ABSTRACT
Comprehensive and interdisciplinary, this collection explores the complex, and often problematic, ways in which the news media shapes perceptions of poverty.
Editor Sandra L. Borden and a diverse collection of scholars and journalists question exactly how the news media can reinforce (or undermine) poverty and privilege. This book is divided into five parts that examine philosophical principles for reporting on poverty, the history and nature of poverty coverage, problematic representations of people experiencing poverty, poverty coverage as part of reporting on public policy and positive possibilities for poverty coverage. Each section provides an introduction to the topic, as well as a broad selection of essays illuminating key issues and a Q&A with a relevant journalist. Topics covered include news coverage of corporate philanthropy, structural bias in reporting, representations of the working poor, the moral demands of vulnerability and agency, community empowerment and citizen media. The book’s broad focus considers media and poverty at both the local and global levels with contributors from 16 countries.
This is an ideal reference for students and scholars of media, communication and journalism who are studying topics involving the media and social justice, as well as journalists, activists and policy makers working in these areas.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|81 pages
Principles
chapter 3|11 pages
Extreme Poverty as Human Rights Violation
chapter 6|10 pages
Solidarity in U.S. Journalism
part II|95 pages
Poverty
chapter 9|10 pages
A Very Poor Watchdog
chapter 15|14 pages
Coverage of Poverty in Business News
chapter 16|11 pages
Living in a Material World
part III|107 pages
“Poor”
chapter 18|10 pages
What about the Actors Involved in News about Poverty?
chapter 25|11 pages
To Cover or Not to Cover?
part IV|92 pages
Policy
chapter 28|10 pages
Keep Calm and Carry On
chapter 29|11 pages
Welfare in the Media
chapter 33|10 pages
From Community Empowerment to Infrastructure Reinforcement
chapter 34|10 pages
Housing Policy in the News
part V|83 pages
Positives