Discourses Defn 1 verbal interchange of ideas especially

Discourses: • Defn: 1) verbal interchange of ideas; especially conversation 2) a formal and orderly and usually extended expression of thought on a subject 3) a mode of organizing knowledge, ideas, of experience that is rooted in language and its concrete contexts (as history or institutions)

representation • Representation: defn: 1) one that represents: as an artistic likeness or image 2) a statement or account made to influence opinion or action

Bugeja: Thesis • “Media create perceptions, for better or worse” (219) • And since media professionals often depict society without fully experiencing diversity of it (215) • Coverage has a tendency to promote stereotypes instead of diversity • Tolerance is needed.

What does biased coverage look like? (stereotypes, 222) • Can be blatant or subtle (228) • Based on assumptions (219) • Suggests “one” stands-in for all –organizes symbolically (226) • Fails to represent group truly and instead perverts judgement (220) • Danger = they become cliche (223) • Result= De-humanizes: eroding rights and privileges of citizenship (226)

How to deal with bias? (tolerance) • See others as they actually are (217) • Practice diversity as a matter of conscience and consciousness (218) • Don’t ignore bias, but acknowledge it (218) • A revolution in thought- stand up and say “this is not acceptable to us” (221) • The mapmaker concept (222) • Identify stereotypes (229) • Appropriate descriptions, coverage, relationships (233, 234)