Media Bites – Burger King & NASCAR
This week’s Media Bites takes a look at a new Burger King commercial that features NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. Stewart has his own endorsement school and tries to teach other celebrities on how to properly endorse products. The spot is a standard way to brand a company’s product by using a cultural icon and manipulate the public into thinking that if a celebrity uses the product it must be good.
Interview with Rashid Khalidi
Professor Rashid Khalidi, author and distinguished lecturer on the Middle East, was in Grand Rapids to give a talk at Grand Valley State University. We had a chance to interview Professor Khalidi and talk about his most recent book, Sowing Crisis: The Cold War and American Dominance in the Middle East.
VNRs – The Use of Video News Releases on Broadcast TV News
In recent years it has become common practice for TV news agencies to use what are known as Video News Releases (VNR). A VNR is a “news” story that is created by an advertising agency or public relations firm that essentially promotes a product or company.
TV stations will sometime use a VNR that are sent to them or they will use parts of the VNR and edit in their own take on the story with a local focus. An example of the use of a VNR on local TV news in the West Michigan market is this story that WZZM 13 recently aired about what to think about when buying a cell phone for your children before they go back to school. While channel 13 did interview some of the people in the story, they clearly used VNR provided footage on the use of cell phones, particularly for text messaging. The only sources used in this story are spokespersons from Sprint, Verizon and AT&T, which essentially make this story a commercial for these phone companies.
Some of the best documentation on the use of VNRs in the US has been done by the Center for Media & Democracy. They provide good research and lots of resources, along with examples of recent VNR use around the country.
GRIID has dissected locally used VNRs over the years and even created this satirical video that is selling what we call the VNR Detector.
New GRIID Study on the GR Press Coverage of the Af-Pak War
Today, we have posted our new 100-day study of the Grand Rapids Press coverage of the US occupation of Afghanistan. The study began in late May of 2009 and was concluded on September 2.
We looked at all stories published related to what the Pentagon now calls the Af-Pak War, since it includes US military operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There were a total of 24 stories during this 100-day period, 18 were national media sources and Press reporters wrote six stories.
A summary of our findings are:
- The Majority of the sources used in the stories were US Military or Government officials.
- Articles that focused on Afghanistan society or the Taliban insurgents were overwhelmingly negative.
- US soldier deaths received significant attention, but Afghan civilian deaths were rarely mentioned.
- Independent perspectives or Afghani voices were virtually non-existent.
- The August Afghan Presidential Election was only mentioned once in the entire 100-day period.
- The bulk of the articles published were framed in such a way as to accept, and in some cases, even endorse the Pentagon rationale for the US military mission in Afghanistan.
This new GRIID study is timely for many reasons. First, the Obama administration is now discussing whether or not to increase US troop levels in Afghanistan. Secondly, the Press editorial for Sunday, September 20th essentially advocated an increase in US troop levels for Afghanistan. The editorial states, “Now isn’t the time to draw back from a war that is crucial to American security and has helped keep Islamic extremists off balance and on the run.” Like much of the coverage during the 100-day period, the editorial did not verify or substantiate their claims that the US occupation of Afghanistan in making US citizens any safer.
We are encouraging our readers to look at the report and then communicate with the Grand Rapids Press. Since the Press is the only local daily newspaper in circulation in Grand Rapids, it is important that they consider what impact their coverage has on critical issues like the war in Afghanistan.
We think it is important that Press consider using national and international news sources other than the ones they currently rely on. There needs to be more Afghan perspectives and independent, non-partisan sources used when reporting on a war that is both costly in terms of tax-payer dollars and human life.
Contact the Editor of the Grand Rapids Press Paul Keep at pkeep@grpress.com or (616) 222-5506. We encourage readers to send us any responses you might get and will post them in order to generate more dialogue on this important issue.
Reporting on and Promoting ArtPrize
We are just days away from the official opening of the voting for ArtPrize, but to any reasonable observer it is clear that the local media coverage has already drawn a conclusion on the success or failure of the endeavor initiated by Rick DeVos.
While there have been a few stories that look into some of the challenges of ArtPrize, both logistical and the difficulties in voting process, the coverage has been overwhelmingly positive. Both WOOD TV 8 and WXMI 17 have online sections devoted to ArtPrize. WOOD radio provides a “how to guide” for those interested in ArtPrize, but the absolute winner in terms of adver-news for ArtPrize goes to the Grand Rapids Press. Not only do they have a major online section for the contest, they have been running a front-page feature on the days leading up to the opening.
Not to be outdone, the local blog-o-sphere has also been providing substantial coverage of this downtown art event. Rapid Growth Media is even providing space for Rick DeVos to blog this week so we can all learn more about his brainchild and even the new “citizen journalism” site, The Rapidian, seems to be flush with stories on ArtPrize.
However, some of the most honest reporting we have seen so far on ArtPrize , has been done by the Grand Rapids Business Journal. In a front-page story in their September 17 – 23 edition they discuss the economic promise of ArtPrize.
Reporter Mark Sanchez spoke with downtown business leaders to get their take on what the long term impact ArtPrize could have on Grand Rapids. The president of the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention Center & Visitor’s Bureau was quoted as saying, “The positive buzz and the energy that is being created around ArtPrize is going to do things that traditional advertising could never do for me….I’m appreciative of the short-term economic push, because we all could dearly use it. I’m more excited about the viral effect and what it could do for our destination appeal.”
Jeff Ott with the law firm of Warner, Norcross & Judd talked about ArtPrize being a tool to recruit potential lawyers to this community, lawyers his law firm is seeking. “For us to attract these people, it is very important for us to sell our firm, but we also have to sell the cities where these people are going to live and work. ArtPrize is part of the total package. It helps us sell the city.”
Maybe the most revealing comment is from local property owner and managing partner of CWD Real Estate Sam Cummings. Cummings said, “Our long-term goal is really to import capital – intellectual capital, and ultimately real capital. And this (ArtPrize) is certainly an extraordinary tool.”
This is exactly the point I was making in my initial critique of ArtPrize, that it makes perfect business sense since it will bring more people downtown to spend money and to possibly invest in the ongoing gentrification that will benefit a small sector of the community.
Green Shoots: The GR Press and the Economy
In recent weeks there has been a great deal of news coverage, both local and national that keeps announcing this idea that the economy is turning around, or in their words there are “Green Shoots” showing in the economy.
Anytime there is an announcement that “new” jobs are coming to West Michigan it is framed as a celebration, even though rarely does this news coverage talk about what kind of jobs are being created. Are these jobs fulltime, do they pay a livable wage, do they have benefits, and what sorts of economic subsidies (read: corporate welfare) are offered to these companies from the State or local municipalities.
Juxtaposed with the Green Shoots in the economy coverage are articles like the ones that appeared in the GR Press today. There were two front-page stories, an Associated Press story on state-by-state unemployment numbers and an article on the looming loss of unemployment benefits for thousands.
The AP article mentions that Michigan lost 42,900 jobs and is expected to maintain a jobless rate of 15.8% through 2010. The article cites government representatives from Colorado and New Jersey to put a regional spin on the numbers. The only other sources cited in the article were Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke and a staff person with IHS Global Insight, a corporate run financial analysis group.
The GR Press article on the looming loss of unemployment benefits is good in the sense that it provides readers with some hard data on how many people will have no income coming in over the next few months. The story also puts a human face on this problem by talking to two people who will soon lose their unemployment benefits. The Press reporter also talked to Congressmen Hoekstra & Ehlers, as well as the head of a local food bank and the President of the Michigan League for Human Services. However, all of these comments are centered around the need to provide some federal assistance or social service relief for people.
What is missing from the story in an analysis of the economy, particularly since it is one year after the Wall Street Bailout. Robert Weissman, writing for Counterpunch.org, said that according to;
“The Special Inspector General set up to oversee the bailout estimates that government agencies, including the Federal Reserve, will ultimately put out more than $23 trillion in various programs and supports related to the financial crisis. This total is almost three times what was spent on World War II, in adjusted dollars.”
Public Citizen also just published a report on the Wall Street Bailout 1 year later and note that the financial sector has already spent $200 million on lobbying Washington on order to continue to guarantee that they will not have to pay back the taxpayer-funded bailout and that there will be little if no accountability in how they operate in the future.
It’s too bad that the GR Press writers and editors cannot or refuse to make the link between local unemployment, increasing financial hardships for working people and the national economy. In the end we are left with just feeling bad for those who are jobless.
GRIID Indy Media Event this Monday
Just a reminder that this coming Monday, September 21 will be our GRIID Media Party/Indy Media event. A chance to hear what we have been up to, but more importantly your chance to get involved in making media. We are looking for people who want to do research, media literacy, news analysis, documentaries and independent news. There will be refreshments and new GRIID T-Shirts for sale.
Monday, September 21
5 – 7pm
314 Straight Ave SW Door M (Tanglefoot Building)
New GRIID Video Archives Added
We’ve been going through our video archives and decided to start posting some of our previous work. We plan on posting archival material during the weeks ahead, but we wanted to let you know about some of the items already at the Video Archive section.
There are three videos from a 2002 movie study, one that looks at Product Placement in Films, one that looks at Hyper-Sexual Content in Films and a third video that deals with Tobacco Use in Hollywood Films. We also have some youth produced counter-marketing ads that take on Big Tobacco.
The two videos that are highlighted here deal with the focus of much of GRIID’s work over the years. The first video is a piece we created based on a local TV story about cows that were roaming around in rural Kent County. It must have been a slow news day because all three of the GR-based TV stations covered it. The other featured video is the GRIID News Team talking about being addicted to watching local TV News.
Community Forum on Immigration Reform
The West Michigan Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform hosted a kick-off event at the GVSU downtown campus Monday night. The forum featured music from local musicians, speakers from many sectors of the community and an information table. The event was also co-sponsored by the GVSU Latin American Studies Department.
The first speaker of the evening was Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell who acknowledged that the current immigration policy of this country was broken and was in need of reform. Heartwell reminded the audience that “we are a nation of immigrants” and that any attempt to prevent new immigrants would be “un-American.” The Mayor ended his brief comments by declaring that he too was an immigrant and would stand with those who are currently being targeted by government policies.
Some speakers addressed the multi-racial crowd in Spanish, such as former GRPS Board member Luis Pena, Octavio Reyes – a local radio DJ – and Martin Padilla with the Michigan Organizing Project.
Other speaks addressed topics such as the impact that immigrants have on the economy, how US policy abroad influences immigration to this country and where the local faith community stands on this critical issue.
Ferris State Professor Barry Mehler told the crowd that the current anti-immigration movement is connected to a White Nationalist movement and that they are very organized. One of the most visible anti-immigration groups is Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), who is in Washington, DC today to lobby Congress.
Some of the most powerful speakers were those who have been personally affected by the current immigration policy. One young woman who is a student talked about how she is not eligible for student loans, despite her academic achievements, because she is undocumented. Another speaker talked about how his children live in fear of their parents being arrested and deported by immigration law enforcement officials and one woman shared her story about being married to an undocumented man who was deported and has never seen his 5 year old daughter because he can not come back to the US.
Once the speakers had finished their comments people were invited to sign up to join the coalition and take action packets that included fact sheets, letters to Congress and a DVD/discussion guide for use in house parties. For those wanting to become involved in learning about or advocating for comprehensive immigration reform can contact Diane at dianelawkessler@gmail.com.
Media Bites – Guitar Hero & Porn
This week’s Media Bites takes a look at a recent commercial for the video game Guitar Hero. The spot uses pornographer Hugh Heffner, which is a way of normalizing the pornography industry. We also look at the use of a scene from the 1983 movie Risky Business, a film that glorifies prostitution.
Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy 