Members of local media organizations said national news sources often play a role in negatively depicting the public’s views of the protesters and social media has played a crucial part in gathering wider support in a lecture Thursday.
Representatives from the local media and organizations like the Center for Media and Democracy came together at the Orpheum Theater to consider the representation of the current labor conflict by the media.
Matt Rothschild, editor of The Progressive magazine, said the protests at the Capitol will have lasting historical significance for the state and organized labor.
“This is the longest sustained pro-labor rally that this country has seen in decades, possibly in U.S. history,” he said. “This is the beginning of the fight back; this is when people stop taking it lying down.”
Rothschild said some media organizations have tried to portray the demonstrations at the Capitol as radical and violent, which is not an accurate portrayal. Individuals in Madison participating in the protests know the rallies have largely remained peaceful, he said.
Rothschild also said the response of Wisconsin public workers has spread to other states and is drawing national attention to the rights of labor unions.
Members of the panel echoed the sentiment that public opinion in the midst of the protests is directly influenced by how media outlets frame the story, and news coverage has played a key role in distorting public perceptions of the protests.
The Nation writer John Nichols said much of the coverage by photojournalists provides a more honest depiction of events at the Capitol.
“Simply look at the beautiful pictures from inside the Capitol and you get a better idea of what’s going on than if you read the article and get deceived,” Nichols said.
He also said media organizations should depict labor unions in a more respectful manner and allow for individual unions to retain distinct identities instead of grouping them as all possessing common aims and interests.
He added more independent news coverage should be pursued to combat misrepresentation of the unions and would better reflect the human quality of the protesters.
Molly Stentz, news facilitator for 89.9 WORT Community Radio Station, said there is a problem with the structure of national news stations which promotes a division between the media and protesters.
She said this discrepancy of perception allows for a lack of local context and leads to misrepresentations of the situation.
“They look at us as though we’re a science experiment, [but] they’re not actually where the people are, in the cafes, on the buses, [in] any small business on State Street,” Stentz said.
She also said social media has dramatically changed the way members of the public respond to current events in Madison, and there is currently a movement away from national media sources such as CNN or The New York Times.
Protesters at the Capitol have also worked to publicize their messages in order to mobilize their supporters, and new supporters on an increasingly national and international scare are gained daily through these media, she said.