Table of Contents
Key Findings
Media Diversity Data Infographic
Media Consumerism
Another question we had for the community was how they consume their media. This is a critical step in understanding minority communities’ relationship with the media. Participants listed a vast amount of outlets that they use as sources of media including Television, Paper newspapers, Social Media, News in Spanish and Alerts. The community members expressed they find paper newspapers to be more reliable sources, such as biweekly newspapers they find in the market or other public spaces. In addition to this Latino community members mentioned the risk of bias within Social Media news sources which is why they consider paper news to be a more reliable source. Alerts like amber alerts and local updates via WhatsApp were also found to be a useful function to the community. Television was one of the main outlets of media for participants as both local, national, and international channels were mentioned in focus groups. The two main channels mentioned were Univision and Telemundo. There was also an overarching language preference for media in Spanish. Other channels participants watched to receive news including Local News, CNN in Spanish, FOX61, and more. These diverse methods of consuming media reflect the diverse culture that Latinos have and can benefit other news outlets like the CT Mirror to create more inclusive content.
Time & Frequency/Access
Participants also mentioned that because of the daily tasks of life, their time for news is very limited which influences their preference for short articles or videos that can be consumed while completing tasks throughout the day. Also, participants found convenience in news being at public locations such as the library and stores. One participant mentioned how they read a biweekly paper that’s available at stores saying, “I go to the bakery and [The Latino Identity paper] is available biweekly.” This accessibility of news is very important especially for Latino communities because of established systemic disparities such as linguistic practices in the media world and the neglect of Hispanics’ presence in media. Making these sources of media more attainable for community members benefits both media institutions and community members.
Media’s Effect on Minority Communities
Reflected in our research, findings navigate through the multifaceted ways in which media shapes the experiences, perspectives, and narratives within minority communities and how others view minority communities. When researchers delved into this complex relationship between these communities and the media, multiple factors contributed to the ongoing discourse of media representation. Participants mentioned mental health and representation being heavily influenced by the media.
Mental Health
Participants consistently articulated that media has a profound impact on their mental well-being, primarily by shaping their perception of the world through a predominantly negative lens. One participant stated, “Because of so many things you see in the news, many times human beings copy all that and they get sick, they worry, they keep all that in their mentality”. As previously mentioned, the prevalence of stereotypes in media emerged as a significant factor in representation and influencing how community members perceive themselves, with community members expressing “So sometimes all of that also makes us feel like, like, like it says that we are not, that we are not part of this community”. This assimilation of communities contributes to a notable decline in self-esteem. Moreover, participants revealed a tendency to internalize the negative portrayals presented in various media, particularly in social media platforms, which, in turn, manifested in a discernible deterioration of mental health. These findings illuminate the intricate interplay between media representation, self-perception, and mental health within the Latino community, emphasizing the urgent need for a nuanced understanding of these dynamics to inform targeted interventions and policy initiatives.
Representation
While on this research journey to gain a comprehensive understanding of media diversity within Hartford Connecticut, representation appeared to be a key factor in the relationship between minority community members and media. Many facets that make up the media contribute to the lack of representation that LatinX communities feel in the media including, false stereotypes and narratives that negatively shift the perception of minorities, lack of news coverage that community members would find useful and of direct use, and the distrust in both media and news reporters in how accurate they capture communities. Community members noted on the media and news they are depicted as a “drain on state benefits” and a source of crime. One participant shared their opinion on the negative narratives of Latinos saying “They draw us as criminals. Yeah, that’s what they do…when something bad happens, then they always put us like we come to do this evil, disaster” and expands their statement on how these narratives translate into real distrust, “Many times I have been told to go to the police and complain, but sometimes the distrust…sometimes they make us not trust them.” In all of the focus groups community members conveyed a desire for more coverage of school issues and children-related news. “I would be interested in a program about things where there are tools to get to know the children” a focus group member vocalized. Community members articulated an overall desire for more positive news correlated with the Hartford LatinX community members instead of the consistently normalized negative narratives they are tied to.
Story Concepts
When participants were asked, what stories they would like to see in the media, they expressed a multitude of concepts and topics that would be of direct use to minority communities in Hartford and the Frog Hollow area. Participants largely mentioned two main topics, resources for families and light news.
Resources for Families
Resources for families were a substantial concern and were continuously seen in each focus group. Topics participants mentioned regarding resources included, more coverage on educational access, legal support with immigration issues, employment opportunities, health insurance, domestic violence, and housing. These topics have close correlation and are actively impacting the Latino community. By covering these topics within the media participants expressed they would feel more represented in the media and would be more likely to engage with the media. A participant voiced their concern about the lack of coverage on resources for immigrants saying, “It would be very helpful to the community if I had consulted with an immigration attorney or a civil rights attorney.” This desire for more information and coverage on resources that could benefit Latino families not only shows how lackluster the coverage of resources for Latinos is but, also the sparse availability of resources for Latinos.
Light News
In addition to resources participants also mentioned the concept of light news. Light news is defined as bite-size daily news that can be consumed by the average user and applicable to the general public. Some topics derived from light news included beauty, food, and self-care. Some examples of self-care can include healthy regimens and other tasks that promote healthiness. One participant says, “Beauty news would be good…Tell us about Self Care“. This can be very useful to CT Mirror which is a politically focused paper and integrating light news can grant some duality and widen their audience even more.
CT Mirror’s Feedback
Researchers met with CT Mirror staff to gain insight and understanding from their perspective on the issue of Media Diversity and how their role as a state-wide media source can better resolve this conflict. Critical feedback was gathered from CT Mirror about, what media diversity means to the Mirror and its significance, CT Mirror’s experiences and contributions to media diversity, and their plans to evolve as an inclusive and diverse source of media.
Media Diversity to CT Mirror
The focus group conducted with CT Mirror yielded insightful findings that shed light on the organization’s perception of media diversity and its importance. Participants articulated a nuanced understanding of media diversity, emphasizing that it transcends race alone and encompasses a comprehensive range of factors such as age, location, diverse news coverage, and staff diversity. The acknowledgment of this multifaceted perspective aligns with CT Mirror’s commitment to being a diverse source of news. CT Mirror holds itself to higher standards, aspiring to be a more accurate representation of the state. A participant emphasized this stating “Our goal is to cover the state…[and] to have everyone in the state reading our work and using our work in their life” This ambition is encapsulated in the participants’ assertion that their goal is to cover the state comprehensively, ensuring that their work resonates with and serves every demographic within the state. Moreover, the participants highlighted the crucial role of media diversity in providing knowledge and tools to underrepresented communities. By doing so, CT Mirror aims to empower these communities, facilitating their interaction and enabling them to navigate institutions such as the government more effectively. These findings exhibit the intrinsic link between media diversity, organizational goals, and the broader societal impact of news outlets like CT Mirror.
CT Mirror’s Experience with Media Diversity
CT Mirror’s dedication to linguistic diversity was evident in its practice of publishing articles for its non-English speaking audience and its “Explainers” section as staff reports “We started publishing one article a week in Spanish.” Furthermore, the organization showcased a proactive approach to inclusivity by conducting listening sessions with community members across Connecticut. This endeavor not only underscores CT Mirror’s commitment to understanding the media preferences and interests of diverse communities but also its responsiveness to the unique issues and topics that emerged from these sessions. The incorporation of relevant topics that are substantial to minority communities into CT Mirror’s content was exemplified through a compelling series on issues such as evictions, the impact of COVID-19 on election rates, and coverage of the disenfranchisement of voters during the Bridgeport election. CT Mirror’s meaningful contributions to media diversity position the organization as a dynamic and responsive entity that actively incorporates the voices and concerns of diverse communities into its journalistic endeavors.
The future of the CT Mirror media landscape
Staff within the CT Mirror proposed numerous ideas and concepts to enhance diversity and ensure an accurate representation of the state. When queried, “What ideas or strategies could help the Connecticut Mirror become more inclusive and appealing to underrepresented communities?” key suggestions included implementing a more diverse distribution strategy and actively participating in community events. “ I would have a hard copy of our explainers, ensuring that we at least distribute something” said one team member of the CT Mirror about the desire to expand the brand’s distribution. Another member emphasized the importance of engaging with communities directly, suggesting, “Even if it’s not a daily newspaper or something that’s like, Here, here’s a QR code on this piece of paper, let’s go put these fliers out all around Hartford, Bridgeport or wherever. I think that would be cool to do.” Active participation in community events emerged as a significant strategy, due to its establishment of community relationships and proactive approach to understanding the communities being reported on. A staff member communicated this saying, “More of showing up…like they had a Juneteenth festival in Hartford this year where you could have a free table. Making more of those types of efforts of knowing the community is going to be there.” The CT Mirror had many other comments on strategies that could shape their ideal representative state paper like increasing social media presence, access to more effective marketing strategies, and more. The staff at CT Mirror has powerful ideas about diversity and yet also expressed challenges about achieving those ideas, and since they cover the state it is difficult to cover every community to the depth that they would like. Also, other factors such as staff and the sensitive timing of the news cycle make it challenging to bring depth to community-based stories. Staff limitations of attending community events across the state. They do have The findings drawn from the focus group conducted with the Connecticut Mirror indicate that the organization’s effort of diversity within their media is continuous and long-term which displays a genuine concern and passion for a diverse media landscape.