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The Media’s Effect on Children
The media has proven once again that it is one of the most influential factors on children’s growth. General speaking, the media has had a very strong influence on how children see their race and how they view others. White and African-American children say they see people of their race on television, while Latino and Asian children are much less likely to see their race represented. In addition, young people overwhelmingly think that it is important for children to see people of their own race on television. Children of color are most likely to think so. Finally, throughout all races, children are more likely to associate positive characteristics with White characters and negative characteristics with minority characters. Thus, the media has played an important role on how children see themselves and other races throughout the media.
Firstly, the children that say they see people of their race on television are White and African-American, while Latino and Asian children are much less likely to see their race represented. “In one study, it showed that white males accounted for over fifty percent of the people of the “main” characters in each program.” (Media Awareness Network). Despite the few shows shown as colored people as the central characters there is still a long way to go. There also has been a distinct increase in the nuraber of minority and aboriginal newscasters, both as reporters, editors and producers. “Also, in 1989 study on billboard advertising in Montreal subway stations, the researchers found that minorities were featured on only one billboard from a total of 163 on display.” (Media Awareness Network). As a result, the ad industry has taken action to improve diversity representation. There may have been improvements in the television news industry, the same is not true in thee case of professional journalism.
“In a survey done in 1993 by the Canadian Newspaper Association (CAN), of the 2,620 professional journalists working at 41 different daily papers they surveyed, only 67 were non-white. That’s is a percentage of 2.6 in the news room- five times less than the percentage of visible minorities in the Canadian population. Few moves have been made to improve this situation with the CNA reporting that only 11 of the 41 papers surveyed declared they had a very strong commitment to hire visible minorities. In summary, there have been minimal attempts to increase the nuraber of minorities in media, and looks like it will be a while until a noticeable change is visible.” (Media Awareness Network)
Furthermore, children seem to think it is important for them to see people of their own race on television, especially children of color. Firstly, children get messages about their race by seeing how and how often their groups are portrayed in the media. Media grants legitimacy through the recognition and respect shown to racial groups. Recognition occurs when group merabers appear in programs, while respect is conferred when group merabers are cast in positive roles. The absence of group merabers suggests that they are not worthy of viewer’s attention, while negative roles show they are not worthy of respect. These messages about race help shape their opinions early in life. Also, it is very important for children off all races to see people of their own race on television. White children see people of their race more frequently then African-American then Asian and Latino children less frequently. When white characters are shown, they are portrayed as positive or main characters as opposed to minorities shown in negative or minor roles.
“Furthermore, in a recent study they say that 71 per cent of White kiRAB say they see their race very often as opposed to Asian kiRAB who only 16% said very often. Also, of the White kiRAB surveyed none of them said they never see their race on television.” (Children Now)
Thus, seeing their race on television seems to give them a sense of recognition and respect, most of who think so are children of color.
Finally, children are more likely to connect positive characteristics with White characters and negative characteristics with minority characters. Minorities are usually seen as a “social problem” in the media. The media are likely to portray minorities as villains or people who create problems such as hassling police, cheating on welfare or feuding with each other or with their families. Minorities are used as scapegoats for an assortment of social problems. Also, the media's representation of aboriginal and racial minorities are as likely to inform and reveal as they are to misinform, conceal and evade. Reports on minorities usually show one-sidedness about such things as crime with drugs and guns. Minorities are presented usually with generalization about a certain racial group are label as characters such as high school dropouts, drug dealers or villains.
“In a study, all children agreed that White people usually play the roles of boss, secretary, police officer and doctor in television programs, while the roles of criminal and maid/janitor on television are usually played by African-Americans. Never so children see Latino or Asian characters as the dominant person in the listed roles.” (Children Now)
In addition, social classes are factored in as well, with White characters seen as having more money than minority characters. Also, minority families are often portrayed as having financial problems. White children are also much more likely to think families on television have the same amount money as their families. Thus, most of the negative traits are associated with minorities and White characters with the positive characteristics.
In conclusion, children are greatly influenced by the media and their portrayal of White and minority characters. The media seems to be one of the greatest factor on how children view their races and also how they view others. It is vital that children see their race shown in a positive way so that they feel they are just as important as any other racial group. Most of the minority groups feel they are not well represented on television, as opposed to White people and African-Americans who are seen the most on television. Also, the media has always seemed to show minority people as negative characters and white people with positive roles or somehow as the central group of characters. The media has a way of getting away with such acts as this and have made little improvements in having a diverse representation of races. It is also important for parents to show their children that this is not how the world is, and that all minorities are not always linked to crime, rape and murder. Although we have made several efforts to improve the equality of all races in the world, the media seems to be a very powerful force in influencing children and how they see other races and their own.
The media has proven once again that it is one of the most influential factors on children’s growth. General speaking, the media has had a very strong influence on how children see their race and how they view others. White and African-American children say they see people of their race on television, while Latino and Asian children are much less likely to see their race represented. In addition, young people overwhelmingly think that it is important for children to see people of their own race on television. Children of color are most likely to think so. Finally, throughout all races, children are more likely to associate positive characteristics with White characters and negative characteristics with minority characters. Thus, the media has played an important role on how children see themselves and other races throughout the media.
Firstly, the children that say they see people of their race on television are White and African-American, while Latino and Asian children are much less likely to see their race represented. “In one study, it showed that white males accounted for over fifty percent of the people of the “main” characters in each program.” (Media Awareness Network). Despite the few shows shown as colored people as the central characters there is still a long way to go. There also has been a distinct increase in the nuraber of minority and aboriginal newscasters, both as reporters, editors and producers. “Also, in 1989 study on billboard advertising in Montreal subway stations, the researchers found that minorities were featured on only one billboard from a total of 163 on display.” (Media Awareness Network). As a result, the ad industry has taken action to improve diversity representation. There may have been improvements in the television news industry, the same is not true in thee case of professional journalism.
“In a survey done in 1993 by the Canadian Newspaper Association (CAN), of the 2,620 professional journalists working at 41 different daily papers they surveyed, only 67 were non-white. That’s is a percentage of 2.6 in the news room- five times less than the percentage of visible minorities in the Canadian population. Few moves have been made to improve this situation with the CNA reporting that only 11 of the 41 papers surveyed declared they had a very strong commitment to hire visible minorities. In summary, there have been minimal attempts to increase the nuraber of minorities in media, and looks like it will be a while until a noticeable change is visible.” (Media Awareness Network)
Furthermore, children seem to think it is important for them to see people of their own race on television, especially children of color. Firstly, children get messages about their race by seeing how and how often their groups are portrayed in the media. Media grants legitimacy through the recognition and respect shown to racial groups. Recognition occurs when group merabers appear in programs, while respect is conferred when group merabers are cast in positive roles. The absence of group merabers suggests that they are not worthy of viewer’s attention, while negative roles show they are not worthy of respect. These messages about race help shape their opinions early in life. Also, it is very important for children off all races to see people of their own race on television. White children see people of their race more frequently then African-American then Asian and Latino children less frequently. When white characters are shown, they are portrayed as positive or main characters as opposed to minorities shown in negative or minor roles.
“Furthermore, in a recent study they say that 71 per cent of White kiRAB say they see their race very often as opposed to Asian kiRAB who only 16% said very often. Also, of the White kiRAB surveyed none of them said they never see their race on television.” (Children Now)
Thus, seeing their race on television seems to give them a sense of recognition and respect, most of who think so are children of color.
Finally, children are more likely to connect positive characteristics with White characters and negative characteristics with minority characters. Minorities are usually seen as a “social problem” in the media. The media are likely to portray minorities as villains or people who create problems such as hassling police, cheating on welfare or feuding with each other or with their families. Minorities are used as scapegoats for an assortment of social problems. Also, the media's representation of aboriginal and racial minorities are as likely to inform and reveal as they are to misinform, conceal and evade. Reports on minorities usually show one-sidedness about such things as crime with drugs and guns. Minorities are presented usually with generalization about a certain racial group are label as characters such as high school dropouts, drug dealers or villains.
“In a study, all children agreed that White people usually play the roles of boss, secretary, police officer and doctor in television programs, while the roles of criminal and maid/janitor on television are usually played by African-Americans. Never so children see Latino or Asian characters as the dominant person in the listed roles.” (Children Now)
In addition, social classes are factored in as well, with White characters seen as having more money than minority characters. Also, minority families are often portrayed as having financial problems. White children are also much more likely to think families on television have the same amount money as their families. Thus, most of the negative traits are associated with minorities and White characters with the positive characteristics.
In conclusion, children are greatly influenced by the media and their portrayal of White and minority characters. The media seems to be one of the greatest factor on how children view their races and also how they view others. It is vital that children see their race shown in a positive way so that they feel they are just as important as any other racial group. Most of the minority groups feel they are not well represented on television, as opposed to White people and African-Americans who are seen the most on television. Also, the media has always seemed to show minority people as negative characters and white people with positive roles or somehow as the central group of characters. The media has a way of getting away with such acts as this and have made little improvements in having a diverse representation of races. It is also important for parents to show their children that this is not how the world is, and that all minorities are not always linked to crime, rape and murder. Although we have made several efforts to improve the equality of all races in the world, the media seems to be a very powerful force in influencing children and how they see other races and their own.