Thesis:

The lack of fair reporting on labour issues highlights the need for independent labour journalism

Introduction:

If you’re looking for information about labour issues in the mainstream press, you probably won’t find it.  According to a 2013 study by the Newspaper Guild, less than 0.3% of news stories broadcast on 4 major television networks over 3 years focused on labour.  CNN had the least amount of coverage, even though it broadcasts an hourly newscast.  In many news stories that discuss labour, unions are portrayed negatively.  When covering worker strikes, for example news stories often focus on the inconvenience to consumers or the public, rather than the reasons why workers are striking.

Main Body:

Part 1: Corporate media is biased against unions and labour

• ·      Because of media concentration, news is dominated by corporate interests
• ·      News stories serve the interests of advertisers, not the public
• ·      Corporate Media has ignored labour issues and portrayed unions in a negative light
• ·      Labour unions are characterized as lazy and unproductive, and the cause of conflict
• ·      Most stories focus on the protests and pickets
• ·      Lack of stories about positive benefits of unions or charitable work that unions do in the community.
• ·      Labour leaders are rarely used as sources
• ·      Workers are blamed for labour conflict rather than government or business

Part 2: Fair coverage of labour issues is necessary to inform the public

• ·      The public receives much of their information about labour issues from the media
• ·      The way that labour issues are framed can influence public opinion
• ·      In recent years public policies have eroded the rights of workers
• ·      These policies have widened the gap between the rich and poor
• ·      Negative portrayals of unions make it difficult for unions to organize workers and persuade the public on policy decisions

Part 3: Independent labour journalism can help present another perspective

• ·      Independent news organizations are able to report on how unions protect workers
• ·      Audiences would be able to see their lives accurately reflected in the news

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Carreiro, J. Newspaper Coverage of the US. Labor Movement: The Case of Anti-Union Firings. Labor Studies Journal, 30, 1-20.

Martin, C. R. (2004). Framed!: labor and the corporate media. Ithaca, N.Y.: ILR Press.

Puette, W. (1992). Through jaundiced eyes: how the media view organized labor. Ithaca, N.Y.: ILR Press.

Subervi, F. Labor & Unions in National TV Network News: Preliminary Summary Report. . Retrieved , from https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4004/c/799/images/Labor%20First%20Summary%20Report.pdf