Gender Recognition is In

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Voice heard through Citizen Journalism

By A. Spyker

Step aside mainstream news media!!

Citizen journalism is taking the center stage!

As mainstream news media reports on crisis, citizen journalism is taking the story in a different direction. No longer is it just the second hand reports of situations, but the public is able to bare witness first hand of what is really going on.

Real time.

Real news.

Real people.

Real coverage.

The simplicity of uploading your own content via mobile has made individuals who would otherwise not be journalists, to be the ones with the most impacting content; some of which might even be used on mainstream mass media sources. 

How much impact can citizen journalism really have on a crisis?

Let's examine Russia and  anti-gay laws.

Prior to the 2014 Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Russia, the country passed an anti-gay law. It was viewed that being homosexual was apparently a disease that needed to be irradiated from its society. Under the laws against gay propaganda, any individual that was gay, suspect of being gay or to be accused of being gay, could be sent to jail.

The controversial legislation caused many issues for the citizens of Russia and the rest of the world in the compromising of human rights.

During the time of the bill being passed, there was comments and actions  in its opposition such as the US Olympic committee adding sexual orientation as part of its anti-discrimination laws. Although, they acted as though it was not directly in response to Russia, the US did set the precedent for how it felt about the policies.

(the Syed Athetist)

The greatest impact came from the global response to actual citizens who were being oppressed and persecuted within their own home country. Despite the fact that the Russia would be the platform for the 2014 World Winter Olympics,no changes were amended to their laws and the Olympics continued.

It was suggested in boycotting the 2014 Winter games but instead, individuals used this space to demonstrate to the world, through means of protest and citizen journalism, of how they truly felt. .

(Russian athletes who, although denied by Russia, acting in protest to the anti-gay laws. The sharing of this photo floods any web searches for anti-gay laws in Russia. Aside from the sharing through mass media, citizens are reusing and spreading the photo increasing its popularity and message.) 

It is curious to question whether or not, thanks to the mediums used by citizens, the rest of the world would of truly known the degree in which the anti-gay laws and actions taking place in Russia affected those under its conditions. 

It was noted that the media outside of Russia gave more noticed to the law at hand. 

Social media filled with backlash and comments towards Russia and its targeted actions in the compromising of human rights. Everyday individuals to celebrities and politicians voiced their stance on the issue.

As a local to Vancouver, B.C., a city supportive of gay rights and movements, the opposition to the Russian laws sparked reactions to the concerns by its citizens.

The responses to not only the laws but the reactions of violence and fear united Vancouver in support of the oppressive nature in Russia. 

(Anti-gay hate in Russia)

Those uploading their pictures and videos of violence and hate might not have know the extent to the opposition held and support for there fight across the world.

Vancouver for example held boycott to Russian vodka at the time of the law being passed in addition to other protests held towards Russia and its laws. 

(www.straight.com)

The power that citizen journalism has was even noted by Russia in its attempts to prohibit pro-gay propaganda. The laws made it difficult for Russian citizens by limiting of their voices. Individuals from other countries who showed any support or opposition to the laws were even banned from Russia. 

It is important to consider the power of citizen journalism and the use of social media for both sides.

The continued support for the anti-gay laws was also seen predominately on social media with many supporters following commentators in support of anti-gay Russia. However, it is not fair for the open ability to advocate and express certain hatred of different groups and limit them from defending themselves through laws banning propaganda of any means.Anything , pro-gay would then be considered against the law. 

The laws in place might attempt to stop certain groups of taking a stand and effectively sharing their voices. In response, citizens are using other various means to express themselves and be heard.

The restriction to voices is what ignites the tool of social media and the capabilities of citizen journalism. Although it might have caused more difficulties, the take to social networking sites, such as Twitter, contributed to a globally massive response through an opportunity to share. 

The citizen is no longer voiceless.

Despite the legal opposition in limiting voices of certain communities,  citizens are able to uphold themselves and make and stand through acts of citizen journalism.

With the increase to technology advantages and expansion in globalization, videos, photos and blogs are able to be shared across the world. 

With the example of Russia, it was noted that they did not consider the   potential magnitude that their law would have on not only on a national  but a global scale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8P9jWcgjmA 

(Correspondents discuss Russia's new law against "gay propaganda", and what messages the regime wants to send to domestic hardliners and to foreign public opinion)

The magnitude of impact that citizen journalism has is in its audience. The audience are the citizens.

We are closer. This is us.

There is no large corporation filtering and intentionally distorting content. It is not just someone reporting and re-reporting their interpretations.

The audience and the citizens are equal. It is this closeness that contributes to the value and impact of citizen journalism. 

It is not just reporting.

It is a chance for a movement. 

The globalized power of social media has place journalistic tools in the hands of everyday individuals. The impact behind citizen journalism is responsibility for the international reaction to law and treatment in Russia against homosexuality. Although the response might not of had the drastic immediate change intended by the overall protests, the reaction and awareness spread is due to the power and impact that citizen journalism has on reaching the global audience. This issues and concerns are not just shared by others in the world, but the out pour of global support is there for those voices who would otherwise not be heard. 

(www.motherjones.com)

References

Underwood, A. Harvard International Review. Spring2011, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p42-46. 5p.

  Perling, V. Nationalities Papers. Jul2014, Vol. 42 Issue 4, p591-603. 13p.

    U.S. Olympic Committee Adds Sexual Orientation to Anti-Discrimination Policy.Time.com. 10/15/2013, p. 1-1.

  Malm, S. & Woledge, S. (2013, August 19). Female Russian athletes kissing after relay victory at World Championships causes homophobic stir as  'gay rights' jumper ordered to repaint rainbow nails. Daily mail. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2394622/Female-Russian-athletes-kissing-relay-victory-World-Championships-causes-homophobic-stir.html

    Moyer, D. (2014). Olympic Athletes: Take a stand against Russia’s brutal anti-gay laws. Petitioning Canadian Olympic Team.

  Platt, B. (2013, August 2). Vancouver protests Russia’s anti-gay legislation. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/vancouver-protests-russias-anti-gay-legislation/article13493627/

    Crawford, T. & Morton, B. (2013, July 27). Vancouver bars boycott Russian vodka after anti-gay law passed. The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved from http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Vancouver+bars+boycott+Russian+vodka+after+anti+passed/8713709/story.html

    Brownstone, S. (2013). A year of citizen journalism exposing human rights abuses.

  Gessen, M. (2013, August 11). As a gay parent I must flee Russia or lose my children. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/11/anti-gay-laws-russia

  Rosenberg, S. (2013, June 11). Russian Duma passes law banning ‘gay propaganda’. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-22862210

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Is social media taking over traditional media?

by Carey Ren

This blogs brings to attention towards the debate whether social media is going to replace traditional media, this blog will try to answer this question by looking at the advantages of both find out whether the new is better that than the old.

The media serves us in three ways on a daily basis: to entertain, to inform and to make us aware of what others are doing. The rise of social media in the digital age has brought argument about the survival of traditional media, however the concept behind media service remains the same weather on TV or online. The difference relies on the state of mind the consumer is used to and each area of service is a different case, a blank statement about which type of media is better will not be suffice.

Information:

better contextual credibility

The main purpose behind informing the audience might just be to bring update and transparency of

what the government or mega companies are doing, to bring awareness to public attention towards potential threat to the social system. I do believe when viewers wants a update towards where to society is at traditional media is a better platform to go. The reason for that is first of all, the journalists are trained professionals that can get their hands on the most critical issues and reach deeper into the meaning of what untrained people see as confusing. The quality of information would be much higher compared to what armature can offer online, “the Internet had fewer professional standards and social pressure to provide accurate and unbiased information, and there were few ontextual cues to allow users to judge the credibiity of information online. In essence, the free and unregulated flow of information on the web could make it difficut to obtain credible infromation and even lead to false informatio. (Andie 1997)

Better Resources for mainstream media

Main stream media also carries more funding and stronger reputation when it comes to hosting digging deeper into issues, for example “Market Place”, which “weeds out wrong doing against Canadians, and puts pressure on people in power to set things right”, in this case main stream media has the advantage

be activists on people's behave in a larger scale and have the human resources of a elite team to target at specific issues. From a bugget perspective, traditional media does have much higher adventage in spreading its information, take Germany as a case “Nearly every publishing housem television or radio network or other media business has its onine service. Small Publishing house in Germany in particular ofren fear extensive investment in the new, medium, sometimes there is one editor in chare of the complet website.”

Communication:

A different hemsphere

When it comes to community social media is a head of the game, traditional media will be more controlled in term of information released since the government still can impose rules and policies to govern the Canadian media, where as online there is no regulation people are free to speak what they want to speak and to whom they want to speak to. In addition social media serves

In addition, I believe that Social media hosts a much broader perspective, “It states that media differ in the degree of richness they possess—that is, the amount of information they allow to be transmitted in a given time interval—and that therefore some media are more effective than others in resolving ambiguity and uncertainty. Applied to the context of Social Media, we assume that a first classification can be made based on the richness of the medium and the degree of social presence it allows.” A perspective-rich online society makes experience in processing information much easier compared to just one way communication presented on TV.

Looking at the expressive needs of the consumers

The framwork of social media from a fundamental level is to create a world that is public friendly where as the main stream traditional media are a group of carefully selected professionals that have worked their way up towards their position. The only form of communication the traditional media can offer is the communication between expets, take Lang and O'leary for example, “Canadian business news television series” that has two elites in the country talking about market and consumer trends, which leaves very little room for average Joe. Where as online, communication is encouraged and communities are set up for people who don't nessarily hold educational degrees, or are experts in ceratin fields to speak up. Threfore in the for the purpopse of mass communication, social media is a much suitable place to satisfy customers.

Entertainment

Entertainment at its core is personal

The main purpose entertainment serves is to make people feel good emotionally, to let people step away form their daily reality, each person will have different entertainment needs, in this area social media's advantage lies in giving people immediate entertainment according to the emotional need that the moment. “Tradional media provide a passive experience where the story is told only one way withotut mearningful audience involvment.”

However, if the consumer is some one who enjoys element of surprised or they are not as familiar as to what to choose, than TV gives them great way to browse and to be the passive audience. Unlike news, entertainment content are less regulated the content itself weather its on TV or online have no major difference, what it really comes down is the choice of receiving rather the form of media.

Traditional Media and Social Media which one is better? I would say both platform has its advantages, personally I do not think one out weights the other, each with their distinctive way to serve the public. Social media a way for people to aconnect, and express their opinion, traditional media a experts opinion on the matter.

A attempt trying to compare the two is almost as if trying to compare apples to oranges, on one end, we have the professionally trained group of people with big funding and organized timeline, who are working together to purposefully direct the public eye to certain issues. There are filtered information, expert approved and relevant on international or local scale. Traditional media seeks beyond cbias, or individual oppinion and bring what is happening out there to people's homes. The other end, social media act as a completely different platform which puts its user first with fundamental building blocks such such as “identity, conversations, sharing, presence, relationships, reputation, and groups” for trained, non trained information sharers.”

In the context of information sharing, each platform has its advantages in how they reach the public, relationship between the two is not which is better but a dialogue between the public and the informants, none can exist without each other. “there is indication that the traditional media and weblogs create what the researchers introduce and define as a news source cycle, in which news content can be passed back and forth from media to media”.Together they form a more complete picture of a societies information flow, and in this information age it is vital to have both.

Citation:

Kaplan.A (2009) User of the world, unite! The chaleenges and opportunity of Social Media,volume 53, Issue1.

Kietzman.J (2011) Soical media? Get serious! Understanding the functional builing blocks of social media.

Agichtein, E (2008) Finding High-quality content in social media, Retrieved from http://dl.acm.org.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/citation.cfm?id=1341557

Competition Between the internet and Traditional News Media: The Gratification-Opportunities Niche Dimension, Retreived fromhttp://www.tandfonline.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327736me1701_2#.U9BikV6pQmE

Vorderer. P, Kimmt.C (2004) Enjoyment: At the heart of media Entermainment,

Retreive from

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2004.tb00321.x/abstract

Althaus. S (2001) Pattern of internet and Traditional News Media Use in a Network Community

retreive from

http://www.tandfonline.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/doi/abs/10.1080/105846000198495#.U9BsUoBdU_F

Rebekah. B(1995) Impact of Internet on Use of Tradition News Media

retreive from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ524209

Messner (2008) How Traditional media and webblog use eachother as sources

retreive http://www.tandfonline.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/doi/abs/10.1080/14616700801999287#.U9Bxi4BdU_E

How Much Do They Think It Affects Them and Whom Do They Believe? Comparing the Third-Person

Effect and Credibity of Blog and Traditional Media

retreive http://www.tandfonline.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/doi/abs/10.1080/01463370701665114#.U9B0VoBdU_E

Bruhn Manfred. (2010). Management Research Review

retreive http://www.emeraldinsight.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/journals.htm?articleid=17044170&show=abstract

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Hash-Tag Activism

by A. Spyker

Keep texting!!!

Keep Hash-tagging!!!

     Thanks to the advancements in technology, it is now possible to connect and communicate across the world. The ability to reach out and connect has powered many like-minded individuals, who could otherwise be thousands of miles away from one another, to come together for certain causes and issues. Individuals are able to unite despite their different time zones.

Activism has changed now too.

This changed can be argued as something good or bad but either side one chooses, technology has contributed in making it possible for a globalized network in which the nature of activism has been influenced online.

There are many factors of technology and activism with regards to what is being said and how communication is being done. The focus here, with example of the “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign, is on the “hash-tag” effect of cyberactivism. With reference to this example, it is important to see the effects of cyberactivism for the “activists” involved as well as the influencing role on working to “Bring Back Our Girls.”

According to Techopedia, cyberactivism is the process of using Internet-based socializing and communication techniques to create, operate and manage activism of any type. It allows any individual or organization to utilize social networks and other online technologies to reach and gather followers, broadcast messages and progress a cause or movement.

Individuals across the globe have, through cyberactivism,  have been better able to unite with their thoughts, feelings and protests in sharing them through the interconnect networks online much more easily. 

Bring Back Our Girls ( #bringbackourgirls) has seen this sort of activism in which voices and protests have been shared across nations.

In April 2014, over 200 Nigerian female students were kidnapped from their school by Islamic extremist Boko Haram. The news of the kidnapping, and what felt like Nigerian officials doing very little to act in bringing the girls back to safety and taking more serious action against Boko Haram and his group, flooded the internet with comments, concerns, posts and gatherings across the world. 

The most commonly seen response to the kidnapping as a form of online activism was “the hash-tag”. 

Hashtag activism “is the act of fighting for or supporting a cause that people are advocating through social media like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other networking websites. This is the kind of activism that does not require any action from the person other than sharing or “liking” a post or “retweeting” tweets on Twitter.”

The hash-tag campaign, “Bring Our Girls Back”, argues for there to be something done; an emphasis on action. Its success can be found in the attention that it has brought through all types of media connections. There have been celebrity endorsements and even governments discussing the matter.

It is even seen in the language of the campaign that calls for a united effort. The term "our" is used in that the world can now relate and  personalize more to the missing girls; there is more connection within the activism. Individuals had made a bond and connection to the girls and the issues related to their kidnapping. 

Although the activism was initiated for the return of the girls back to their families, it also brought more awareness to the oppression and discrimination against women. The oppression seen within relation to #bringbackourgirls highlights the dangers women must face with regards to gender discrimination by men for their safety and the additional issue for education prevention of girls.

It was now not just the one issue at hand but many issues that this campaign had placed attention on.

Critiques of the online activist efforts and hash-tagging have argued that there was little to be questioned of what was really going on or what the real issue were at hand. There are deeper social, political and economic issues that are related to the kidnappings.

In return to this argument, one of which I too can admittedly say I had, is that it did start and therefore actually place more emphasis on the issues that had always been a concern; the realities of oppression against women and education. The questions that were not originally being asked are now being forced to by those who are more involved. Governments, officials and those who are in power and have influence are not able to hide from the efforts from across the world. 

It is not ideal that a drastic situation had to reignite the conversation but it can be used to fight these matters. All across the world there was a united network in this cause, shows how it is a globally concern. 

Originally, I personally held the argument for that notion that hash-tagging was ineffective for progress and action.

How could something someone posted online fight a violent extremist group and be successful? 

It either appears to be a joke or doubtful that something seen online would change Boko Haram’s heart and that he would simply give back the girls he had kidnapped and mocked the efforts of their return. 

My own mind was actually shifted when I realized the actual source of power behind the mass produced spread of “hash-tag”. 

The power of activism, and specifically the social activism done online with hash-tag, is not to hash-tag them with fear but rather to spread the word for the cause and therefore place pressure on governments who have to power to respond to actual do something about it. 

There was not simple a small public outrage when the news of the girls broke out.

There was a global outrage.

Reactions from small street protests advanced to more amplified responses and activist contributors online.

Maybe it is in fact lazy protesting, where all one really had to do was “retweet” or hash-tag, but it worked in getting people to talk about it and acknowledge the issue at hand.

There is one major issue that I have come across during this particular campaign example.

Even simply a few months from when the initial kidnapped happened, the amount of news feed and public concern for what had happened seemed to have died down. 

Where did all of those hash-tags go?

What once filled Twitter  and Facebook pages by individuals of this great and deep concern seem to of have been forgotten.

The hash-tag might make an individual feel for themselves in being a part of a movement for a moment but as quickly as the awareness and hype had spread, it seemed to have disappeared.

This is not to say that people are not concerned and still remain to feel the way they do about this issue, but social activism online seems to have a short lifespan. I argue that it to be truly effective and for online activism to mean more, it must last as long as the issue does at hand, if not longer. 

The campaign did help. 

It has to be acknowledged that the overload online responses to the kidnappings did receive an abundance of attention. It should celebrate the rapid awareness and focus that it caused. 

I would argue that it did help because it if was not in place, it would of done less than it has with pressure for attention and action. I might have no caused from the desire immediate safe return of the girls back home, but it started something that it otherwise wouldn’t of.

Unfortunately, still many of the girls remain missing although rumors have been spread of a potential reconciliation.

With the world watching, they (Governments, officials etc.) cannot afford to look the other way. This issue cannot be ignored. With the world aware, thankfully, there is more pressure to respond. 

There is always a winning and losing side and activism in all forms is not a stranger to this at all.

Activists, whether online or out in the public, should stay strong and united in placing more pressure on those who have the ability to act and do something about it.

If there is one thing to take from all of this, it is to NOT stop.

DO NOT stop the talk of these girls who still remain missing. Do not stop because it is currently not the headline in the news. This is a huge weakness of cyberactivism.

Keep talking, texting and hash-tagging!

Do whatever it is to keep stories such as this one relevant. Do whatever it takes UNTIL there is change. 

Drommeh, N. (2014, June 9). Boko Haram and ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ Campaign- a Sober Reflection. Daily Observer. Duthlers, V., & Karimi, F. (2014, May2). Nigerians demand government do more to bring home kidnapped girls. CNN World. Eaton, M. (2010). Manufacturing Community in an Online Activist organization. Information, Communication and Society, 13(2), 174-192. Haiphing, D. (2014, May 21). “Bring Back Our Girls” Campaign: Reinforcing U.S. Imperialism, the Root of Terrorism in Africa. Black Agenda Report. James, R. (2014, July 10). Is Nigeria getting close to bringing back kidnapped girls? Dallas News. Morse, F. (2014, May 13). The Bring Back Our Girls Campaign is Working: Boko Haram should be scared of a hashtag. The independent. Rolfe, B. (2005). Building and Electronic Repertoire of Contention. Social Movement Studies, 4(1), 65-74. Tostevin, R. (2014, March 14). Online activism: it’s easy to click, but just as easy to disengage. The Guardian. www.facebook.com/bringbackourgirls www.techopedia.com

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ARE YOU IN THE HEADLINES??

By A. Spyker

                              Are you in the headlines?

         Well, depending on your race or ethnicity you might be! But there’s a catch. In order to be in the headlines, you need to be a minority. Although this is a bold claim, there is evidence to support this notion.

        So, is there racism within Canadian journalism and news? For Canadian news in particular, we would like to think that this is not an issue. Fortunately, the reality of racialized discourse and language in news media for Canadians is limited due to stricter journalistic guidelines as compared to The United States. Since the Canada and the US are close neighbours, much of the media is shared across the boarders and therefore Canadians are more likely to be exposed to some of the American media discourse. This language and discourse has to power to influence cultural attitudes and beliefs of others. This is not to say that all media to enter and be shared in Canada is directly racist but rather that there needs to be greater awareness and concern of the discourse used within journalism which might unintentionally suggest otherwise.

          Despite North American, specifically Canadian culture, being built on and celebrating diversity and inclusivity, there is the process of“otherizing”, the separation and distinct disguising of others, within journalism and media.

For Canadian Journalistic Ethics, it is said that unless it pertains to the story, you do no report on it.

         So why does it matter in certain stories or headlines of an individual’s race or ethnicity? Looking at American media news, one can ask themselves this question multiple times.

         This is especially a concern when the story or situation has a negative connotation to it. By including a specific race or ethnicity in a story, it can influence the reader’s perceptions and attitudes towards others in a society.

        Therefore, for journalists, it is important to remember that unless it has something to do with the story, do no report on it.

        For example, if there is a specific story of the Indo-Canadian community celebration, then of course one would discuss that community or culture group but if someone was street racing or drinking and driving, the issue of that individual’s race does not account for issue of that story.

The is an example of a street racing incident in Vancouver, BC that only comments of the number of individuals and simply that they were male. 

http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/story.html?id=6983779

       s it important to clarify on the specificity of the classifying and the categorizing of minorities in the media. The limited comment of the “Dominant White culture” is not referring to the fact that the term “Caucasian” is mentioned in the media. The issue is that it is highly common for this sort of descriptive purpose to only be seen when we are looking for or identifying someone unknown whereas it is more common to see minority descriptions when there is something bad or negative to associate with it.

  BALANCED AND ETHICAL JOURNALISM

        With regards to this issue, what would more balanced and ethical journalism look like?

       Most Canadian journalistic work I have noted makes a significant effort for accuracy and balanced news which causes little or no harm.

       From a personal perspective, there is an obvious unbalanced reporting for descriptions and classification of individuals and groups particularly within American media. I do not think that I have ever heard nor have ever seen anything along the lines of

 … “A group a white Christian people…” or “Several Caucasian individuals…” being identified as compared to “Indian teens” “A group of Muslims ”  “A black Male” or “ a Hispanic woman” which can be seen in the news.

Examples. (AMERICAN)

        What I am trying to emphasize is that the importance to only specify that there people, just human beings, involved in whatever it is that is being reported. If the race or culture does not matter, then why say it?? By constantly reporting and using racial discourse, it is distinguishing and creating a separation amongst people in society. This separation and distinction can influence the perception and attitudes towards different types of individuals and groups. For a society full of culture built on the celebration of diversity, inclusivity, and equality this is the opposite of what should be done.

       The fact that it sounds out of place and strange for headlines to read “…white people…” exposes the problem that there is an inequality of media descriptions. This is interesting since it would not seem out of place to read about minorities in this manner.

Balanced and inclusive reporting would use the same terminology for all ethnicities descriptions; including “white”. The awkwardness of the former not appearing often in headlines or reporting supports the notion for eliminating the discourse of other minorities.

                “Unless it pertains to the story, do not report on it.”

There is a multitude of unique cultures, races and religions to constantly be labelling them in the news. Canadians are united in the fact that we are all individuals and as a part of Canadian culture we are to be treated equally.

         It is a good reminder when reading or watching the news and for current and future journalist to keep in line with the ethics and values of good journalism. This will help for the positively impact society and the people within it.

 If it is not relevant do not mention it.

Are You in the headlines? If you are, we all should be. 

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/03/01/jeremy-lin-espn-says-has-a-chink-in-the-armor/

http://www.caj.ca/ethics-guidelines/

http://mic.com/articles/80797/watch-how-fox-news-really-talks-about-black-america

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-anchor-to-black-people-surrender-to-institutionalized-racism/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZINbdls7EjQ

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Discrimination caused by tough adolescents development among African American Male

By Carey Ren

   When gender and race are combined together in discrimination, it has a stronger stigma and profiling affect than just gender or race alone. In this blog I will look into how discrimination is caused by childhood up bringing and targeting possible factors that may effect African Americans in contributing to social discrimination in adulthood.

   Unemployment among African American Male causes off springs to be lost. There are a number of factors that contribute a tough up bringing among African American Male.The unemployment rate in the US is the highest among African American Male, boys growing up watching their fathers with out jobs will be effected on their work ethic during in school, during their career outlook which causes them more confusion during the time of figuring out what they want to do with their life.

A disadvantaged start

    Unemployment causes poverty, when compared with the privileged suburban boys who had the financial support of going to soccer practice, or tennis club. The lower income area has the highest crime rate, teachers and parents does not have the resource and the time to create after school clubs. Kids are kids no matter what race and gender they are they will find ways to be lazy and be wild, if they do not have a focus or something to get them interested in, they will find ways to wonder off and wastes their valuable youth, in this case the environment they grow up in, poverty and crime awaits after school rather than physical and intellectual challenge, which leads to lower self esteem in performance at work and causes discrimination.

Detached from real world

     Media plays a big role on young adults, and effects how they chooses their path, because they have not been in touch with the real world and not seen other possible successful male of their race they tend to use TV as their understanding how real world is, in the media the choices of successful role models are either NBA players, musicians, or politicians. These are too far out of for a young man and the ways and means to achieve that is unrealistic given that many African American Male are in the lower income demographic section. Even thou those men on TV may be successful but it act as counter productive when it comes to developing and formulating future adult identity that may be more suitable for them.

     With all that being said, it does not mean the discrimination is the only thing that will face African American youth, each person develop differently if the right picture is painted, with the right leaders the younger generation will have hope. If racism and discrimination is the out come of unfortunate development than by being aware of these stressors is a step closer to action to self improvement.

Citation:

Steven D. Kniffley Jr. (2014 July 02 ) retrieved from

http://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/communique/2012/07/discrimination.aspx

David Leonard (2014 July 02) retrieved from

http://www.urbancusp.com/2012/06/the-criminalization-of-mental-illness-in-black-america/

Rockville (MD) (2014 July 02) retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44243/

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The Space for Inclusion in Alternative Media

By A. Spyker

Alternative choices are not simply just another option from mainstream choices, but rather an inclusive and overall beneficial option of diversity.

In reference to media selection, alternative options are an essential part of a society of choice. More specifically, alternative media contributes positively for gender acknowledgment and inclusivity.

This is not to say that all mainstream in bad but that having another option and therefore perspective is a good thing.

Alternative media, to divert from the average mainstream and/or corporate media, opens the doors for more medium options and therefore creates opportunities for diverse voices and perspectives.

Alternative media is good for three reasons; a source to unite common interests, to avoid monolithic media, and to create space for more opportunities.

United through Media

Just because mainstream media speaks to the masses, it does not mean that this is view and choice of the mass. Without the choice of alternative media, it assumes that this is what the overall public feels or believe in. The uniting aspect of alternative media helps to establish various environments where common interests and values are able to connect and relate more closely. Issues of great interest are able to have a more focused space. An example of this would be for the more focused issues of gender (women’s) discrimination that in spaces of alternative media are able to openly unite and voice opinions. The collective ability to unite contributes to more inclusive means for media and establishes new or different values than those of the precedent set by mainstream sources.

Cultural Diversity

The avoidance of a monolithic society is important for a cultural of diversity. Various experiences and perspectives are more able to be heard and shared through alternative media as opposed to the ideologies simply expressed by the mainstream. Mainstream sources of media have commonly been known to limit or exclude perspective and experiences. Alternative media is a source that allows for more expression and detail of those experiences and perspectives.

Aboriginal media, with reference to the experience of aboriginal woman, allows for more knowledge and understanding of the culture and experiences that mainstream media alone does not include. Rather, the perspectives of aboriginal women in mainstream sources of media remains to be narrow and not include the full voices of that community. The Canadian society and culture is built on diversity and languages. The diversity of culturally media on the internet and television expresses the diversity throughout this alternative space.

Opportunity Creation

Since mainstream media does not allow for the inclusion of all of the unique and diverse perspectives and realities. Due to the specific agenda setting by mainstream sources, alternative media allows for the divergence to this constraint. Specifically minority voices, the voices of women and ethnic minorities, have opportunities throughout alternative media to express themselves and to share experiences with others.

More importantly, the dominate form of mainstream media can now be challenged through these alternative mediums. The diverse sources of media, including mainstream media, contributes the democracy in that there is a more open environment for sharing and contributing more experiences and perspectives. In Canadian culture, this is important for the constitutional values of equality and inclusivity, by allowing for the protection and acknowledgement to share the diverse values, opinions and experiences.

Alternative media does not eliminate the value of mainstream sources but is rather an addition to the culture of media that is spread throughout the Canadian society.

                    Shade, L. R. (2014). Media Scapes: New Patterns in Canadian Communication. Toronto: Nelson.

www.alternativemedia.org

www.alternativemedia.ca

www.independentmedia.ca

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They're Watching me and They Know What I Want

By A. Spyker

“They’re watching me and they know what I want”. This may sound scary, but its true!

I am a frequent user of social media and particularly in reference to this discussion I will use the social media network example of Facebook.

Based on my own friends list and the millions of other Facebook users, clearly I am not alone.

Speaking for myself, I have fallen more and more into the deep dark depth of capitalism; I am a high commodity consumer. I can admit it.

If you have a Facebook account, did you know that you are being tracked on and off of Facebook??

Recently, Facebook has had an increase of advertisements that are appearing on the network in forms of games, news and simple commodity marketing.

So how much of an increase to advertisements are there on Facebook?

A Facebook news feed is now 100% filled with advertisements to scroll from top to bottom of the page. Not only are advertisements located at your fingertips but fully in direct site of any and all users.

Facebook claims that their ads were designed in order to assist advertisers in showing users the ads that they would personally find interesting and relevant.

Is that so? But wait!

How does Facebook know what I think is interesting and relevant?

Well, there is another friendship connection besides my own with Facebook associates.

Facebook and Google Networks are working together and constantly performing surveillance on its users.

Targeted ads on Facebook are based off of surveillance methods through not only “likes” but searches done on the web in order to determine your interests. The practice of surveillance is a business and this business contributes to the profitable business for the commodity of food, love, clothes, leisure, activities, food and other things.

Each time something is searched on Google, that date is collected and shared. Data is sold to advertisers and is used as what is targeted at us; the consumers. The success of advertising is reflected on the success for the market and we the consumers are merely the open pocketbooks of money to be spent.

Collectively as a team, Facebook and Google Networks know me and know me really well.

It is hard to say if this is all bad for us consumers or not.

It is possibly bad in that I am constantly being monitored and therefore made into a specific target. But then again, there is this convenience factor in place due to these targeted ads based on the surveillance being done on me.

Here’s an example.

Lately I have done a few Google searches of Las Vegas Vacations. I had not done any purchasing as of et but simple had been looking at different activities and specifically three hotels; The Aria, The Wynn and The Cosmopolitan.

   All of a sudden, as it had never appeared on my Facebook newsfeed prior to my Vegas searches, there have been constant advertisements for the exact hotels in Vegas that I had already looked at. Additionally, as I have not purchased any trips or booked anything yet, all the advertisements place a huge emphasis on “Hurry, book now!”

Even more interestingly, as I have started to narrow down choices of hotels, my Facebook Vegas ads are even more specific on advertising that one hotel.

This is all real!

Nice job working together Facebook and Google.

Now it is not just the shoes and dresses you target me with but together you both know exactly what I want for my vacations. The surveillance on me has contributed in knowing exactly what to push on me.

Well Facebook, maybe you really are my friend.

You have made the effort to get to know me so well.

  One concern I do hold from the seemingly utter convenience is that due to this constantly unavoidable surveillance, I am now too scared to follow through with my own curiosity of searching other things. My fear is not based on being on some “National Security Warning List” but rather to have more advertisements that I am really not interested in targeted at me.

So maybe this friendship really is not all that it seems. Maybe it is actually more one-sided.

Instead I am being used Facebook and Google for advertisements to target me to “buy, buy, buy!”

I could get mad but honestly,

 I will probably just be booking that Vegas hotel soon.

   Forbes. (2013, July) Facebook's Advertising is Starting to Spiral Out of Control. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2013/07/01/facebooks-advertising-is-starting-to-spiral-out-of-control/

Facebook. (2014) About Facebook Ads. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/about/ads/ 

Blue, V. (2014, July). Facebook turns user tracking 'bug' into data mining 'feature' for advertisers. Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.com/facebook-turns-user-tracking-bug-into-data-mining-feature-for-advertisers-7000030603/ 

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Social Media Dating Deception

By A. Spyker

Social Media Dating Deception

With the multiple social media dating websites such as, eHarmony, Match.com, Zooks, Elite singles, Our-time, etc. we have access to multiple sources to fill our dating lives and to be “picky-and-choosy” over who we are interested in.

Social media dating sites have opened more access for individuals in the dating world without really needing to go very far. Now, access is even on your mobile phones on applications such as Tinder.

Technology accessibility gives the impression of “dating easier”, in that you are able to make your own selection while filtering out the less desirable at your finger-tips. What seems to be the ideal feature of technology and social media dating is equally the downfall to the dating world.

When it comes to online dating, men and women have been recognized in sharing the same quality of self-deception. This is a unique form of gender equality in that both genders are seen to be doing the same thing within their social media dating world.

Online, you now have the ability to be whoever you want to be. The problem is, so can everyone else. Of the many individuals to make a selection from in the dating world, now you can never be sure this is truly the individual you are connecting with.

There are two important things to be aware of in this share self-deception for online dating.

The deception prone and interest intriguing features include:

                                           Photos and Bios.

  The first impression maker that anyone online really sees of an individual is their photo. Surveys have been done where individuals who have used online dating sites have reported that they were disappointed in how they did not recognized the person in which they believed they have been connecting with. In contribution to the possibility of a completely different photo being used by someone, social media and photo applications have made it easier to “enhance” or “alter” how an individual looks. Photoshop, lighting, filters, and makeup are all possible tools to be used to create a different image.

Is this really fair when you put yourself out in the dating world?

There have been experiments done where the exact same bios were used in multiple profiles with different photos. The result of the experiments concluded that the more attractive the photo the more attention that the individual received. Despite the falseness behind this experiment, it goes to show the importance of image in the first impression for making a connection.

The bio:

           a few short things about oneself to entice the interest of others.

  This deception can really be compared to false advertising and marketing.

 Do you even look like this?

Do you even like these things?

At the same time, as social media is heavily flooded with advertising, maybe it does make sense for anyone in the online dating world to do whatever it takes to sell and market themselves.

Equally, both men and women have been attracted to bios which have the descriptions of being funny but there are words that each gender scored higher on for feature attractiveness.

Although this self-deception in various forms is to be seen as equally amongst the genders within their social media dating approaches, what entices men and woman are actually different.

Online, for men the more enticing words used by women to describe themselves include, sweet, ambitious, thoughtful and spontaneous whereas women are seen to be drawn to words from men such as, physically fit, ambitious, perceptive, passionate and optimistic.

Language used (proper grammar included) and self-description has a greater impact on the interest of women in comparison to men who consider an aesthetically appealing photo more often.

Social media is an excellent source of possible connections to be made all over.

Let’s just hope for the continued success of relationships, whether made online, to work by meeting and falling for peoples “real personalities”.

You may get to choose who you want to be online, but remember,

So can everyone else.

Hsu, Christine. (2014, June). 1 in 5 Online Daters Are “Unrecognizable” in Person. Retrieved from http://www.counselheal.com/articles/9999/20140606/1-5-online-daters-unrecognizable-person.htm

  Moss, Emily Heist. (February, 2013). Online dating sucks for Men because of Women like me. Retrieved from http://www.rolereboot.org/sex-and-relationships/details/2013-02-online-dating-sucks-for-men-because-of-women-like-me

  Smith, Aaron & Duggan, Maeve. (2013, October).Online Dating and Relationships. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/10/21/online-dating-relationships/

  Griffiths, Sarah. (2014, May). Sweet female WLTM ambitious male: Scientists reveal the most alluring words to entice a hot date online. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2629412/Sweet-female-WLTM-ambitious-male-Scientists-reveal-alluring-words-entice-hot-date-online.html

Is Online Dating Different for Men and Women can be found:

http://www.evanmarckatz.com/blog/online-dating-tips-advice/is-online-dating-different-for-men-and-women/

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How Social Media is not a cure for Loneliness

By Carey Ren

Social Media is not a cure for Loneliness

Stereotyping Trends:

Online dating has been the way people meet each other these days, seems like it is a promising platform to connect people, yet still blogs and videos has been filled with people complaining the outcome to be unsatisfying. When observing the behaviors of online dating participants the study suggest there is a notable hierarchy, men are more desirable based on income level and profession, woman gets messaged more based on their looks in profile pictures. No surprised the reality dating preference has moved to the virtual world.

According to OKtrends a dating research done by OKCupid.com reveals that participators  lie about their height, income level, and looks. Another blog post also tells that “When men and women were asked to self-report their height and weight, men tended to say they were slightly taller than they actually were. Women reported weighing less than they actually did.” This points to the fact that  out the fact that people feels less confident with their nature self and by matching up to a certain ideal the desirable rates will be higher.

Here is what the problem is:

The trick with finding the right person has a lot to do with a special connection and the special factor that pops, a lot goes into creating that spark and attraction, but with everyone wanting or should we say forced to look, act , desire the same thing, the spark is really hard to ignite. 

First of all, knowing oneself and what attract the individual takes a lot of self work, difrent experiences creates well rounded understanding, however with in the current context it will take longer to see through the disguise and get to know the real person, and lets not forget if everyone is becoming that one desired version, which means less time involved in developing individuality. The goal is to attract the right person not everyone, with out individuality how will one one find the special person. 

Secondly, changing oneself into the stereotype creates confusion within, deconstructing the internal to meet the external environment means one have to reconstruct the identity and that it self looses the eccentricity of a person's character and that is what essentially makes a person interesting and unique. 

Social media has created a platform for people to brows through the opposite sex in a easier matter, but the underlying scale is still the same, there will not be any major change in the dating world.Social media has done its fair share of contribution in connecting to people, if one takes a look at the method used to connect people, organizing individuals by appearance, profession, hobbies but it is still the high income male, and barbie like females thats being desired social media can not do much to create a connection. 

Social Media's Role

Many say that online dating is not the cure for loneliness perhaps the true cure for the dating world takes a open minds at the same time knowing what one truly wants to get the desired out come in the dating world. 

Eriko Nagayama “Gender and Online Dating”, Retrieved June 8, 2014, from 

http://prezi.com/e2xfotygx5fy/gender-and-online-dating/

Wiki Gender“Gener Difference in Online Dating”, Retrieved June 8, 2014, from

http://www.wikigender.org/index.php/Gender_Differences_in_Online_Dating

Christian Rudder“ The Big Lies People Tell in Online Dating ”, Retrieved June 8, 2014, from

http://www.wikigender.org/index.php/Gender_Differences_in_Online_Dating

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Redefining Feminism

By Carey Ren





How Working in a male dominated field 
effected how I view feminism 


Growing up with many friends who are 
strong believers of feminist theory, I had opportunities to sit in 
women's studies classes, attended plays where my friends wrote and acted 
about women's rights, joined heated discussions about gender issues and how 
how men are no respecting woman as equals in the work field . When I first got in to 
the IT field I was well aware that this is a  male dominate field, 
and was set to prove that women can be equally as good as 
men, however to my surprise the men I have uncounted were completely different from
what have I learned from my feminist friends.   





How I came to the realization feminist 
is no longer what we think it is. 



Having worked with many programmers in 
a collaborative environment where I am the only 
woman in the group had made me realize 
there is a shift in the social perspective on woman in the work place.  

I remember when I worked on a project 
where my team(4 males) and me the only woman  had to stay up two 
nights to complete the design, I was so determined to prove to them 
that women can be equally as good as men. I would stay up longer, 
work harder and I got the praise, I was voted as the project leader. 
Few of my male friends made comments 
such as "don't know why you have to work that hard, you have 
proved yourself already".  I have been ask my numerous small start 
ups to come work for them because they want to have a balance in 
their work place. 
After working along side the men for 
more than 2 years, in different group meetings I realized that 
younger generation today tend not to put a stigma on female in IT. 
The reason for that is because we have been educated (both men and woman)  that woman 
can perform as well as men, we see females are taking up lead roles 
in the country as motor company CEO, competing for president, entrepreneur on "Dragon's Den" etc.   



I couldn't help but wonder was I being 
overly conscious of my sex  to the point that all my late nights and 
burn out days trying to prove something that already is taking place.



Future for feminism



The message I am trying to convey here 
is not against any feminist out there but act as a remind for those 
who are still "fighting",  perhaps we can slow down and see 
the changes in the social environment. How  main stream media are 
publishing articles on  concerns of gender imbalance in certain 
career fields, activists protesting for equal pay, movements to help woman and children in Africa to get education.

These shifts and changes happened because the previous  heroines have created created this social infrastructure for us girls in this new generation, perhaps as current stage we no longer have to look over our shoulders about if men finds us inferior but rather  just let the world adjust itself while we focus on actual work and create a genera balanced future for the younger generations to come. 

Morgan.James Citing Websites. In “Woman better at multitasking than men”,Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24645100

Worstall.Tim Citing websits. In”Why Are There So Few Woman In IT and Telecoms? Retrieved June 1, 2014  http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/10/02/why-are-there-so-few-women-in-it-and-telecoms/

In “Detroit's first lady”  Retrieved June 1, 2014

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21591649-car-giants-new-boss-not-only-woman-car-guy-detroits-first-lady

Cochrane, Kira “1963: the beginning of the feminist movement” retrieved June 1, 2014

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/may/07/1963-beginning-feminist-movement

Zalta. Edward N. “Feminist Perspective on Sex and Gender”, Retrieved June 1, 2014, from 

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-gender/

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More Male Teachers Needed in Schools

By A. Spyker

Gender equality is needed and remains to be a crucial part of quality schooling.

There is a need for more male teachers.

Canada has taken steps to enhance itself in this area. The nation’s actions represent a call out for the importance of male leaders in society; particularly that of teachers.

A Toronto, Ontario school board is focusing on hiring more male teachers with the emphasis on eliminating the stigmatization of teaching in the female dominated career. Additionally, the enhanced attention and emphasis for more male teachers is contributing to limiting the social constructs that females remain to be better teachers or that the profession of teaching is seen as more a female suited career.

In the progressive movement for gender equality in Canada, more males should hold career positions that are dominated by females. Gender equality in schools is an example that both of the sexes bring equally valuable traits and qualities to teaching in the addition to the various effects on the students and teaching environment. Males and females in the role of educators make for a balanced classroom and the learning environment. As males in teaching are continuously seen as a rarity, the goal for male more representation, particularly in elementary education settings, becomes that much more important.

In the steps towards the direction of gender equality, what is it that the rare male educators bring forth to the teaching environment?

It is said that boys and girls, particularly from a single parent household run by the mother, lack positive male role models and with the rise of these forms of households in Canada, it is ever more apparent for the need of positive leaders in educator positions.

The addition of more male teachers in the school environment establishes greater balance. Traditional feminist have long argued for gender equality and equal treatment and therefore this should also be reflected in the classroom and education environment.

In line with positive development, male teachers are able to contribute to the education of boys by sharing in similar experiences and understandings in the relation of certain aspects  . This attribute, for the enhancement of learning, can also to lead to greater success and motivation by preventing dropouts by male students.

The interactions by male teachers, as role models outside of the home, also contribute positively for girls in their practices of communication with opposite gender for their social development .

More Gender Equality.

Good work Canada for making progressive movements towards greater achievement in this area.

The emphasis on male and female teachers being equally needed shows the great understanding and importance of the qualities, perspectives and attributes that both genders have to offer to the Canadian learning environment.

Works cited

Abraham, C. (2012, August). Part 2: The endangered male teacher. Retrieved from http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/part-2-the-endangered-male-teacher/article4330079/?service=mobile

Rutledge, L. (2013, May). Hire more men or face a human rights complaint, trustee tells school board. Retrieved from http://news.ca.msn.com/ontario/cambridge/hire-more-men-or-face-a-human-rights-complaint-trustee-tells-school-board

Taylor and Francis. (2013, November). Why we need more male primary school teachers. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131120081236.htm