Breaking the News Cycle: Don’t believe everything you read – even this
The narrative around houselessness is rife with fear and misinformation. National news pundits openly fuel animosity toward unhoused people on a nightly basis and our own local news outlets subtly contribute to the same narrative.
I spent nearly a decade in local news as both a reporter and copy editor before joining Sisters. At Sisters, we have a saying, “No one has a monopoly on the truth.” This is true especially for the media. I've witnessed first-hand how news stories dehumanize those living on the streets.
What’s going on in our newsrooms?
Oregon, much like the rest of the country, is grappling with the repercussions of a growing news desert. Hyperlocal coverage is becoming increasingly rare, leaving Oregonians with fewer perspectives and sources of information. This trend is particularly concerning when examining coverage of pressing and complex issues like poverty and houselessness.
Recent findings by FORJournalism, an Oregon newsroom advocacy group, revealed that among 241 cities in Oregon, only 77 have newspapers. This means that 68% of incorporated cities and 164 municipalities lack a local news source altogether.
The study also highlighted critical issues within Oregon's existing newsrooms. A significant portion, 55%, expressed a dire need for more job-training programs, indicating a gap in skills development within the industry. Additionally, 41% of newsrooms lack diversity, reflecting a broader problem of representation and inclusion. Compounding these challenges the fact that most reporters are dangerously overworked, with more than half of respondents reporting working up to 60 hours per week.
Traditional newsroom funding models reliant on advertising and mass subscriptions are simply unsustainable in the digital age. Journalists deserve fair compensation for their work, yet it's unrealistic to expect the general public to subscribe to every news source. As a result, many turn to free but less reliable sources for news.
Throughout history, for-profit journalism has never been reliable, from the sensationalism of "yellow journalism" to the arrival of the 24-hour news cycle. Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky, in "Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media," argue that corporate media prioritizes profit over truth or news value, serving advertisers, shareholders, and affluent investors above the public interest.
The state of current newsrooms only exacerbates challenges in covering nuanced issues like crime and poverty. In spite of these challenges, there are ways for you to stay vigilant and navigate today’s media landscape.
Remember, Objectivity isn’t Real
Most journalists will acknowledge complete objectivity is unrealistic. What's often labeled as "objective" news tends to support big players like the government and large corporate voices. In turn, the point of view favors these entities and discredits those actually experiencing the violence of poverty.
Whenever I wrote stories about people living on the streets or living with addiction, my editors frequently twisted the language blaming individuals for their own circumstance, or worse, dehumanizing them as blight. These changes resulted in narratives that scapegoated people rather than addressing underlying issues like affordable housing and lack of resources.
Before consuming news content, consider who is the focal point of the coverage. This article dives into challenges faced by individuals dealing with houselessness, mental illness, and addiction in Portland. The reporter interviewed a psychiatrist and referenced the 2022 Point in Time Count. The perspective of those experiencing these challenges is notably absent.
Contrast the latter example with this story, which explores the evolution of houselessness in Portland. The lede places a woman with lived experience at the forefront. The narrative interweaves historical context, perspectives from housing experts, and the voices of individuals with direct lived experiences.
You should also pay attention to who is cast as the "villain." This story portrays unhoused people as the ones “degrading" the city's natural areas. Despite some quotes and statistics acknowledging that houselessness is a symptom of a broader issue, the story disproportionately emphasizes the "trash" and "debris” left by those without homes.
In rare instances where someone on the streets is portrayed positively, the story typically revolves around an individual triumph. While commendable, this narrative suggests that overcoming houselessness and poverty is solely a matter of willpower and perseverance. It tokenizes certain individuals as "one of the good ones,'' while demonizing those unable to change their circumstances.
For-profit news will never be truly independent. For instance, the Oregonian is a Platinum Level Member of the Portland Metro Chamber, the largest lobbying entity in the city of Portland. Its president and publisher, John Maher, was also the volunteer board chair from 2021 to 2022. KGW Media Group and Portland Monthly are also members. PMC’s mission is to serve the business community of metropolitan Portland. The media entities part of the organization reflect that sentiment as well.
Every local TV news station in the Portland-metro area is owned by a national news conglomerate. TEGNA Inc. owns KGW, Gray Television owns KPTV (FOX 12), Nexstar Media Group, Inc. owns KOIN 6 News, and Sinclair Broadcast Group owns KATU. This concentrated ownership raises questions about potential corporate influence on the editorial direction and objectivity of local news sources we’re supposed to trust.
Look out for dehumanizing and biased language
Next time you read a story about a campsite removal, pay attention to how it is described. Phrases like "homeless camp cleanups" and labeling personal items as "litter" are common.
This kind of language implies that the living spaces of people experiencing poverty are trash, insinuating that the people themselves are to be "cleaned" away. When we're constantly exposed to this kind of language, it's easy to internalize and subconsciously believe that what's happening is just a routine cleanup. In reality – human beings are being uprooted from their homes, not abstract filth in need of disposal.
This story on Portland Fire and Rescue CHAT team 1 highlights the heroism of the team while characterizing the people they’re trying to help as “addicts.” Reducing someone's entire identity to their struggle with substance use strips them of their dignity and humanity.
At Sisters we believe that people are more than their experiences and that every person deserves to be treated with full humanity.
By challenging the status quo and consuming news through a discerning and compassionate lens, we can pave the way for narratives that reflect the heart of the issue, fostering empathy and long-lasting change.
Leave your echo-chamber
Diversify sources for a more comprehensive and balanced understanding of poverty and houselessness.
This means exposing yourself to different opinions and having an intellectual curiosity that extends beyond your personal viewpoints. Doing so can help you interrogate your own beliefs and open your mind up to other points of view.
Always pause before you share. Especially when strong emotions prompt you to want to share. Always verify the information you read, listen to, or watch.
When articles reference studies or polls, investigate the source, including who conducted and funded it. Recently, local news sources reported that half of Portlanders view the city negatively, with 40% citing homelessness as their top concern. The survey was conducted by DHM Research, which has been linked to the Portland Metro Chamber for more than a decade.
The survey includes a sample size of 500 people from Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas County with an oversample of 250 voters from Portland. That’s less than 1% of the population.
We believe the primary experts on houselessness are those experiencing it. Street Roots is a great resource that covers the real challenges of people living on the streets from the perspective of people actually experiencing it.
Most important – don’t believe everything you read just because you agree with it. Question everything – even if it’s from us!
