Essay-#4- Jason Preston Hispanic Media in the U.S.

    The flow of foreign media across international lines has been a major topic of discussion among scholars lately.  With the growing popularity of new technologies such as the Internet and satellite television service, media is spreading across the globe at a rapid pace.  " Any individual connected to the global information superhighway has access to more information than his or her forebears could have ever imagined, and the access comes substantially without government regulation," (Morris Waisbord pg. ix).   People in Japan can download movies from France, people in Canada can download music from Jamaica, and people in the United States can watch Hispanic talk shows. Some American scholars would argue that these global flows are bad for our nation, and some would argue the opposite. This essay will focus on the general fact that, foreign media does have an effect on our culture. Hispanic focused media in the United States effects the American school system.
    One source of foreign media flow in the United States is Univision. Univision is the largest Spanish Language network in the United States.  Supported by a large Spanish speaking migrant population living in the United States, Univision has been broadcasting for over 40 years.  "In 1970, Univision became the first U.S network to cover World Cup Soccer live", ( Univision .net pg 1).  Univision also broadcast a wide variety of programs aimed to please the Hispanic audience, this includes; novellas, news, sports, talk shows, and other specialized programming.  
    The growing presents of Hispanic media in the United States effects the culture in numerous ways.  The growing number of Hispanic immigrants living in the United States, combined with the increased broadcasting of Hispanic media on American television is a phenomenon that is integrating the two cultures.  "For the ideas and images produced by mass media often are only partial guides to the goods and experiences that deterritorialized populations transfer to one another",(Appadurai pg 303).  The increased exposure, is making the Hispanic culture more widely accepted, and giving immigrants a better feel of home here in the United States.  These media flows serve somewhat as a catalyst to the booming number of Hispanic immigrants, legal and illegal, deciding to make the United States their new home.
    The growing population of Hispanic immigrants in the United States is having a direct effect on the economy, the job market, and the school systems.  As more Spanish only speaking children enter the schools system, the difficulties created by the language barrier begin to increase, and reform becomes necessary.  Dallas is an example of a city that us making changes to accommodate the language barriers.  "In Dallas 65% of the schools 165,000 students are Hispanic. Under a policy approved by the school board, some Dallas administrator will be required to learn Spanish.  The new policy, approved on a 5-4 vote last month, requires that all elementary school principles who work in schools in which at least half of the students are English-language learners, or formerly carried that designation, must learn the native language of those students", (edweek pg1).
         Hispanic focused media in the United States effects the American school system.  Hispanic viewer focused media is a way in which our two culture are being integrated, and having an effect on the growing population of Spanish speaking immigrants.  As the population continues to grow many aspects of American culture, including our school systems, are somehow affected.  As technology continues to advance, and migrant levels in Spanish speaking communities continue to increase, an increase in foreign media flows directed at Spanish speakers is expected to increase.

           

Appadurai, H. (2000, pg 303)  "Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Culture Economy".

Education Week ( 2005 pg1) www.edweek.org  "Some Dallas Principles must Learn Spanish".

Morris, N.& Waisbord, S. Waisbord (2001 pg. ix).  "Rethinking Media Globalization and State Power". Rowman & Littlefield Publishers inc.

Univision Network web-site (2007 pg 1)  www.univision.net.

Posted at 05:58AM Jun 15, 2007 by PRESTON, JASON in General  |  Comments[4]