In today’s society, both student media and mass media entities face the task of involving and covering minorities in the newsroom. Many newsrooms have few minority reporters. Stereotypes are easily formed when there is only one group represented. Often, reporters use stereotypes because they make the story easier to write. The media use stereotypes to convey a character in a short period of time, said Mike Dunne, a senior reporter for The Advocate.
“Stereotypes can help the audience see something quicker,” he said.
Dunne also said the media fall into the trap of using stereotypes because they help the reporter have a starting ground for their story. Jack Hamilton, dean of the Manship School of Mass Communication, said a “poorly equipped” public who does not have time to study issues is one source of stereotypes. “People in the media should make a positive effort to look beyond stereotypes by adding a phone call or finding a different person to interview,” Dunne said.
David Kurpius, the Student Media director, said stereotypes provide an obstacle for people trying to get something productive done.
“The issue of diversity can be uncomfortable [to talk about], but can have great outcomes,” Kurpius said.
Kurpius said the main difference between mainstream media and student media is that the student media is a training ground for new journalists. “These are student journalists in training and they are going to make mistakes,” Kurpius said. Samantha Sieber, a mass communication senior and editor in chief of the Reveille, said one of the newspaper’s goals is to cover the entire campus.
Sieber said the key to avoiding stereotypes in the media is to not go to the same students as sources for information and to cover all of the bases on campus. She said this is not an easy thing to do, but that student media makes a conscious effort.
She said the paper tries to stop possible stereotypes by portraying groups such as the queer community, the College Republicans, the College Democrats and other sub-groups on campus as they are not normally seen.
Sieber said student media can eliminate stereotypes by starting dialogue and giving people outlets to speak their mind.
“I would like to see a richer discussion of race and diversity,” Kurpius said.
Kurpius said student media should not strive for a unified group of students on campus standing in a circle holding hands.
“I would like a group of students who can stand up and fight for what they believe in,” Kurpius said.
Judith Benjudah, a sophomore in psychology, said stereotypes originate from a lack of understanding.
“Stereotypes aren’t fair, because they are based on one or two people,” Benjudah said.
She said she believes “whites aren’t as picked on” in the media.
Philip Zachariah, biological sciences junior, said stereotypes are started through generalization, and he said he notices them the most in T.V.
As a member of the Hip Hop Coalition on campus, Zachariah said there are stereotypes about the people involved in the organization.
“People think that if you’re involved in hip hop that you have to be black,” Zachariah said. “We don’t consider race, it’s based on skill.”
Doris Glass, a mass communication senior and student news director of KLSU, also thinks the media reinforces stereotypes. She believes a prime example is the Baton Rouge serial killer case, in which the media portrayed the serial killer as a white man.
“[All] media show the negative side of minorities, and if a positive side is shown, it is shown through a special feature story,” Glass said.
Although Glass believes the media reinforce stereotypes, Craig Freeman, a mass communication assistant professor and faculty advisor for the Association of Black Culture said, based on research, he believes the radio does the best job of dealing with stereotypes.
Dunne said he thinks stereotypes originate from family traditions, social process and exaggerated characters in stories.
Glass said in order to avoid stereotypes, there must be education and diversity in the newsroom.
“In order to avoid stereotypes, you need a staff with sensitivity more than you need a staff with diversity,” Dunne said.