Demography and Mainstream Media

The level of attention a group/person attracts from the media somehow depends

on the ethnicity and status. Americans are obsessed with celebrities and their

Lifestyle. Celebrities attract almost all the attention from the media because that is

what the public is desperate to hear. Mainstream media tends to focus on the

negativity and instability that exists in ethnic communities. The crime rates in minority communities are obviously higher due to higher unemployment rates and the appalling conditions but the media focuses on the crimes that are committed by blacks and Hispanics. The issue of illegal immigration comes up anytime an undocumented worker is arrested for a crime. By doing this, the media encourages animosity and hatred towards immigrants and also instills fear in the public. The hard work that these people are made to do for lower than minimum wages are ignored; instead the media sometimes blames them for the current status of the economy.By constantly showing this to their audience, it enforces stereotypes against minorities. In the video below, ABC news shows the response the public has towards a black man and a white man committing a similar crime.The white offender receives very little confrontation and even makes it away with the bike but the black guy is immediately confronted and the by standers call the police.

 

The middle class and upper middle class tend to also get more attention from the media. Historically crimes that have white middle class a the victims tend to spark a media frenzy. Such cases stay on TV until the case is solved if possible. A very good example is the case of JonBennet Ramsey. The unfortunate murder of this adorable little girl shocked America and received extensive media coverage. Although this case is still unsolved, it still received a great amount of media coverage 10 years after the incident when a mentally unstable man confessed to the murder. John Karr was later released when his DNA did not match the one that was found on the scene.

The media is capable of influencing public opinion. They have the power to tell America what to believe, who to hate and even what to care about.