'Metro' & 'The Star Vancouver': a Print Media
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‘METRO’ & ‘THE STAR VANCOUVER’: A PRINT MEDIA ANALYSIS OF INDIGENOUS ISSUE-BASED REPORTING Tutorial III – LBST 392 Simran Sarwara Dec. 6, 2019 Sean Ashley 1 Acknowledgement This project was planned to be finished within the scope of a semester at Capilano University. This time frame entails the necessity of setting and working within a set of parameters to ensure feasibility. The topic of this project cannot be holistically encompassed within the span of a 4-month time period, and as a result contains a significant degree of limitations. In addition, this piece was completed from my perspective, which lacks the lived experiences that are referenced and written about in this project. It is imperative to recognize that as academics, students, and just as people in general there are always more ways in which we can embed intersectionality and anti-oppression values and methodologies in our work. This reminder of the need to actively seek ways ‘to do better’ is essential for me (as someone who wants to better practice ‘allyship’ academically, professionally, and personally.) It is my hope that this paper can encourage the use of an anti-oppressive analysis to examine the many intersections of seemingly linear issues. This project was written and submitted on the unceded and stolen territories of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Sechelt, Squamish, and Tsleil‐Waututh Nations whose ancestral lands I have called home for the past 18 years. - Shukriyah (thank you) 2 The influential role of media in shaping the beliefs, values, and attitudes of ‘consumers’ of information is a long-standing finding across interdisciplinary studies. The nature in which such a multi- faceted institution has disproportionately impacted marginalized communities in the colonial state of Canada has also been extensively researched. The following analysis seeks to draw on these studies to contextualize the findings from the tutorial’s qualitative research endeavour. This analysis begins with a contextualization of the history of and transition between two, local print media establishments selected for the project: ‘Metro’ (Vancouver branch) and ‘The Star Vancouver’. It then seeks to highlight and discuss several studies conducted on the representation of Indigenous peoples in Canadian media. This is followed by a presentation of the result of the tutorial as well as a compare- and-contrast analysis concerning how the findings of the tutorial relate to the discussions of the previous sections. Section 1: A Historical Snapshot ‘Metro’ The ‘Metro’ runs out of Metro International - a “Swedish global media company” that is based in Luxembourg (Metro International, n.d.). At its peak, the newspaper published in 23 countries1, with a strategic focus on enhancing “young, active, well-educated Metropolitan” readers2 and the “working urbanite” (Facts & Figures, n.d.). Founded by Per Andersson, the newspaper advertises as reporting on local, national, and international news, and claims to be “unbiased and neutral” but at the same time “not scared to earnestly analyze news for [their]…18-40 year old readers3” (The Metro Moment, n.d., p.8). Though Metro International launched several branches of its newspaper in Canada in 2000, in 2012 the company chose to close all European editions (with the exception of the Hungarian version). This was allegedly undertaken to allow the company to focus on Latin American, asserting that the 1 As of 2017 2 The website does not explain or define what is meant by “unique visitors” 3 See Appendix 2 for chart found in ‘The Metro Moment” Report (p. 24) 3 region is “considered the last growth market for free newspapers” (Metro International, n.d.). The ‘Metro’ newspaper is an example of a ‘commuter newspaper’, intended to target those that move “daily in and out of big cities’ business areas…” (Metro International, n.d.). The newspapers are distributed in “high-traffic commuter zones” or in “public transport networks” (Metro International, n.d.). Other specific distribution points include “office buildings, retail outlets…busy streets, [and]…in other high- density population areas such as college campuses” (Metro International, n.d.). The Metro newspapers are made available on “self-service” racks as well as through hand-distribution at those major public networks (Metro International, n.d.).4 ‘The Star Vancouver’ ‘The Star Vancouver’ has its roots in ‘The Evening Star’, that came to be in November of 1892 after four young adults were “locked out during a labour dispute at the afternoon News” (History of the Toronto Star, n.d.). The newspaper evolved over the years into what would become Canada’s largest daily newspaper – ‘The Toronto Star’ (History of the Toronto Star, n.d.). In 1899, Joseph Atkinson was appointed editor during a time when the newspaper was financially struggling. Shifting to the title of ‘Toronto Daily Star’, Atkinson implemented changes including relocating advertisements from the front page to bolster “broader news coverage”; livening the sports pages; and designating columns for “lovelorn” and “meaty articles on women’s issues” (Atkinson Principles, n.d.). Atkinson developed “strong views” on the role of the newspaper and the principles it should reflect – these came to be known as the “Atkinson Principles”5 (Atkinson Principles, n.d.). He argued that a “progressive newspaper” should strive to support the growth of society through “social, economic and political reforms” (Atkinson Principles, n.d.). 4 Vancouver – 48% rack and 52% hand-distribution method 5 Summary of Atkinson principles - Social justice individual and civil liberties; community and civic engagement; rights of working people; necessary role of government 4 It is imperative to recognize that the Vancouver edition of this newspaper – termed “The Star Vancouver’ – was a result of a “joint venture” between the ‘Torstar’ and ‘Metro International’, leading to the re-branding of ‘Metro’ on April 10, 2018 (Wikipedia contributors, 2019). However, on December 20, 2019 the ‘Torstar’ announced it would be terminating the Vancouver edition, in addition to four others in other cities (Farooqui, 2019, para. 1). These editions are the “last English-language free commuter dailies in Canada” (Farooqui, 2019, para. 17). The closures are reportedly a result of a “decline in print advertising volumes” as well as an increase in the use of digital technology to “consume news” (Farooqui, 2019, para. 3). Journalism professor April Lindgren argues that such actions create more barriers for “young people and lower-income communities who can’t access paid news” (Farooqui, 2019, para. 6). The closure entails that “73 employees will be laid off”, though the ‘Torstar’ has reported that it intends to hire 11 journalists for “new bureaus” in cities “outside of Ontario” (Cheung, 2019, para. 2). Section 2: Print media representation of Indigenous Peoples The historically intentional and strategic framing of Indigenous peoples in derogatory and discriminatory ways in Canadian print media is irrefutable. The ‘Toronto Star’ was also among such newspapers at a time (King, 2017, para. 3). Across numerous studies, it has been evidenced that these past practices continue to inform underlying biases, as issues concerning Indigenous peoples are reported even today in ways that perpetuate “stereotyping, conflation of diverse Indigenous identities into Native or Aboriginal, and binary coverage…framed in us vs. them terms” (Harding, 2018, para. 1). This is further enabled through the lack of meaningful engagement and practices stemming from “deadlines or limited connections on the part of the reporter…” (Enos, 2019, para. 6). The following 5 table6 highlights key findings and arguments from several studies examining Indigenous representation in Canadian print media, that serve to evidence the perpetuation of historical biases: Article Title Authors Key Findings Source Link The Media, Robert • Indigenous issues framed in a way that implies http://www3.brandonu.ca/ Aboriginal People Harding Indigenous peoples are not “ready” to be cjns/25.1/cjnsv25no1_pg31 And autonomous and self-sufficient (p.312) 1-335.pdf Common Sense • New kinds of stereotypes of Indigenous peoples emerging (p.312) • Simplification7 of complex Indigenous issue through “promotion of common-sense interpretations of [Indigenous] issues” (p. 313) • Headlines often indicate/reflect Indigenous representations that are stereotypical (p. 326) • The following topics were found as part of this study (p. 328): o Treaties Land claims o Self-governance o Financial Management of Reserves o Fishing rights (Review Of) Mark • Three “Essentialisms” have primarily https://www.cjc- Seeing Red: A Cronlund underpinned framings: online.ca/index.php/journa History Of Anderson & o Moral depravity l/article/view/2615/2864 Natives In Carmen L. o Racial inferiority Canadian Robertson. o Inability to progress Newspapers • Reporting on Indigenous women have (historically) drawn on two main stereotypes: The “Indian Princess” and the “Indian Squaw” Buried Voices: Robin Pierro • Top themes found in Indigenous-focused media https://www.jhr.ca/wp- Media Coverage et. al stories in 2010/2011 were (p. 4): content/uploads/2015/08/ Of Aboriginal o Contraband tobacco: 6% Buried_Voices.pdf Issues In Ontario o Missing Aboriginal women: 5% o Indian Act negotiations: o 4% Salaries of Aboriginal chiefs: 6 Additional studies not referenced here include John Lowman’s (2000) study “Violence and the outlaw status of (street) Prostitution in Canada”; Kristen Gilchrist’s (2010) study “’Newsworthy’