we live in arguably the most peaceful time in human’s existence, one would rarely know it with the blitz of media coverage.  Death and violence are given a priority in news coverage, which results in the overload.  Terrorism fits this category like few others can, and thus, makes it to the front for all to see.  Unfortunately, there isn’t really a quick solution for this skewed perception.  After all, it would be unfair to downplay the suffering of victims in acts of terrorism.  Perhaps, one can conclude that this will be one negative consequence of improved news coverage worldwide.

The overlooked majority

jkwami / / Border Control

How many people today do you think read a newspaper? More than you think. According to Vivian, approximately 116 million Americans read one every day, nearly one third, and that doesn’t even account for the immense number of people reading an RSS feed from the Times. Regardless of the mode of delivery, when there is a major incident breaching our national security, it is fairly consistently printed in nearly every newspaper, nationwide.

Today, this article was about the terrorist attacks against the Moscow (Russia) Metro system. As some of the worlds worst offenders for being cultural imperialists, the articles generally twisted to the “What if: Securing America’s Subways” piece, covering New York and Washington DC, and their efforts to avert a similar attack locally.

With all the focus on the most recent attack on Russia, and what US airports will be first implementing the full-body scanners, you have to turn to more narrow casted (localized) newspapers to find out anything pertaining to the physical borders of this country. Some news is alarming. Searching for local news yielded one article warning of a budget cut for port security in one of the most critical areas of the country (the New York Tri-State area) and another about a new building at the border. If Americans are cultural imperialists, the airports are the subject imperialists of this topic.

Rarer even, are those articles in praise about National Security, the headlines always go to the screw-ups, and whatever is the most visible on a daily basis. This leaves the land and ocean borders out of the news, and honestly is not a good thing. These crossings account for most cross border traffic, and are (and have been exploited) as our weak points, and need some more attention if we want to truly keep our borders safe.

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My hometown’s port, which is secured by the department of homeland security, through special funding and a specialized zodiac boat to the local police department

Newspaper Coverage of Airport Security

jkwami / / Uncategorized

Airport security topics are portrayed in newspapers very similarly to how they are viewed on television, as discussed in the last blog post.  Newspapers, too, criticize the main difference is that newspapers provide more specific and sometimes witty headlines.  Here are some just to name a few from USA Today and the New York Times:

Congestion and Other Terminal Illnesses

Spring break travelers face new airport security rigors

New air scare brings renewed travel hassles

Body scanners key to anti-terror plan

Most of the titles shown above give readers a clear idea of the outlook of the article which is how security is such a hassle. However, one article I found served as kind of a public service announcement for the Department of Homeland Security.  It was organized so that almost the entire article was a quote from Janice Napolitano, the secretary of Homeland Security.  In it she explains the reforms and improvements being made in airport safety.  Unlike most commentaries that render air travel as a bother, this one attempts, probably by request of the Department of Homeland Security, to reassure travelers that airport security measures are a top priority on both national and international levels.

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Security procedures for air travel are also covered in newspaper articles for the sake of the traveler’s interest about a certain destination or possible setbacks.  Many articles in the “Travel” section of newspapers deal simply with how specific airport are with timeliness and safety in order to give travelers a heads-up about delays, etc…

Arizona Newspaper Exposes those who Hire Illegal Immigrants

jkwami / / Uncategorized

The Sonoran News newspaper, in Cave Creek, Arizona, exposes the illegal immigrant issue in an a new light; instead of blaming the illegal immigrants, this conservative newspaper speaks out against illegal immigration through exposing those who use illegal immigrant work.  Reporter for 12 News, Veronica Sanchez, claims that, “publisher Don Sorchych isn’t going after the laborers, he’s taking pictures of people who pick up illegal immigrants for work”.

wooooooot

Don Sorchych claims two reasons for exposing the hirers:

1. Those who hire illegal immigrants are breaking the law.

2. He also “has been taking pictures in response to a federal judge’s decision to strike down the town’s anti-solicitation ordinance, allowing people to gather at the church and look for work”.


While Sorchych has the support of some locals, others believe that his tactic of exposing those who hire the illegal immigrants is not only an “invasion of privacy”, but that also “it creates tension in an already racially divided town”.

In relation to the national debate over the threat that illegal immigrants are for national security, publishers like Sorchych are seemingly unimportant because they only have the power to persuade those who read their newspapers.  However, it is the combination of these small publishers that effect the general public’s opinion on exactly how much illegal immigrants can threaten national security.

Influential Factors in Newspaper Coverage of Immigration

jkwami / / Immigration

Immigration is one of the most frequently discussed issues in the news today, with large portions of newspaper and other mass media coverage devoted to this topic. In 2009, it was the 5th most reported topic in United States newspapers, comprising 2% of the newshole for newspapers nationally. However, a great deal of newspaper reporting on immigration is often biased, and recent studies have found that a variety of components can influence both the extent of this bias and the amount of coverage dedicated to immigration issues.  Some of these influential factors include:

  • Proximity to the US border
  • Profit-making goals of the newspaper
  • Political agenda of the newspaper or reporter
  • Personal biases and experiences of the reporter

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These studies have found that newspapers based out of cities closer to the US/Mexico border tend to show immigration in a more negative light in news stories, cartoons, and published opinion pieces.  These newspapers also have significantly more coverage of immigration issues overall, presenting it as a much bigger problem than newspapers from cities far from the border. Economic concerns can also contribute to newspaper coverage, as papers tend to focus more on “sensational topics such as violence and crime” (Branton and Dunaway) in relation to immigration in order to sell more papers. Finally, the personal beliefs, goals, and experiences of reporters themselves can have a strong influence over how skewed newspaper coverage of immigration is. It is important to keep in mind the factors influencing newspaper coverage of immigration when reading articles about this topic.

Is Television Being Fair to Airport Security?

jkwami / / Uncategorized

Airport security has been one of the hottest domestic topics of the past decade for the U.S.  Controversey can be found in just about every corner. The 9/11 terrorist attacks forever changed the way airlines would operate when conducting security. What used to be a going-through-the-motions ordeal has transformed into hour-long lines where even a small bottle of water can get you into significant trouble. Because of these measures, the American public expects airports to be near perfect in preventing illegal items on our airplanes.
Any time there is even a minor mistake the television industry is quick to report. Because the public remains sensitive to potential terrorist threats, they are very likely to tune in when a security blunder occurs. Let’s face it: there is no benefit to report on print that the JFK Airport had a successful day in preventing any threats from making it onto a plane.


When we expect perfection, there is no way for these airport security teams to win. While it is of considerable importance to keep these planes safe, it would be great of television to, perhaps, take a step back. It already takes an enormous amount of technology and manpower to bring security to the level it is today, which equals to quite a price tag. Until there is another breakthrough in scanning technology, you still have to account for rare cases of human error.

The Silver Screen, the Flat Screen and the Government

jkwami / / Border Control, Uncategorized

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from the show The Border‘s homepage

The television often romanticizes the idea of an international boundary, be it a fugitive seeing freedom across a rural border crossing into Mexico (countless movie plots), crossing a frozen upstate New York lake to smuggle in illegal immigrants or a car thief weaving through a shipping yard, so as to close the container full of stolen cars before the Police are able to recognize which container is his. Maybe its for that that you feel a bit of adrenaline upon seeing the almost standard “Halt” sign at any given border crossing. Nonfiction shows on this subject are, as with anything produced by the mass media carefully modified and tweaked to achieve the individual producer or parent’s agenda, and needs to be carefully analyzed.

While the silver screen is slightly removed from reality, there are plenty of nonfiction TV shows that have to do with border crossings. Educational cable channels such as Discovery, National Geographic or TLC have even gone as far as to launch entire series on the war that is border security. Customs and Border Patrol, the national agency for the security of our borders has partnered with National Geographic to launch a series called Border Wars with wild success. This series showcases several different duties of a Border Patrol agent, and is edited and composed for the highest ratings. Even CBP’s press release indicates that they have put their own spin on the show.

National Geographic is not the only network to feature border patrols in their line up. However, in googling “TV shows border patrol” there are two other specials from National Geographic, and then several from Discovery Networks (including TLC, its child) as well as a Comedy Central project, and a series from New Zealand. The only other American nonfiction series comes from ABC, which is a broadcast network, as opposed to the other pay networks. This show is produced with cooperation from the US Department of Homeland Security (which is a parent of CBP) and has been billed as propaganda and has had overall very lukewarm response. Unfortunately, despite being more diversified than the usual US/Mexico border patrol episode, it is still sensationalized enough to stimulate ratings and blur the truth.

Although featuring the issues on land and marine border crossings may raise awareness, it can highlight weak points to those looking to exploit it. While it certainly isn’t like the fictional tunnel that goes from Mexico to the US like you see in the 2009 film “Fast & Furious” that can be accessed before the US Border Patrol is able to pull up the camera feed, it can be used by both sides, friend or foe. What I would like to see, is for an organization like factcheck.org to go through the show and tell us what it is really like on the front lines.

Inconsistent Television Coverage of Immigration

jkwami / / Immigration

In the past, televised news was seen primarily as a source of information, usually about politics and other recent events that could affect the audience. Now, however, this conception has become blurred with entertainment, as the evening news shows a much wider variety of stories. Many of the events that are now considered “newsworthy” are less substantial and more entertainment-based than earlier stories. Events such as immigration, which could fit under the traditional conception of news, are often pushed aside and covered only sporadically in favor of less serious stories that could interest a broader audience. This inconsistent coverage makes it difficult for viewers to fully understand immigration.

immigration_big_story_timeline

Even when more serious stories are discussed, television reporters often focus on the more entertaining, less political side of these issues. This trend can be seen as many news reports emphasize the personal side of immigration, telling listeners entertaining stories about illegal immigration rather than simply explaining recent events in Congress. The CNN report “Illegal Migrants Chase Wages” is an example of this, as the reporters focus not only on the actual problem, but also on the ways in which people were personally affected by it. Similarly, the report “Star Student is Undocumented” also follows this trend, as it discusses something that does not directly affect viewers, but that the audience might find interesting and entertaining.

These types of stories have much more entertainment value than a dull report about immigration reform recent bills presented in in Congress, thereby drawing in more viewers and increasing people’s awareness of this issue. Still, they also contribute to the inconsistency in television coverage of immigration, as they are primarily entertainment sources rather than informative reports. If televised news used these kinds of stories to catch people’s attention in addition to presenting relevant political information, the public would be much more knowledgeable about immigration as a whole.

Importance of Television Coverage of the 2008 Presidential Debates

jkwami / / Uncategorized

In the 2008 elections (McCain vs. Obama), television played a crucial role, as not only a source of

information and news, but also a source of persuasion.

With issues such as immigration on the agenda, the Presidential debates are a source of much controversy.  The medium of television has become a very popular enabler for voters; it has given citizens the ability to asses both political parties’ arguments, while also qualifying their personal charisma.

yeah


In the 2008 Presidential Election:

56.5 million viewers watched the final Presidential debate

Approx. 70 million viewers watched the Vice Presidential debate


Not only is a mass media reached during the debates, but politicians also use television commercials to reach voters.  Even those candidates who did not represent their party in the presidential debate voiced their opinions on immigration through television advertising.


Ron Paul TV Ad: Immigration

Television has become an essential component to the election process.  Without it, not only would far fewer citizens know the stances of the running politicians, but they would also not be able to see the charisma of the candidates; both of these elements are arguably a necessity for making an informed choice in selecting the next President.



Airport Security Held Accountable Through Television Report

jkwami / / Uncategorized

SchipholAirportAmsterdamIssues with airport security have gotten a ton of press in recent years. On television, each attempted terrorist attack obviously gets intense coverage which, in turn, keeps airports on their toes. For example, Schiphol Airport from which the Christmas day terrorist passed through got a wake up call to tighten their safety measures when they saw a report on television specifically directed at their inspection of liquids at security check points. An undercover operation was exercised where liquids planted by the reporters again passed through security even days after the Christmas day attack. When this story aired on television the Dutch airport made sure to strictly enforce security inspections to avoid gaining a worse reputation. This television report was very informative and helped improve airline safety—technically on an international level.
News on television usually has the reputation, especially on the local level, of covering “bad” news such as murders, robberies, etc. On a national level, the main stories tend to be about politics, celebrities, and national “bad” news, which definitely includes various national security breaches. As we have discussed in class media holds people and businesses accountable for their every move. In this case, a news story on television held Schiphol Airport responsible for a major attempted terrorist attack and called them out when they did not make much needed changes in their security.