Media narratives in times of turmoil

Media Narratives in Times of Turmoil: Depictions of Minorities in Canada Post 9/11
Omar Ha-Redeye, J.D. Candidate, University of Western Ontario
Daniel Simard, J.D./M.E.S. Candidate Osgoode Hall

Propaganda is neutrally defined as a systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media channels.
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Intro
“Propaganda is neutrally defined as a systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media channels.” - Richard Alan Nelson
Background
Overview of Historic Use
Defining a New Hate Group
Progression of Racism in Psychological Theory
The Link Between Media and Aversive Racism
Canadian Legislation and Laws
Human Rights Commissions and Freedom of Expression
How Stereotypes can Affect Policy
Potential Solutions
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From Sumerian Art to Modern Communications
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Nazi Propaganda
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The Eternal Jew
Messages:
Large birth rates
Spread from Middle-East through Europe
Undermine European values
Assimilate to try and fit in and infiltrate
Economically dominate and take over
-> 5th column arguments
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Anti-Japanese Sentiment
Feelings of hatred among population helped justify civil rights violations and use of nuclear weapons
War Measures Act, 1942
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Shift to the Middle-East and Persia
1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis
Greater caricatures of Iranians and Arabs
Fanatics, backwards
Hate crimes against Iranian-Americans
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Gulf War
Propaganda scandal
Kuwaiti company hiring American PR firm
Testimony before Congress over incubators
Heavily influenced vote in Congress to go to war
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Edward Said on Orientalism
Moslems and Arabs seen as either oil suppliers or potential terrorists
Very little detail entered the awareness of even reporters
Series of crude, essentialized caricatures of the Islamic world
presented in such a way as to make that world vulnerable to military aggression
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Challenges with Identifying Modern Propaganda
Shift from implicit to explicit racism
Much more difficult to tease apart, not as readily observable
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But They’re Just Cartoons?
The Mohammed Cartoons
Western Standard
Rod A. Martin:
humour can create discriminatory work environment by creating normative standards
humour can be ambiguous; intentions behind these particular cartoons are uncertain
Process of psychological racism
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Racism in Psychological Theory
old-fashion racists
Segregation and open discrimination
aversive racism theory
the “turban effect”
“shooter bias” paradigm
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Racialized Discourse Normalized
John Fiske:
discourse of racism advances interests of whites through words, images, and practices
Deeply embedded without thought
Democratic racism (Francis & Tator)
dissonance of liberal states
Use of racializeddiscourse
Discourse of denial
Discourse of political correctness
The discourse of blame the victim, or white victimization
The discourse of tolerance
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A New Paradigm of Intolerance
Parallels between 9/11 and Pearl Harbour
Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC)
Maclean’s magazine from 2005-2007
Rise in hate crimes (2001)
But note inadequacy of hate-based crimes reporting
TheBouchard-Taylor Commission
distortions between facts and perceptions; media major contributor
Underrepresentation in public office
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Canadian Laws and Criminal Sanctions
Multiculturalism Act (1988)
recognizes diversity of Canadians as fundamental characteristic of Canadian society
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
S. (1) limitations, and s. 15 equality
Sections 718.2, 318, 319 of Canada’s Criminal Code
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Civil Remedies and Human Rights Codes
Lack of civil remedy for slander directed to groups
Libel and Slander Act R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER L.12
Human Rights Codes (Provincial, Federal)
differences between the Ontario Human Rights Code and the British Columbia Human Rights Code R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19
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Use of Social Science and Free Speech
Speech is highly valued in Canada, except hate speech; but avoid criminalization
R. v. Keegstra, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 697
Social science evidence may be used
Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Quebec (Attorney General), [1989] 1 S.C.R. 927
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How Stereotypes can Affect Policy
perception of an inevitable clash of civilizations
race-based policies and profiling
Prejudice in the courtroom
Justice Antonin Scalia
Use of torture in “24”
Article 2 of the UN Convention Against Torture
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Potential Solutions
Greater education needed
Media often viewed as fact
Mandatory regulatory body governing media professionals
Ontario press council
Ombudsman
Act as a liason with the audience to address minority concerns
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Conclusions
Responsibility for addressing media discrimination lies on the legislature
Ensure equal footing in a democratic society
Rebutting stereotypes is a gradual process
Requires breaking the silence among academics and officials
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Media narratives in times of turmoil

by Omar Ha-Redeye on May 12, 2010

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