Front page from part three of the eight-day Children in Poverty series from the Springfield News-Leader in Missouri.
By Barbara Raab, Senior Producer, NBC News
"Why is there so little coverage of Americans who are struggling with poverty?"
So begins a thought-provoking essay by Dan Froomkin in Nieman Reports, a respected publication that covers journalism, raising a subject that is getting more ink than usual these days.
In his essay, Froomkin examines what he sees as paltry coverage of America's poor. Citing research from the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, Froomkin reports that poverty coverage takes up less than one percent of the news content in the nation's major news outlets.
He and others suggest some possible reasons ("neither advertisers nor readers are likely to demand more coverage, so neither will editors," for one) along with a wealth of ideas that could make compelling stories for readers and viewers.
Froomkin's piece begins with an example of what he'd like to see more of: a major series that ran on the front page of the Springfield News-Leader in Missouri's Ozarks for five consecutive days, focusing each day on a specific problem facing children in Missouri's Ozarks region: "No home," "No shoes," "No food," "No car," and "No peace." It's outstanding work, well worth a read.
Froomkin's article led the public editor (a/k/a ombudsman) of The New York Times to raise questions about her own newspaper's coverage of poverty, and to let readers know she'd be digging further into that question in coming weeks. Among her initial observations: The Times reporter who has covered poverty policy for decades thinks the paper "has made an extraordinary commitment" to the subject, but some advocates for the poor beg to differ. We'll be watching for more of this discussion in the weeks ahead.
This past Sunday, some of us woke up to a lively viewer call-in segment on C-Span’s Washington Journal about hunger in America, and about media coverage of it. A lot of callers had strong feelings about the issue, and about what should be done to attack the poverty problems in the country (as did almost all of the hundreds of commenters on our first blog post for the In Plain Sight project here).
Here is more of what the In Plain Sight team has been watching and reading this week:
- The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Philly has the highest rate of deep poverty – that’s income below half the poverty line – of big cities in America. That's perhaps not a surprise, because Philadelphia also has the highest poverty rate – 28.4 percent – of any of America’s biggest cities.
- The Washington Post had a terrific read on a Rhode Island town that relies on food stamps to survive. Be sure to check out the accompanying SNAP Map breaking down food stamp distribution by state.
- Is hunger in America a “myth”? A former Montana state legislator makes the argument in an op-ed in the Great Falls Tribune.
- And here’s one economist’s argument against raising the minimum wage.
What are you reading and watching on poverty in America? And what are your thoughts about media coverage of poverty?
Leave a Comment:
Because its so boring to read about the poor, I like more exciting news, like how were saving Afganistan, and drone killing innocent people, now thats news!
So, we just send in our soldiers, and let them get get blasted to bits? I'm a vet, and I'm about saving as many vets as possible. It's easy to knock the Drone program, if your candy ass, are'nt the one searching huts for the enemy. Maybe the enemy will stop hiding out amongst their innocents if they they feel life might be lost? Because they're cowards. They kill our soldiers, then hide amongst themselves! How do we even the playing field, I ask you? Why don't you volunteer to go down one of those fox holes, before you size up with the enmy!
American people arent in poverty. Some have less than others, but certainly not impoverished. I never understood obese, poor people with cell phones and brand new clothes. It just doesnt make sense.
Good point. There certainly are many, many overweight impoverished people. Seems contradictory. Besides, 99.9% of the whining in this country is done by whiny people who are too lazy to get to work, or too proud to flip a burger.
I contribute every day to the poor - by making sure members of my family do not join their ranks.
$2 for 2 cheeseburgers at McDonalds is cheaper than pretty much any other lunch options if you forget your packed lunch.
$1 box of pasta + $2 alfredo sauce is cheaper than a vegetable stir fry.
$1 of Top Ramen is cheaper than a head of lettuce or a couple pieces of fruit.
Unhealthy, mostly foodless, high-calorie "food" is just plain cheaper than healthy alternatives. Even the healthier cheap things (like dried beans and rice) pack more calories than most people are expecting, and are often carb-heavy.
And those unhealthy high-carb foods at least make you feel like you're full, unlike some healthy (and expensive) foods.
Easy. The 4th Estate doesn't care about truth or justice - they care about eyes & ears, and how they equate to $$ & influence. The Poor are boring & stories about poor people are depressing - who wants to watch that? Which, equals who wants to do that story?
BTW, poor people, knowledge is power. Want to stop being poor? Get an education. Can't afford one? Do it yourself. Read. Investigate. If you're poor and you're waiting for the government check, and you won't take whatever job because the wage sucks, or it's filthy work, or it's incredibly difficult; well then, you're poor for several reasons & most likely doomed to remain that way.
Why bother when the Great o'bama will keep sending them checks?
You need help education doesn't equal wealth opportunity and a fair paying wage does. I love how folks just think because you are not educated then you are doomed BS I bought a new couch a young man with a Harvard degree delivered it because it is the only job he could find where he lives, but that won't pay over priced loans so now what should he do, go further into debt and get more education? Your argument is not only wrong but it is cruel and uncaring about your fellow man. Shame on you.
I refer to education - NOT a college degree. A college degree does NOT guarantee success. To think that all one needs is a college degree is ignorant. I have never taken a single college course, and yet, I am very educated, an expert in my field. I did it by reading, asking questions, experimenting, doing the dirty work for lousy money, and grinding out experience & acquiring knowledge. Your Harvard delivery man is a fool; and your speculation on my cruelty and what I may care about is far from accurate. Shame schmaime.
reality check You got to love the right they keep beating that dead horse about the free stuff. But they never say where to go to get it. Why? There is none. You righties sound so stupid when you say it!
I guess the question is why is there not more coverage of poverty? We should ask, "Who is deciding what gets covered?" Nonprofits frequently issue press releases about new things that they are doing, or even repeats of things that they are doing. If the press release is from a local for-profit business, the newspaper and television cover it. The same rule should apply to nonprofits, whether it's a poverty story, environmental story, or education story. There are more nonprofit education stories than those that come from City Hall. Cover your city and there will be plenty of news to report.
I suspect, just like those middle of the night commercials that show starving children in foreign lands, people just can't digest the images or want to face the possibility that one day it could or will be them. It's just too depressing and often people feel helpless to do anything about it which is even more depressing for some. People just don't want to be reminded that the problem even exists. It is also the media shareholders and advertisers who don't want people to see or hear how bad things really are, it's just not good for their profit margins. It's a sad state of affairs.
Hey!
I have no job and no home to live in...but my college REQUIRES you to have a phone. I live in my car...make straight A's, and frequently don't eat.
Thanks, Rob. You are an inspiration.
I'll tell you what you do have - a FUTURE. Keep going...
Shanaldo,
You are full of the biggest pile of s**t. You cannot convince me of that scenario. #1. How far do you live from campus? 2. How are you paying to go to school?
If you're studying a STEM subject or for another professional degree that'll make you employable, stop suffering needlessly and take out a student loan already.
The reason mainstream media doesn't cover poverty is partly because the majority of Americans won't admit that they live in poverty - they're simply the middle class. Does the label "poor" even apply anymore??
which is why the G(O)OP get away with the crap they do, they are so good at convincing Joe six pack that he is one of them not the working poor, no one wants to admit they are poor but there are only two classes now in America the very wealthy and the very poor, there is no middle class and that is the way the folks at the top want it. It is the way the top always wants it until poor people rise up and they do eventually I just hope this country can smartin up before that happens.
gday67~
Are you for real Slick Mittens is that you? OMG the insanity is just surreal.
Sad ..when people don't think others are poor enough and just lazy ...funny all I ever see is poor people working hard...can't say the same about the rich though
Poor doesn't mean lazy. Poor = ignorant.
And let's not forget all those "unregistered democrats" from Mexico which I call ILLEGAL ALIENS that will be added to the poverty role. The position of the left is, surpirse, hyporitical. You complain we don't take care of our own, but violently push your views that illegal aliens rightfully belong here to stay. A pox on your house.
Poverty is all over America. Old and young people do with out food. To either pay the rent to buy medication for the family or live with other family members and still do with out. No car. So they don't have a way to make a living to get out from under the food stamp trail.
They can't afford a doctor so they do with out life saving medication until the last minute going to the ER and get treated like crap because they have no health insurance or no job to help pay the bill. They get tons of bills which they know they can not pay because no job, no way to a job, can not afford public transportation or it is not even offered in your area. The ones that try to get help at public health programs. The programs are so under funded that they have to charge you so much money to be seen that the person. That they can not even afford to go there. So it is Damn if you do, Damn if you don't.
When is the government going to get off their high horse and quit helping all these other countries and help the USA. The other countries don't want us interfering with their problems. So lets don't. Congress and the Senate get your heads out of your butts and work together and just because our President is darker skin then you guys you must work together. The people of America voted you dummies in there and we can darn sure vote you out.
Poverty is all over America but not being satisfied with that our government imports huge quantities of it every day from Mexico. Its not their doctors, lawyers and engineers hopping those border fences.
We borrow money from other countries like China to give money to countries in need and the result is America is worse off - the country is more in debt and citizens are still poor. Does this make sense?
Why isn't the media covering it? There's not a republican in office.
And that would matter, why?
We don't hear it about because the president is a liberal and this is another example of the liberal press lying by omission to protect Obama. If the president was Republican, we'd be hearing about it every day. Also, the president's policies have created a huge increase in the numbers of people living in poverty, something that wouldn't happen if there was a Republican president
LBJ is the only president to try to help out the poor in America and he failed because our involvement in the Vietman War was inevitable. This only means that the poor have been around for decades (centuries and millenia even) and just because one party is in the Office of the Presidency isn't going to make a whole hell of a difference.
To..Viqueen""""
What ..?...
How much poverty coverage is needed? Enough to show that Obama's claims about an improved economy are shown to be bulltweet?
How about some coverage of the billions of dollars of taxpayers money is poured down the "poverty" rathole with nothing to show for it?
Hey people! Please, please, it'll trickle down!
The media doesn't cover it because currently there is a democrat in the White House. Studies have shown based on the political affiliation of the president, the media does or does not cover certain things. Example homelessness - was covered constantly under Reagan, but hardly mentioned while Clinton was president and then became headlines again with Bush. These problems have persisted through republican and democratic presidencies. Just the media decides when they want to highlight the issues.
... Chicago
Google Amber Lyon. She tells a story about how CNN gets paid to either run or dump stories. Journalism is dead. It is simply the buying and selling of products now.
rsb Please show us some of the headlines about poverty during the bush administration. Oh you also forgot to say that about bush one administration
Maybe the media isn't really liberal, as we're told to believe? Maybe it serves its wealthy advertisers? Now there's a shock.
We get lots of coverage of poverty, only its foreign poverty. That's to justify sending American tax dollars abroad. The only thing the media does for the American poor is to vilify then. Fact is, the U.S. government has a family separation program for American families and a family re-unification program for refugees.
Look who the President is .... question answered.
And Romney was the answer? Hooray!
...No, but he wasn't in denial of the problem!
Reagan had to cover it, minorities could'nt get hired during his years, I had just ETS out of the service, and could'nt get jack sh*t! And, as far as Bush, do I really have to respond? The Repugs are the ones cutting all the programs that help the less fortunate! The president does not want children in poverty to suffer, he doesn't want any of Americas children to suffer, yet alone adults. Be honest for once, and ask yourself, does Ryan, Boner, Santorum, Bacchman, Palin, or any of the usual idiots, ever say anything positive about the poor or minorities?
Sure they do. They want to give people a hand up, not a hand out. People are just dam lazy. If you really want to provide for your family, you will do whatever it takes to stay afloat. That includes going and working in another state. Possibly moving your whole family. Don't tell there are no jobs out there because I will tell you that you are full of $h!t. You have to want it and make it happen instead of sitting around waiting for it to come to you.
www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/03/19/Philadelphia-Mayor-Thinks-Magazine-Article-Not-Protected-Free-Speech
This story is the reason why there is not enough talk about poverty. Because it is not PC to be honest about poverty and you will have liberals attempt to take away your 1st amendment rights if you speak the truth.
Now that shows your intelligence, you read breitbart. Lots of information there about a honest debate! Thank You for that tidbit.
Or it's just the first article to pop up on google dope. It doesn't matter where it's from, it is true. The Philly mayor would like to suppress the 1st amendment because he doesn't like the message.
You wouldn't know what the truth is though would you, being an Ed Schultz parrot and all.
To..honet"""
Too funny...
I'm tired of paying for other peoples mistakes. I kept my house during the crash because I bought a house I could afford to make the payments on. I kept my second hand car for the same reason. I got an education when I went to school, when there was still DISCIPLINE in the school system and at home, and now I'm taxed to the hilt to pay for fat, lazy, uneducated breeding people with no hope of ever getting off welfare. I'm tired of people making excuses for them so they can raise my taxes, I'm tired of people begging for money on the street when they refuse to use the available social programs (that don't provide drugs and alcohol!), and I'm really tired of listening to the liberals who continue to espouse their policies to put people back to work and send millions of dollars to countries that hate us! I don't have any sympathy left to give, or money to donate. The government has drained it all. And given nothing in return.
bluetruth Is this something new sending money to other countries who hate us. Did this start yesterday? Has any republican presidents send money to countries that hate us? 10 years ago America went to Iraq and took over. Any money wasted there?
Poverty is not glamorous. It is not exciting. It paints our government as non-caring and therefore unflattering. That is why any story of poverty is buried.
Poverty is a social problem with factors deeper than just the individual. People don't want to take responsibility for social issues and would rather shove them under the rug than be told that children in their own country are living in poverty while they themselves live extravagantly. It's easier to say "well, the mom should have just kept her legs shut!" instead of admitting that there's a child out there who has to live off of government cheese who could use their help.
Poverty is a cultural issue. Americans don't like to look at cultural issues, rather they like to complain and complain and complain about how much these individuals stink and live in drug-filled hovels rather than actually examine the reasons people become poor and think of how to change them (more education funding, Planned Parenthood funding, government spending for jobs, etc).
Carfull saying a cultural issue.....it could be taken as racist. if you tell it how it is, people get upset, feelings are hurt, so well change the name, people will find the new name insulting so better not to talk about it.
Poverty has little to do with race, all skin colors have issues with poverty. It's cultural as in America as a whole.
It's just like the gun grabbers that complain about guns in our country while completely ignoring the fact that our own culture is particularly violent when compared to other developed nations including ones with higher gun ownership. Our particularly violent culture is probably somehow correlated to our extreme defense spending as well.
This is true, but it is the race part of it that makes it taboo to talk about. It is only PC to talk about whites living in poverty, but since they aren't the concern, no one does.
I don't think anyone worth their salt can complain about talking about how to help the issues causing any minority group to be in poverty. Unless they are relying entirely on stereotypes to do so rather than looking at actual issues...
But the cultural issues that put minorities in poverty also often affect the majority groups as well. It's more than just the cultures specifically tied to minorities.
Mixed, I agree with everything you are saying. Except that people won't complain about talking about the causes, the PC police will never talk about the real issues. And the left will not risk allowing their voting base realize that they want people to be dependent on the government, so they will never honestly approach poverty, they will just keep,uselessly, throwing money at it.