Midwestern: the new stereotype in the media world

We don't have a noticable northern accent. Nor do we have a southern drawl. We don't sound like we're from New York, nor do we sound like we're from the west coast.

Hiding away in the middle of the country, us "midwesternerns" are rarely stereotyped within the media world. However, just because we aren't often portrayed in films, on tv, or on the radio doesn't mean that we aren't left out of the media world all together.

According to midwestern Jim VandeHei who is noted in a recent article to be standing "poised to lead political journalism into what some believe will be the new frontier," midwesterns have what it takes to be leading journalists.

"VandeHei said his Midwestern upbringing has played a big role in his expeditious advancement through the political journalism ranks. He said he believes that Midwesterners have an edge in the profession as they tend to be hard working, have no ego and are used to having a beer and relating to people, a quality that he deemed necessary for a reporter."

While we may not be busy east coast people, beachy west coast people, or any other stereotype, it appears we are the hard workin-beer drinkin-no ego-sit down, relate to others- kind of people. And that is what brings us into the media world.

Needed: More African-Americans in the pressbox

According to moviemaker Spike Lee, African-Americans are not currently represented in the sports writing industry in proportion to how many African-Americans play sports.

And it's true. Looking at both the NFL and NBA, there are a large number of African-Americans on the field or court. But look within the pressbox. How many African-Americans are found there? Few.

"Right now there's a dearth of representation of African Americans in the sports
industry as far, as journalism is concerned.
Seventy-five per cent of the
players in the NFL are black, an even higher number of African Americans play
basketball, but, if you look in the press box and the magazines and the
newsrooms, you don't have that representation." ~ Lee

As a possible solution to this problem, Lee presented an initiative to Morehouse College. He was able to encourage them to open a new school of journalism in an effort to help newspapers reach an equality between the number of African-American sports writers and players. The school's open for students next semester.

Lee's movies have been brilliant, this idea is too.

Is Pelosi the new "Wicked Witch of the West?"

As Nancy Pelosi steps up at the speaker of the House, gender-based stereotypes are flying around. A Media Matters article draws attention to a few specific incidents.

"Now, we have the "Wicked Witch of the West," you know, Nancy Pelosi, who's
twisting arms and making, you know, having her aides making threats and stuff
like that." ~ Fox News' Special Report Roll Call executive editor Morton M.
Kondracke

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"Forget 'The Devil Wears Prada' the hot show in Washington is 'The Shrew Adores Armani.' In just a few short days, House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi has turned into a caricature of the shrill, petty woman boss." ~ Orin-Eilbeck in a recent New
York Post column

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And these are just a few of the incidents surrounding Pelosi and gender-based sterotyping. Orin-Eilbeck also admits to this sterotype and the grounds on which it is based.

"The stereotype of the woman boss as a self-centered witch on wheels who'll run
over anyone in her path has plenty of roots in American culture."

And it's true. This stereotype of a woman boss is historically common within work environments. And with Pelosi's new role as speaker of the House, these stereotype are being flung about more and more within the media world. Hopefully Pelosi will be able to show she's not the "self-centered witch on wheels" and that women are capable of anything.

Even after death...

Q. How equal are the death rates between men and women?
A. I guess about 50/50 and I'm assuming so did you.


Q. What percentage of printed obituaries are women's?
A. Looking at the previous answer, I guessed 50% and I'm assuming so did you. We're wrong.


Even after their death, women are suffering gender-based injustices. According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, 73% of the obituaries printed are men. Only 27% of women make it into the obit. section (and it's not because we live forever...'cuz we don't...)


Timothy McNulty, Tribune public editor gives several reasons for why men appear more often in the obit. section than women.

"An institutional bias toward writing about "men of
accomplishment" usually translates to those who were business executives...Great
wealth or social position is, of course, a straight avenue to the obituary page
because of fame or perhaps others like to be reminded that you cannot take it
with you...


Men tend to die earlier and in closer
relation to their life's work, an extremely accomplished woman may live decades
longer and her work may be a distant memory for those who loved and respected
that work or activity... In their retirement they may move far from the city
where they are known and recognized for their achievements."

But don't worry ladies...the future looks optimistic and soon this lop-sided percentage will even out. Even McNulty thinks so.

"Until several decades ago, it was mostly men who decided what achievements
would be recognized and defined what was success. Though it may be small
comfort, that is changing and the names and faces in obituaries of the future
will reflect, I suspect, a different society."

"Borat": socially progressive or reactionary?

As the film Borat debuted last weekend, it quickly became a success. #1 at the box office, it made $26.4 million.

As with many other comedies, this movie "speaks the unspeakable" as it satirically attacks problems within American culture, placing an emphasis on intolerance.

"A few scenes--including a fight between two naked men
that even the "Jackass" guys wouldn't attempt--set aside cleverness for some
easy comedy, but they're few and far between. "Borat" doesn't mock the victims
of prejudice but the intolerance itself, calling out bigotry and stripping it
naked in a way that somehow never seems self-satisfied." - Matt Pais in his "Fast-Paised
review: 'Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation
of Kazakhstan'" for the Chicago tribune

As with any comedy that takes specific aim at something, there are critics questioning whether this movie is socially progressive or if it's merely reactionary. How 'bout you go see the movie...and decide for yourself.

I don't know about you but if I was the pheasant lookin' up at this...I'd be runnin away like a chicken with my head cut off (quite literally if I didn't move quick enough).

I was browsing through the Des Moines Register Online's pheasant huntin' album and ran across this picture. After my weekend at home doin' the same thing as the giant in orange holdin' the dead bird, I got to thinkin'.

With this sort of perspective, no wonder those pheasants are scared of us. Not only are we going to kill 'em and eat 'em, but the discourse of this picture proves we're big and scary too. I bet the huntin' dogs ain't no treat for the lil birds either.

Discourse and the streets of New York

Everybody knows (or should know) that photos portray a certain discourse. The photographer is inviting you to look at the dominant reading. So when photographer Jeff Mermelstein snaps odd pictures from around New York City...what's his point?

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The pictures refuse to load for me...so go check 'em out yourself. Just do it.
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Mermelstein takes you on a tour of the city while looking at the ground. For example (if you didn't go check out the pics - you won't know what I'm talking about), the picture taken in the Flatiron District shows a burning shoe on the street (don't worry - nobody's foot was in it). What the heck is he trying to prove?

"I'm interested in things on the ground

-- the whirlpool of chaos on a street corner."

-Mermelstein

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There you have it folks, the dominant reading of this text straight from the photographer's mouth. The burning shoe is representative of "the whirlpool of chaos on a street corner."

I'm not sure that's what I got out of it...but you can make your own choices.