Covering Hate - What Role Should Local Media Play?
Submitted by Kirthi Nath on March 9, 2010 - 11:41am
What role does local media play in addressing intolerance and hate crime prevention? In the past few weeks, we’ve seen three stories where media coverage took very different positions on addressing controversy and sparking conversation about these issues.
An anti-immigrant op-ed piece entitled “
Mexican Roundup ” that referred to immigrant children as “anchor babies”
appeared in a Manassas, VA newspaper last week. Dexter Fox, Chair of Unity in the Community of Prince William County found it “a provoking example of blatant intolerance given significant space on the opinion page by the editors.” His response is posted on the
Unity Group Page .
A different kind of local media action emerged in Grant County, Oregon last week. Responding to widespread concern about plans by the Aryan Nations to relocate its national headquarters to the small town of John Day, the local Blue Mountain Eagle newspaper sponsored two town hall forums where people could discuss the issues. The paper presented
live streaming of the forums on its website.
In Fort Collins, the local newspaper
The Coloradian presents regualar
OP Eds written by
NIOTA members that promote diversity and taking a stand against hate and intolerance.
What role is your local news outlet playing?