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Show THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL• SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY• MONDAY) MARCH 6, 1995 FOCUS: CONVOCATION Alleged media biases cause public distrust Even journalists are allowed to have biases By LIONEL GRADY SUU ASSOCIATE PRO FESSOR OF COMMUNICATION I was in a conversation group the other day where the major topics under discussion were dislike and distrustdislike of politics and distrust of the news media. It seemed odd that college students, ostensibly concerned with expanding their knowledge, would want to avoid information about politics and be so wary of those whose job it is to bring them that information. There is a temptation, however, to do just that. A fashionable cynicism mixed with a tempting desire to relax and be ignorant. Now saying "I hate politics" is a little like saying you're opposed to the Law of Gravity. The truth is that somebody is going to be making decisions that aHect you and you might as well know about it. Ignorance and apathy can often result in tyranny. We overcome them with awareness. And we gain that awareness through the news media. It takes effort at times. According to most research, we Americans spend an average of four hours a day watching 1V, another three hows listening to the radio, with only 30 minutes allocated to newspapers. So we apparently like the media. But mostly what we like is its entertainment function. Ironically, the medium that gives us the most information about political event, newspapers, is the one most slighted time-wise. Some distrust the news media because of their alleged biases. And that's probably true. Journalists are people and people do have biases, so it's not terribly unlikely that these might affect their stories. But we can learn, even from those with whom we disagree. Besides that, there are built-in biases that have an even greater effect on the news. Time is a major limitation on radio and television news, as is the demand visual stories on 1V. And of cowse, there are the ratings. Newspapers have to deal with declining circulations, a rapidly aging leadership, and competitive pressure from other media. But the good news is that there is enough to go around for everyone. Information sources today range from traditional media like newspapers and TV, to upstarts like talk radio, specialized newsletters and the Internet. There's a smorgasbord of media to choose from . So if you see the news media as watchdogs or lapdogs1 as liberal elitists or right wing nuts; as rebels or establishmentarians, you've probably got it right. They are all that and more. More importantly, people in the media are our window to the world. It's may be a bit foggy and smudged at times but its our window nonetheless. We only have to use it to the fullest extent. SUU Associate Professor of Communication Lionel Grady teaches broadcasting classes in the department. Gregory helps celebrate Women's History Month By HEATHER GREEN AND JENNIFER MORLEY OF THE JOURNAL STAFF Women's History Month and its associated activities serves to honor women and their accomplishments. This year, one of the month's themes is "Women in Politics." The month events kicked off with the first ever Iron County Women's Conference. The featured speaker for the "Celebrating Womanhood" conference was Mary Sawyers from KTVX News. Other speakers included Elaine Baldwin who spoke about the important role women could and should play in politics, and Donna Rue Jenkins on professional women in a typically male world. Daphne Dalley spoke on how learning to say "no" iµakes yow "yes" more powerful, and Roger Christian discussed the affects that labels have on people and how to shake bad labels off. Additional topics addressed at the conference included the college and professional career image and weight management for all ages. The majority of participants expressed positive comments about the conference and showed interest in a longer conference that would allow participants to attend more courses. I Next year, the conference committee would like to double attendance. Throughout the month, various speakers and activities open to all those interested, will be held in the student center. "Events are concentrated in two time periods, one before the break between winter and spring quarters, and one after the break, " Danielle Dubrasky a member of the sponsoring SUU Women's Resowce Committee, said. "Much of the emphasis later in the month is on an international perspective. We are inviting and encouraging the public to attend any or all of the events," she said. Such activities include presentations on women's suffrage in Utah, Irish women against apartheid, and the 'Hou emaids' Union in Cuzcok, Peru. Bettina Gregory, senior general assignment correspondent for ABC News, will be speaking at also Thursday's Convocation lecture in conjunction with the month. Gregory's lecture topic will be "Women in Politics: A National Perspective." Jan Graham will speak at the first spring quarter Convocation march 23 and will discuss her perspective on legal issues in Utah. Both free convocation presentations will be at 11 a.m . in the SUU Auditorium. No-host noon lunches will follow both addresses in the TV Lounge of the SUU Student Center. Gregory will also lead a round table discussion of "Women in Politics" at 2 p.m. in the 1V Lounge. One credit of history 292 or 494 is available for interested students. For a description of course requirements, Shelley Sinclair may be contacted at 865-8145. For information and course requirements of the offered Political Science 292/494 course "Women in Politics," contact Suzanne Larson at 586-7970. |