Understanding Ethnic Media: Producers, Consumers, and Societies

Matsaganis, Matthew D., Vikki S. Katz, and Sandra J. Ball-Rokeach, (2011). Understanding Ethnic Media: Producers, Consumers, and Societies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. pp. 314. Press theory can be complex: Who does or should press serve? What informs it? What sustains it? What goals drive it? In a classic essay published 1918, Hilaire Beloc, Catholic apologist, described press as capitalist in origin, evolution, and effect. Beloc wrote of the evil of great modern Capitalist Press, function in vitiating and misinforming opinion and in putting power into ignoble hands. In same breath, he offered its by formation of small independent organs, and probably increasing effect of these last (p. 1). That correction may have emerged nearly a century later in form of a colorful press. Today in United States live 57 million adult consumers who patronize some 3,000 outlets, according to New America Media, a San Francisco-based advocacy group. Ethnic-specific programming represents fastest growing sector of American journalism because of quickly diversifying demographic profile of many urban areas. It offers a counterweight to what critics such as Noam Chomsky and Robert McChesney have observed: that America's mainstream press is positioned to apologize for plutocracy of a few Goliaths, rather than to speak for any underdog. In complex milieu of press theory do Matsaganis and his fellow authors situate press. But two quick observations: First, book presents, for most part, a of media, not press. To this reviewer, media suggests that authors envisaged an institutional role that includes entertainment and socialization compared to the an institution of politics that tends to either operationalize a Meiklejohnian selfrule or advance state. Second, term ethnic is loaded in many ways. Using term can reflect a patronizing attitude in neo-dominant culture toward older and local traditions. It can connote a distinction, and hence exclusion, of local in cuisine, clothing, and festivity from presumed sophistication of an emerging mainstream. Ethnic can mean, as Merriam-Webster offers in first definition, heathen, who is an unconverted or uncivilized or irreligious person. In this book, authors do well to eschew stereotypical judgment. They define broadly to include by and for (a) immigrants, (b) ethnic, racial, and linguistic minorities, as well as (c) indigenous populations across different parts of world (p. xiii). They offer a succinct explication of that definition in chapters 1 and 2, emphasizing geographic context, roles of media, and a quick historical overview of press in Europe, America (including Native American and Chinese press), and Mexico. The book offers a rich smorgasbord of discussion, covering immigrants' media, minorities' media, audience trends, organizations, and policy development. Its eleven chapters and 314 pages present, ...a far-reaching review and analysis of how affect ongoing negotiations of self-identity, perceived lines of division between us and others, and how production and consumption of affects character of larger and societal landscape (p. xiii). It presents press, mostly in America but also in Mexico, France, and Canada, as not only a reflection but also a catalyst of societies that are rapidly heterogenizing by race, language, and national origin. The book includes twenty-five pages of references, six pages of author index, and fourteen pages of subject index. In addition to old-fashioned tables, attractive graphic elements jazz up pages. A very useful chapter objectives section precedes every chapter, and thoughtful sections titled summary, study questions (or case analysis questions), and notes conclude every chapter. …

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