Critical Literacy Unit

In Beach’s text, it states that “critics have examined the underrepresentation of women and minorities in the television news industry” which is highlighted in the Local News documentary. I feel that this would be an interesting thing for students to explore, especially when observing gender roles and the feminist lens with a novel. Students could explore and research IF this statement is true and, if it is, address WHY this is present in society today.

After reading a text, for example Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, students could explore the character Elizabeth Bennet and the role she plays within the novel. Afterwards, students could look at various networks and explore the roles of women in the television news industry. Does the fact that less women than men are represented in this industry have an affect on the audience? Would it make it difference if there was an equal amount of men and women being represented? Why is it that society accepts this today?

After exploring multiple networks, they could then go out into the community and interview random people, asking them what their thoughts on this situation are. Finally, students could pool of their research together to construct a final paper or project. Have the roles of women really changed that drastically since the time of Elizabeth Bennet? Why is it that now, when women and men are supposed to have equal rights, that women continue to be underrepresented?

News Breakdown

5 Eyewitness News

Thursday, June 18^th, 2009. Time – 5:00 p.m.

Top Story (4 minutes): Twister storms through Austin, Texas. Joe Mazen narrates story and interviews three MALE Texas residents. There is also a side story regarding a dog, Brandi, who was thrown into the woods and survived. She is a golden retriever, and the owner is now thinking of changing her name to Toto.

Local Story (2 minute): Hecker fights back! Colleen Mahoney brings viewers outside a courthouse, where Hecker is suing GMAC.

Local Story (1 minutes): 35W bridge collapse was avoidable. 79 victims are now suing contractors).

Local Story (3 minutes): Story regarding budget cuts, especially towards education. It becomes evident that the budget for education is going to remain frozen. It then moves on to talk about unemployment in the state of Minnesota. In the month of May, 1600 people lost their jobs.

Commercial Break ( 3 minutes): Twin Cities Live, Jewelry exchange, Verizon Wireless Network, Vision World, Fleet Farm, and Hom Furniture.

Local News (3 minutes): Lowry Ave. Bridge is being taken down, due to safety issues.

Local News (2 minutes): Kevin Jones is being sentenced to 12 years in jail for sexual conduct. In Chaska, a man named John Theis exposed himself at Dunn Brothers Coffee Shop and is going to court.

International News (3 minutes): Pilot’s death after landing plane to safety. There were 247 passengers aboard, and none of them knew the pilot died of a heart attack after the landing. Pilots over 65 are required to undergo health screens annually.

National News (1 minute): Hilary Clinton fell and broke her elbow. She now needs to have surgery.

National News (1 minute): A recount of gas prices across the United States.

Local News (3.5 minutes): Weather. Storm warnings, as well as tornado watches are in effect for the Twin Cities. Brought to you by meteorologist Chikage Windler

Local News (1.5 minutes): Football practice should not have two practices / day due to the risk of heat stroke. They are also encouraged to take longer breaks.

Commercials (3 minutes): Ford Trucks, Spam, U.S. Bank, Progressive, 3M Championship (golf), Comcast, Chanhassen Dinner Theater.

Reflection:

This news segment spent the most time addressing the tornado in Austin, Texas and speaking with ONLY male Texans. I do not know if I have a logical reason to be upset by this, but I am! Why only talk with men? I saw a women walking around in the background. It is not like men are the only gender that live in Texas! Also, half of that story focused on a dog. I do not think Minnesota cares that the owner of this “miracle” dog is thinking about changing its name to Toto. Seriously!

On a different note, I was shocked to see a female meteorologist. I rarely watch the news and I have only seen male weathermen.

Overall, the news shared nothing enlightening or positive. There are thunderstorms that are sweeping through the Twin Cities, two MN sex offenders, reducing the amount of football practice for high school students, and a pilot died after safely landing his plane. With the pilot story, however, it kind of made the passengers look insensitive. They interviewed some of them after they got off the plane, and they addressed things that were unimportant, such as their luggage. The narrator then added that the passengers did not know about the death of the pilot until much later. Again, why add the interview with the passenger then?