Key Takeaways:
Representation matters:
- How, and how often, Latinx community is represented in news stories is important.
- Representation in news staff and visibility in Latinx communities is critical
- “Active objectivity” (Robinson and Culver) – acknowledge bias and power dynamics in reporting news.
Role of Local and Mainstream Media:
- Local media can combat stereotypes and promote diverse perspectives more effectively than large conglomerates.
- Large media outlets provide big picture but lack nuance Local news is a key part of democracy/access to power.
Evolution of Media Consumption:
- How news is consumed impacts how and what is reported – news is consumed on a personal level, often tailored to interest, interactive.
- News is mobile, shorter length, multiple formats (video, tweets, etc).
- Risk of misinformation – current platforms can be minefields of misinformation, eroding trust in news reporting.
Themes from our Focus Groups:
- Methods of Consuming the News
- TV: Univision, Telemundo.
- Newspapers (feels more reliable).
- Social Media (Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram, NewsBreak).
- Desire for reliable, unbiased news.
- Language: Spanish (CT Latino News).
- Alerts (from home country) and WhatsApp.
- Time/frequency/access
- Very limited time for news – need short articles or videos that can play while doing something else.
- Access to news through library (flyers, printed material), stores (biweekly).
- Representation
- Desire for more positive news from Hartford Latinx community.
- Hartford community portrayed as a drain on state benefits, source of crime.
- Distrust in media and news reporters in how they would reflect community/issues.
- Children and school issues.
- Effects of news on mental health/families
- Negative news affects personal and community health.
Themes from CT Mirror Focus Group
- What media diversity means to CT Mirror and why it is important:
- Not just diverse in race but overall diversity (age, location, topics, staff diversity etc.).
- Holding their title up to higher standards by being a more accurate representation of the state: “Our goal is to cover the state and if our goal is to have the state, is to have everyone in the state reading our work and using our work in their life”.
- Giving knowledge to underrepresented communities to further their interaction and navigation with institutions like the government.
- CT Mirror’s experiences and contributions to media diversity:
- Publishing articles in Spanish every week (which have proved to show some success: increased readership for explainer in Spanish before election night).
- Conducting Listening sessions.
- Discovering multiple issues and topics that are relevant to diverse communities and incorporating them into the CT Mirror:
- Series written on evictions and how election rates have increased since COVID.
- Disenfranchisement during the Bridgeport election.
- How they plan to continue growing their diversity in CT Mirror:
- Diversifying distribution.
- Going to community events.
- Other strategies (marketing, branching out social media, etc).
Table of Contents
Introduction
Media diversity is an important aspect of contemporary communication, and with a focus on local news outlets adds a nuanced layer to the discourse. Understanding the role of these local platforms becomes essential when the world around us has demonstrated the unique interconnectedness of people, places, and time. This literature review critically assesses the existing research regarding the role of media diversity in news platforms to understand the multifaceted implications of media diversity, specifically within the context of small local news outlets. By examining the available literature, we aim to use the unique contributions, challenges, and impacts of these outlets in fostering a more inclusive and representative media landscape with the assistance of our community partner, the CT Mirror.
Background
(Photo/Logo Source Courtesy: CT Mirror Website)
Connecticut (CT) Mirror newspaper history began in 2009, with “a small group of Connecticut residents, concerned about the decline in watchdog journalism, formed the
Connecticut News Project, Inc.” (CT Mirror website, About Us page). Although CT Mirror was established in 2010, the idea and mission began in 2009, after enough funding was secured, the Connecticut News Project was able to hire three veteran journalists and thus creating Connecticut Mirror. The CT Mirror office resides right in the Capitol of Connecticut, Hartford, and the company serves the Connecticut population. Keeping true to their mission statement of producing reports on housing, public policy, government, and more to the residents that live, work, and play in CT. The company’s CEO and publisher, Bruce Putterman, expressed to a cohort of student researchers, that CT Mirror’s audience tends to consist of white readership and the lack of diversity in readers is concerning. In order to fulfill their mission, the urge to address this issue was necessary. Since the company’s office is in Hartford, CT, it would be beneficial to research ways to better help connect CT Mirror with more diverse readers in Hartford, CT. With the success of this research, it could help spark CT Mirror’s interest to continue diversifying readership throughout the entire state of Connecticut.
Theoretical Framework
The concept of “hidden injuries” is something we leaned on while curating our research. It was introduced to us in the book “Media and Social Justice” and refers to psychological or emotional wounds because of systemic issues. These injuries are not visible or apparent like physical injuries, but they impact people’s well-being and functioning. Hidden injuries can become apparent from various sources such as social inequalities, cultural expectations, economic hardships, psychological pressures, and institutional factors. In the media, this can be portrayed as negative stereotypes being amplified through television shows or misinformation being spread on social media platforms (Couldry, 2011). Addressing hidden injuries requires systemic changes like creating policies that promote inclusivity and equality. Ultimately, understanding hidden injuries is crucial for creating environments that are supportive and empathetic.
The concept of “symbolic inequality” is closely related to that of “hidden injuries”. It refers to the unequal distribution or portrayal of meanings, symbols, and cultural representation within a society. It is the idea that individuals and certain groups of people have their own identities and experiences marginalized as opposed to dominant or privileged groups of people. It impacts the way individuals perceive themselves and shapes social interactions and identities (Couldry, 2011). To address symbolic inequalities, you must challenge biased representations and promote inclusive and diverse narratives. There must be an effort to challenge stereotypes, amplify marginalized voices, and foster accurate depictions of things like cultural symbols in the media, public discourse, and education.
This information was the backdrop for our project with the Connecticut Mirror because of how it impacts consumers of social media. A substantial portion of our research centered around how minorities are portrayed in the media and the consequences of this. Through our focus groups and while dissecting multiple journal articles, we concluded that minorities are less likely to seek out the news because of negative stereotypes and the lack of news being presented that pertains to their everyday lives. This information was crucial for our project when determining what the Connecticut Mirror could do to increase its minority viewership. Along with this, the book showed us that trust is a crucial part of news consumption specifically. If viewers do not trust the media outlet to report on their communities accurately, they will not seek it out.
Analysis of Research Gaps
There are several gaps and areas for contribution in the literature on media diversity that our research can address:
1. Inclusion and intersectionality: The literature highlights the lack of representation of diverse communities in mainstream media. Our research can focus on amplifying the voices and experiences of underrepresented communities, such as racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and individuals with disabilities. There is always room for expansion of knowledge when it comes to specific communities and how to better consider individual identities— for purposes of our project, this growth of knowledge would apply to Latino families and Spanish speakers.
2. Addressing systemic institution inequalities: Prior research discusses how a lack of institutional support perpetuates systemic inequalities in media. Our research, specifically our Q&A with CT Mirror staff, can explore strategies and policies that can help dismantle these barriers and create a more inclusive media landscape. This piece of our research also allows us to understand potential larger patterns in organizational barriers to diverse journalism.
3. Examining the role of new media platforms: Past literature acknowledges the impact of digital platforms and social media on media diversity, but further investigation is needed. Our research can investigate how these platforms can be harnessed to amplify diverse voices and challenge traditional media structures. We discussed WhatsApp and Facebook in class and in our analyses, so further references to the relationship between news dispersion and these platforms could be a useful takeaway from our sessions.
4. Understanding audience perceptions and preferences: The literature acknowledges the importance of audience engagement in shaping media diversity, but there is a need for more research on audience perceptions and preferences. Luckily, this is the crux of our research as we work on focus groups to form a gauge on what our target demographic seeks from news media. Our research can investigate how audiences interpret and respond to diverse media content, allowing for a better sense of their needs and interests.
5. Exploring nuanced regional and global perspectives on media diversity: Our findings can broaden the scope of regional perspectives on media diversity by examining both city-specific and global perspectives on media diversity, including the challenges and solutions implemented in different countries and cultures. The Latino population in Hartford, CT, for example, will have differing ideas of what could improve news media for them as opposed to the Latino population in Los Angeles, versus residents themselves of Latin America. While our focus groups cannot extend this far into the knowledge of news media, it is an important piece of background and
context to bring up to enhance our perspective.
Findings
In order to illuminate our existing knowledge on media diversity and the correlation between community and journalism researchers prioritized analyzing a variety of literature related to this topic. As researchers delved into a plethora of scholarly credible sources, a tapestry of perspectives emerged, each thread representing a unique contribution to the discourse of media diversity. This discussion will not merely list the information found but unravel the intricacies and connect the dots that give rise to a richer, more nuanced understanding of how media affects minorities. Our examination extends beyond the superficial layers, seeking the underlying themes and divergent viewpoints that shape the scholarly conversation surrounding media diversity in the Hartford, Connecticut area.
This discussion will contain three main themes built upon the array of literature discovered during the research process. These three themes include; the under and over representation of minority communities in media and its impacts; the role of both local and mainstream journalism; and the evolution of media. The themes listed aided significantly in the development of how our research should be conducted.
Under/over representation and its impacts/consequences:
One of the key and consistent concepts that was immediately identified in each piece of literature is under and over representation and how this impacts minorities like Latinos. All researchers had sourced different literature, that brought awareness of how minorities are often villainized and under bad exposure when in the media but through thorough analysis of insightful studies an elevation of understanding was acquired. Due to the narrative building power of media, this allows existing and non-existing stereotypes to be accelerated. Televised news is one of the main sources of media that holds a significant societal influence. Having this influence on society makes stereotypes and false portrayals of minority communities within the news perceived as realistic to consumers. Black people suffer from these narratives as they are severely over-represented as law breakers in comparison to other races.
Underrepresentation also affects marginalized communities as it was found Latinos had no conspicuous presence on news broadcasts and were under-represented as law breakers and law defenders (Dixon, Travis L., and Daniel Linz 200). This under representation of minorities can also be seen in different sectors of media other than news such as movies, television, etc. From 2010 to 2013 Latinos made up 1.4% of the Lead roles in the highest grossing films (Negrón-Muntaner, F. et. Al 2014). The mere representation of these communities grants a hierarchy of relevance in which communities should be represented in the media and which should not.
In addition to how media portrays minority communities, hiring practices also play a role in the over and under representation of communities. Often communities are more prone to feel comfortable and accurately represented in their community when journalists and staff of media companies are actively involved within the media. Actively contributing to the community via participating in community organizations, house ownership in the community, and having political connections within the community helps develop an accurate representation of communities within the media (Cary, A.S. 2016). Conversely, inconsistent inclusion of journalists and media staff increases the likeliness of misrepresentation (Douglas O. 2022). 1.8% of television news outlet producers were Latino which may be contributor to the significant lack of representation that Latinos face in the media (Negrón-Muntaner, F. et. Al 2014). A lack of diversity among the staff of a media organization is evident in media coverage and poses challenges to inclusivity (Cary, A.S. 2016).
Ensuring representation within media companies is imperative for fostering an inclusive and equitable society. Media forms such as news, television, and social media serve as a powerful mirror that reflects the diversity of the world, shaping perceptions and influencing societal attitudes. When media companies embrace representation by incorporating a diverse range of voices, perspectives, and experiences, within their staff and content, they contribute to a more accurate portrayal of the multifaceted nature of our global community. This inclusivity enhances content quality and promotes a sense of belonging among diverse audiences. Representative media practices contribute to breaking down stereotypes and biases, fostering understanding, and promoting social cohesion.
Role of Local and Mainstream media in diversity:
When preparing to conduct research (local) community and mainstream media were both factors that would be critical in understanding what diverse media looks like. Local and mainstream media play pivotal roles in shaping public discourse, disseminating information, and shaping societal standards. As conduits of information, community media channels provide localized perspectives, amplifying the voices of diverse groups. On the other hand, mainstream media, with its broader reach, holds the power to shape national and global narratives. Together, these two forms of media contribute to the complex fabric of public opinion, political ideologies, and social dynamics.
Understanding the symbiotic relationship between community and mainstream media is crucial for grasping the full spectrum of societal impacts and for fostering a media landscape that is both reflective and responsive to the diverse needs of communities at various levels. Political propaganda is often weaponized by both community and mainstream media, but it is mainly seen in mainstream media due to its quick yet efficient way of swaying a mass amount of people’s perception. A prominent instance of this is throughout the 2016 United States Presidential Election. Trump utilized his allegiance with mainstream media organizations to echo the political propaganda seen in his Tweets. By gaining this allegiance it gave Trump the power to skew perceptions based on his beliefs (Ross, A. S., & Rivers, D. J. 2018). This skewing and bias propaganda adopted by mainstream media contribute heavily to the closed minded and exclusive nature of media.
Mainstream media also utilizes Institutional support in order to portray and address diversity. In attempt to reinforce an ethical image, media outlets construct things like “unconscious bias training” to alleviate their exclusive environments (Douglas, O. 2022). Institutional pledges to diversity prioritize economic considerations rather than tackling structural racism. Localized based media also greatly affects minority societies too. The individual and informative applications of social media in news underscore the ongoing significance of communities and social interactions in how individuals come across and comprehend news. Social media apps like WhatsApp and Facebook allow communities to create their own stream of information and news circulated through social connections (Swart, J., Peters, C., & Broersma, M. 2018). Community journalism is a more formal format of local media but has the same effect of bonding and unifying a community with media organizations.
The dynamics of mainstream political propaganda, the lack of institutional support for diverse communities within mainstream media,
and the presence of robust community journalism collectively exert a profound influence on the media landscape. The pervasive influence of political propaganda can distort information, shaping narratives to suit specific agendas. The dearth of institutional support for diverse communities in mainstream media perpetuates systemic inequalities and limits the representation of various perspectives. Nonetheless, community journalism emerges as a powerful counterforce, fostering community bonds and providing a platform for localized voices.
Evolution of diverse media:
Finally, we examined the evolution of media to assess its significant and pertinent impact on consumption patterns and the diversification of media over time. Given the ongoing evolution of both technology and media, this evaluation proved crucial. Within this evolution we identified two important contributors in the evolution of diverse media, the merge of media and the evolution of media consumerism.
The consolidation of media is a recent form of revolutionizing the way media is shaped. Characterized by the merging and acquisition of various media entities by larger conglomerates, it profoundly influences the way diverse media is created. As ownership becomes more concentrated, there is a risk of homogenizing content and perspectives, potentially marginalizing voices from underrepresented communities (Hendrickx, J., & Ranaivoson, H. 2021). The consolidation often prioritizes profit margins and market share over the nuanced representation of diverse narratives. This trend can limit the variety of voices and perspectives available to audiences, hindering the portrayal of different cultures, experiences, and view points. The ways media is consumed is continuously changing and advancing which results in more methods of consuming diverse media. Media consumer-ship has been revealed to build the foundation of media development itself. Throughout time there have been many shifts of news media consumption, but the three notable changes included; Consuming news with time and place constraints shifting to consuming news mobile at times selected by the user; Generalized media shifting to, tailored news to individuals’ desires/needs; and news being consumed passively by users shifting to, news which users actively contribute. All of these have expanded the scale at which diverse media is available for consumption (Groot Kormelink, Tim 2015).
Another element demonstrating relevance in media consumerism is fact-checking. Fact-checking is the practice in which one receives information from one source and finds another to confirm it. Fact-checking has been proved to have an influence on marginalized societies such as the Latino community. Minority communities like Latinos have been shown to be more susceptible to misinformation as a result of inadequate fact-checking (Velez, Y. R., Porter, E., & Wood, T. J. 2023). Misinformation to minority communities can lead to the creation of false realities and societal expectations. The proliferation of digital platforms and social media offers a space for minority voices to be heard and stories to be shared directly. However, this democratization of information comes with challenges, including the risk of misinformation. The impact of fact-checking on underrepresented communities can lead to an increased vulnerability to misinformation. As accurate information is essential for making informed decisions, the lack of rigorous fact-checking mechanisms can contribute to the perpetuation of false narratives and stereotypes. Through thoroughly reading literature on the evolution of diverse media, researchers could grasp a comprehensive and clear perspective of the continuous timeline and transformation of inclusive media.
Overall, these key themes found in the literature construct a prolific and critically insightful outlook on the data and research being conducted about media diversity in the Hartford, Connecticut area. Through putting a microscope to the literature collected and identifying factors such as the role of representation within the media, the significance of community journalism, and how media’s transformation through time has molded media diversity, all contribute to the level of proficiency, approach, and a foundation to a proactive and knowledgeable mindset regarding the topic of media diversity.
Conclusions
In conclusion, with the exploration of media diversity within the context of small local news outlets, it is certain that these outlets carry a crucial role in shaping an inclusive landscape of information. The existing literature reveals the varying impacts of these outlets on representation, community engagement, and the democratization of information as it relates to marginalized groups. As we continue to navigate the ever-evolving media landscape understanding the importance of diversity in journalism and media emerge as a vital component in fostering a media environment that accurately reflects and serves the needs of marginalized communities. This literature review provides an additional component to the existing research regarding the matter of advocacy and the efforts aimed at enhancing media diversity and ensuring that there are meaningful relationships between the reporting parties and their participants.