Text-Based Assignment #4

Todd Gitlin writes about the media’s involvement in covering student social movements such as the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) which symbolized the New Left. The SDS marshaled anti-war, pro-civil rights and free speech concerns on campuses, and brought together liberals and more revolutionary leftists. In the article, Gitlin emphasized the role of the media in the amplification of the SDS social movement. Gitlin states, “The observer changed the position of the observed” (G& J, 301). Gitlin refers to the media as the “observer” and while the changing view of the “observed,” which is referred to the audience, indicates the media’s interpretation of social events can greatly influence the public’s perception of the event that is covered.

In the case of the student antiwar protest of 1965, the media played a vital role in this transformation and helped to refine and focus the movement across the nation. Gitlin describes, “The New Left proceeds into national reform politics from its narrow social base, the movement hope to end the war only by mobilizing wider constituencies. Therefore, attempting to affect government policy in a hurry, it was forced to rely upon the mass media to broadcast the simple fact that opposition existed” (G&J, 310).

I believe the media has affected many social movements that we have read and learned about this semester. The media coverage highly affected the civil rights movement by its presence. The civil rights movement started out in local churches, sit-ins, etc. that went fairly unnoticed. As time progressed with boycotts and marches, the media coverage help attract new members and help the movement grow substantially. In this case, the media had a positive affect once MLK gained national attention with his non-violent tactics. The goals of the movement were portrayed accurately and forced change on desegregation of public facilities and business, voting rights, etc. and also help emerge new forms of protest that demanded structural change such as the labor movement and sexual liberation groups.

The media has a great affect on the current immigration issue. For those that don’t live in the U.S.-Mexico border or don’t live in the vicinity, possibly don’t have a clue of what’s actually going on. We rely on the media to educate us about these current social issues. According to the article by the national society for Hispanic professionals, “Pro-immigration demonstrators (of April 2006) are a reminiscent of the civil rights protests and anti-war demonstrations of the 1960s and 1970s, the coast-to-coast rallies displayed what organizers said was emerging social and political forces as immigrants find their voice” (http://www.nshp.org/?q=node/1610). The article mentions that the Organizers of the Washington rally estimated turnout at nearly a half-million. These rallies were protest of a House-passed bill that would make illegal immigration a felony and could mean jail sentences for anyone offering to help to illegal immigrants. After the protest, sponsors of the house bill say the legislation has been misinterpreted and have promised to agree that illegal immigration would be a misdemeanor. The media coverage helped gain momentum and during the week many other cities had their own demonstrations on pro-immigration.

A video clip by Fox 6 (http://www.fox6.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoID=348621), San Diego, CA gives the interpretation of two different perspectives of a deported illegal immigrant (an activist), 1) she is the “Rosa Parks” of the immigration movement and 2) some believe she is an illegal immigrant that had a deportation long overdue. FOX 6 gives the audience both views of the social issue dealing with immigration law. The deported woman was forced to choose to leave or take her U.S. born child with her to Mexico. In this case, the media allows the viewer to decide what is right or wrong about this particular case. This is an example of how the U.S. immigration laws are so complex.