'When Anchormen Attack'
Sexist, racist coverage in the media
by Kendra Foster, posted Oct. 31, 2008
As the 2008 elections end with a dive into mudslinging, Jennifer Pozner, the director of Women in the Media & News and a noted public speaker, wants the media to clean up their act, and not just through cleaner campaign ads.
She wants mainstream media to recognize they are being sexist and racist in their coverage. Pozner spoke to students on Oct. 14 at MU about how they could make the media cover the “real” issues by supporting independent stations that Pozner said look out for the public’s best interest.
Pozner has given a host of presentations similar to “When Anchormen Attack.” According to her Web site, wimnonline.com, Pozner “has conducted multi-media presentations and participated in panels and debates at dozens of colleges and conferences across the country.”
She called for students to be critical of what the media say, giving examples of media coverage during this election season and asking if students thought these stories helped voters know how to vote better.
Pozner works to “increase women’s presence and power in the public debate through media analysis, education, advocacy and reform,” according to the organization’s Web site.
When the Washington Post in July 2007 did a story merely on Hillary Clinton’s breasts, Pozner was appalled.
Clinton “showed up at the Senate and forgot to leave her breasts at home. How dare she!" Pozner, said with some sarcasm.
Pozner then presented a video clip of Donny Deutsch, host of a CNBC talk show, saying that Sarah Palin had sex appeal: “I want her lying next to me in bed.”
She also spoke of an entire commentary that deliberated about why Barack Obama ordered orange juice in a diner instead of the coffee that was offered.
After giving numerous examples of these types of media stories, Pozner asked the audience what issues each of the candidates stood for. From the media coverage, those issues were undeterminable.
Emily Becker, MU sophomore, attended the event. She found Pozner’s presentation an inspiration for her career choice.
“I thought that Jennifer Pozner's presentation was very interesting, especially since I am majoring in journalism,” Becker said. “Throughout the event, I alternated between wanting to stand up in defense of the media and wanting to condemn the words and actions of the anchors.”
Pozner concluded her presentation with a final push for student action.
“The media acts as a barrier for women [and blacks] from getting into office,” Pozner said. She pointed out that in such a pivotal election year, the issues should receive the most coverage, and that stories like this cause the media to lose focus on the real issues at stake.
“The presentation made me only want to be a journalist more in order to be able to implement changes in the way different races and genders are interviewed and presented in media coverage,” Becker said.
