
I've always believed that the best learning doesn't result from looking for the "right" answers, but posing the important questions.
Since this is the last class blog, and I have been posing all the questions all semester, I thought it only fitting that you have your turn. Specifically, we are going to be discussing the article by LynNell Hancock titled "The Haves and the Have-Nots." As with a number of the readings we've had, it is somewhat dated in its content and conclusions, but still makes some valid points about inequalities in media access along race, gender, and class lines.
After reading the article and thinking back on all our discussions this semester, post your own questions for discussion on this topic during Tuesday's class. If you each post just one question (and aren't redundant) we should have a fine basis for bringing to a conclusion what has been, for me (and I hope for you), an energizing semester!
On the surface, this topic seems to be unrelated to journalism. Hancock's article focuses more on families, and who does and doesn't have access to computers at home. But I'm interested in what role, if any, the media should take in regards to this topic. Are there any similarities between the haves and have-nots that Hancock discusses and the hegemony in the newsroom that we've been talking about all semester?
ReplyDeleteSometimes I feel like technology is still geared more toward men than women, despite the multitudes of pink ipods and purple laptops. Do you think that Hancock's theory applies to gender as well as race?
ReplyDeleteTo expand on the above point:
ReplyDeleteWhy do tech-savvy stories focus on selling gadgets to men? From gadget gurus to video game guys, women rarely see work in this area of news. Why?
There are a lot of socioeconomic factors that have separated people throughout the years, so what I am wondering is: does technology really have that great of an effect on the "have" and have-nots", or is it merely another way that money separates people?
ReplyDeleteAlso, in a world and, specifically, a job market so reliant on computers and technology, whose responsibility is it to make sure that the "have-nots" can keep up- "ours" our theirs"?
We have covered almost all races. What about Middle Easterners? There is rampant stereotyping and profiling for anyone that appears to be Islamic or of Middle Eastern descent. Even with women or children; if they wear their indigenous native garb in public, they are immediately labeled as “terrorists.”
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of un-related to what everyone else posted. BUT --
ReplyDeleteWe never talked about how the media targets children. I'm curious about people's thoughts on this topic.
After working on my final project for the class, it became very apparent that they are being targeted to.
This is information from a 2001 US Census Report: Home Computers and Internet Use in the United States. http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p23-207.pdf
ReplyDeletehttp://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/000439.html
I wonder if/when the Internet will become a public resource.
Is there a practical solution and an imperative to closing the technology gap between Americas youth? An article in the times this past Sunday considered that to many youth are going to college in the U.S.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/debating-colleges-worth/1053251
ReplyDeleteI dont' remember if we discussed this when we talked about Imus, but I would be interested in hearing how people believe media portrays black people in promoting stereotypes. A video I watched that I really enjoyed and though made a good point was by Jason Whitlock of the KC Star.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5ZQXaXmCW4
Also, something I was curious about, but I admittedly have very little knowledge about, is what the feelings are surrounding the portrayals of homosexuals on television. It appears to me, in my limited TV watching, that most, or at very least a majority, of gay boys and men are portrayed extremely flamboyant and cliche. Gay women as characters (not Ellen) are primarily attractive "normal" women....basically, hot lesbians that make out on TV and get ratings.
To me, it feels inaccurate of the whole, much like the use of token Asians or Blacks or Indians in older television.
This question is somewhat relevant to this discussion...
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of technology I think of video games, Facebook, Myspace and Google. In my opinion technology, especially computers, waste a lot of our time, as many people are consumed in 'outer space' for long periods of time. But my question is, do men spend more time surfing 'outer space' then women do?
First of all, reading this article made me realize how blessed I am to have had a computer in my home. I lived in a area of town where I was surrounded by the have not's, and I can see how this is a legitimate concern.
ReplyDeleteOne question that I have in relation to this course is how are people stereotyped by music genres (example:blacks= rap, country= redneck)
I agree with Lydia about the babies/kids. A future topic can be adopting multi-race children.
ReplyDelete"Cole babies, Hicks babies, Bessie babies, Dr. Mary babies, Butterbox babies, and Springer babies รข€“ these are just a few of the known groups of black market babies."
http://www.adoptioninformation.com/Black_market_babies
We've spent a lot of time talking about the importance of technology to students and young adults, but I wonder how middle-aged adults feel about their knowledge of technology. Do they feel like they are falling through the generational technology gap when it comes to learning new technology? For example, my mom does know how to email, but she can't text, and wouldn't know how to upload photos to a computer if she had to. It seems to me that young adults can use technology so much easier, and so much faster. While technology isn't everything, I wonder if older adults feel threatened or are intimidated by it?
ReplyDeleteI think Lydia is right. We did not spend much time talking about children. I think the way media targets children is something I would like to know more about. Also, technology has been making it into the hands of younger children regularly now. Is there a race, class, and gender gap here too?
ReplyDeleteAre older people picking up on the technology? Do they factor into the differences and gaps?
Are there any plausible solutions to the haves and have nots? Generalization in the media is something we said could not work, but seperation in the media might keep seperation in society. Where is the balance?
I would have to agree with the comment regarding the generational technology gap. We have covered the importance of people being encouraged to use technology(not just computers but televison as well)for all diffrent purposes; educational, social, work, pleasure, information, etc. We haven't talked about how older generations are affected by technology. Even this past year my grandparents were not too happy when they had to switch their television from analog to digital. With my parents being "computer stupid"as they say and being around computers since I was about 5 years old: What is going to happen to us (younger generation) when we get up there in age?
ReplyDeleteCheck out this site, it is interesting;
ReplyDeletehttp://www.osra.org/itlpj/raysormun
enharris.PDF
This site provides information about the comfort levels of men and women when it comes to computers. The study says that women are more comfortable using computers than men.