Questions

PoliticsMedia-FinalLecture.pdf

Progress and intolerance

Progress andIntolerance

•There needs to be more social science research to understand the mechanism between this phenomenon but there are factors that contribute to it: • Increase in partisan polarization and political segregation • Increase in heated political rhetoric from specific politicians • White supremacist and hate groups are more open about their views

• Reaction of some groups to political progress achieved by women and racial, sexual, religious minority groups over the past 20 years

• The US is a unique country in the world, a gigantic-more than 300 million people- multicultural nation.

Why?

What can journalists/mass mediado?

•Report on what matters, not just on what sells

•Regain citizens’ trust (even conservative and Republicans) •Combat stereotypes/misconceptions

•Try to be as accurate and professional as possible

•Have a self-reflection and discussion about partisan journalism and the future of journalism overall

•Stick together as a profession against attacks from politicians

•Try to find commonground •Genuinely reach across the aisle •Use empathy •Don’t attack citizens who support the other side

•There are ALOTof politicians who try to do this (They don’t get a lot of media attention) • Kyrsten Sinema: moderate Democrat just elected US senator from Arizona, first

Democratic Senator in 30years. • Charlie Baker: very popular moderate Republican governor of Massachusetts, oneof

the most Democratic states in theUS.

What can politicians do?

What can we do ascitizens? • Come together when wecan

• Call out politicians and other citizens who use racist and demeaninglanguage

• Make an effort to understand other people’s perspective andexperiences

• But don’t justify oppression and discrimination in any way

• Don’t closethe door or unfriend but engagein adiscussion with people who disagree

• Attack the political views but not the individual personyou’re talking with

• Overcome stereotypes andmisconceptions

• Go out and protest for what you believe in, ina peaceful way

• Example: • Better Angels group: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mLDgtUuK34