What Exactly is Ethnic Media?

I didn't really know what "ethnic media" was, except for the fact that it was ethnic, obviously. I didn't realize the extent to which ethnic media plays a part throughout the country, and the world for that matter. Like we discussed in class, ethnic newspapers provide us with a true look at what different communities find important, from Seminole family gatherings to Jewish wedding announcements and even ads for Asian real estate agents. We don't realize the concerns of different communities until we get a good look at them up close. Even though what's actually published in a newspaper depends on the biases/priorities of the editors, it is definitely a good place to start researching when covering a particular area.


Our discussion raised a very interesting point: how much of a role does ethnic media play in perpetuating ethnic stereotypes? Well, the answer is somewhat complicated. The media should not perpetuate stereotypes. If they do, they're only adding fuel to a "racist" fire. People that have preconceived ideas about a certain ethnicity will only become more muddled if they are reading articles that seem to support those misconceptions. For example, if all people read about Cubans is terms like "rafters," or "exiles," that is all they'll  come to know about Cuban people. The same goes for Colombians. If all we read are stories about Colombian drug smugglers, than we'll continue to think of Colombians as drug users.

Therefore, the responsibility of the media is to report as fairly and truthfully as possible- the cultural events, political turmoil, entertainment pieces, crime, good deeds, everything! If this is not done, then all we'll get is a skewed view of how things really are, and what people really think about different issues.


I know it's easier said than done, but the effort has to be made.


Likewise, we have to make a greater effort to consult these ethnic media sources. Like Reisner pointed out, we can find great sources in these newspapers, which is something I have never considered. It's definitely a great alternative to only consulting the same experts time after time. Who better than those actually living and working in the communities we cover. It's reporting from the ground up.