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The Media as Mapmaker

By Ashley Karatsonyi

The media plays a central role in creating society’s perception of events, issues, and ideas. It creates our ‘map’ of the world – even if that map doesn’t reflect reality. An example of this is the term ‘ Middle East’. According to Encarta.com, a U.S. naval officer coined the term Middle East in 1902 and since then the media has brought the term into everyday use. The Middle East is the region that lies in the middle and to the east in correlation to the United States, but not to all countries. In addition, media coverage gives a skewed portrayal of who lives in this region. For example, on October 14, 2007, the Seattle P-I’s website had ten articles under the Middle East section, but the articles represented only four countries of the twenty-three that make up that region. The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Sun Times had similar presentations, furthering the idea that the Middle East is made up of only a few countries. This is a good example of how the media can influence our perceptions; in this case, playing the role of mapmaker.

 

The Media as an Activist

By Jessica Hart

Amnesty International is activism at its best. AI is an independent non-governmental organization that battles human rights abuse and discrimination around the world. AI is represented worldwide by the media in newspapers, television news, magazines and the internet, in efforts to promote human rights and social justice. A recent example is in Myanmar. AI is spreading awareness about Myanmar’s military government who is arresting and torturing members involved in peaceful protests. In over two-dozen cities around the world, AI members and supporters have been demonstrating in hopes that the Myanmar government will release the thousands of people recently detained. The success of Amnesty International is due in part to its efforts to produce such events and materials for the media, such as an online library available at amnesty.org, in which reports and news releases since 1996 are available in four different languages. They also produce a monthly magazine called The Wire, available to subscribers. Amnesty International’s deep involvement in world affairs – and cooperative partnership with media -- provides knowledge for citizens on human rights abuses. And when looking at the protests in Myanmar it is clear that AI’s influence has motivated many to rise together and fight for freedom.

 

Sept. 19, 2007: Braving intense rain, Myanmar Buddhist monks march during a protest against the military government in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo)