The FCC, National Media, and Violence Against Women

Amanda's heart-wrenching post about domestic violence made me think more about the representation of these cases in the media, and how we come to know about victimization in America. Is there anyone who doesn't know the names Natalee Hollway, Laci Peterson, and now Stacy Peterson? Thanks to CNN, MSNBC and Fox News, we are inundated with stories about these young, sad victims of crime--all likely killed at the hands of men.

Of course, it is very helpful for us to know about these cases. It is desperately important that the public recognize the prevalence and seriousness of domestic abuse and domestic homicide. Unfortunately, the media is quite selective about which stories make it to airtime--after all, every second is valuable, right? (I plant tongue firmly in cheek as I consider the minute-by-minute Anna Nicole Death Coverage and it's "value" to the citizens of the world.)

While it is helpful for the media to present these stories and educate the world about DV, it is also quite unnerving to know that the cases presented to the public are selectively screened. While stories such as those of Laci Peterson, Natalee Holloway, and Stacy Peterson will continue to make headlines (and feature live "on-site" broadcasts from Greta V.S. & Nancy Grace), the stories of women like LaToya Figeroa, Reyna Alvarado-Carrera and Tamika Hudson will never be told. It turns out there's some truth to "missing white woman syndrome", even though it is virtually impossible to collect meaningful data on the practice.

This is something I've been ranting about for some time--in class I ask my students to raise their hand if they've heard of Laci Peterson, then keep it up if they've heard of LaToya Figeroa--both disappeared while pregnant, both killed by the father of their unborn child. One makes the national news instantly, one finally gets a few minutes of time on CNN after bloggers and families bombard the networks with email.

Unfortunately, upcoming events suggest this practice will only get worse. The current chairman of the FCC is planning to lift restrictions that keep media conglomerates from owning more than one television network or newspaper per market. In theory, the news media could be run by all 6 (or fewer) mega-corporations in the next couple of years. Rupert Murdoch will be in heaven.

What does this mean? The conglomeration of big media will lead to even more selective news, and finally to censorship. We will hear more stories about victimized women who are attractive, white, and middle-class. Minority women and those in the lower classes will continue to be ignored by big media because their stories do not bring ratings, thus their lives are not as valuable. Good bye, diversity; hello, McAmerica (or maybe Disneymerica®--I can't decide which I like better).

If you feel as strongly as I do about this, visit http://stopbigmedia.com and write to the FCC opposing this change: http://www.fcc.gov/contacts.html