The Religion Beat

After taking this class and specially reading the religion section, I have no doubts religion and ethnicity permeate most of the topics media and journalism cover.They are almost everywhere all the time because they are key aspects of people's identities and personalities.

However, media and news organization continue neglecting this fields. As we read on Religion in or Out of the News, AP, which is a huge news organization, had only one journalist capable to accurately handle the religion news. This makes no sense.

Media seem to pay more attention to beats most journalists and editors are more familiar with like sports, business or even crime. But when it comes to religion, media choose shortcuts. Help Wanted on the Religion Beat compares the differences between the staffing of regular beats and religion beats. In some news organizations, there is not even a religion department or reporter.

The religion beat is usually covered by reporters who are not acquainted with the subjects. An example of this was mention in Help the Religion Beat.... Diane Connolly was named religion beat editor for The Dallas Morning News without having any expertise. In the readings, they mention poor coverage is due to the fact that news gatekeepers don't give religion sufficient importance.

I think this happens because journalists don't receive enough training on the subject while in school. Why? Probably because religion is a rough area to walk through. Religion - and ethnicity - involve conviction, morality, and faith. All of them guide individuals' lives and permeate every aspect of life, like I said in the introduction. So everybody is somehow biased, including journalists and journalism professors.

It is probably harder to be objective and act independently when interacting with different, or even same, convictions, moralities and faiths. It also requires a sincere and open understanding of the "others", which is still society's pending class.

First Appreciation Day

 Platinum Boyz Barbershop is organizing a client’s appreciation day on June 9^th. The shop is going to offer free haircuts for kids and $ 5.00 for adults. They will open the doors with special ornament and play family-friendly music on that Saturday. They want the place look radiant and attractive for the occasion. 

Surprisingly, the idea of having an appreciation day did not come from the owner or manager. Sean Davis, a barber who has been working in the shop for a year and a half, is the motor engine of the initiative. “This is something we can do in return to the community,” Sean Davis said. 

Sean Davis believes being a barber is not only about making a living and charging money for labor. He is convinced barbershops play an important role in black communities. Barbershops have a unifying and ratifying role. They are the places where black males can freely enact their identities without the fear of being judged or misunderstood. “This is where everything happens,” said Sean Davis. 

Men of all ages gather in the shop to receive services, listen to music, make jokes, have political discussions, or simply watch some TV. The appreciation day will be another reason to stick around the barbershop at the time many families that have multiple children will benefit from the event. It will definitely strengthen the link between the Morningside community and Platinum Boyz Barbershop, the staff believes. 

Word-of-mouth is the main advertising for the event although a sign will be displayed as the day approaches. Throughout the entire month of May, barbers will inform every client about the event. “There is a good chance most of our clients receive the information because most of them come for a service once or twice a month,” Hanes Wousess, who is the manager, said. “Hopefully, other people are going to hear from our clients.”

They are expecting to be fully packed and serve as many clients as possible, especially kids. The staff thinks they might beat a number around 100 clients. There will be no shifts on that day. All barbers are on duty on June 9^th. “The boys are excited because this is the first time Platinum Boyz does this since it opened in 2009,” Sean Davis said. 

Platinum Boyz Barbershop hosted the Thanksgiving Day last year. They offered a free turkey to every client or family. The barbers assure that event was a success; but, what they are preparing for June has a totally different dimension. Giving turkeys in Thanksgiving is a tradition and is somehow predictable. “For the appreciation day, there is no other reason than giving back to the community,” said Sean Davis. 

The appreciation day will also bring more clientele as it calls the attention of more people in the community, Hanes Wousess expects. They want to do it every Summer as school is over. It is a win-win situation. The clients save money and the shop gets more recognition in the community. 

“I feel part of the community even though I’m not Haitian,” said Sean Davis.

Tell Me What Is Funny About This

This is a real situation that actually happened. Everybody knows that racism exists and is still in people's minds. But, a high state official of an industrialized country manifesting this way is more than sad. Public officials are supposed to promote civilization and advance their nations -far from this.

This was in a celebration at the Museum of Modern Art in Sweden. I can understand a piece that represents an African person. But, why putting a real person, who is not even black, as the head and play with it? That's not art. That's making racist jokes. Highly elaborated cakes can be art but it is very grotesque when it represents a human to be eaten alive. This is just twisted.

After being cut, it looks like if it was actually bleeding. Take a look at the brightness of the red used on the inside stuff. It is evidently meant to represent a living black person. In the picture on the upper right section, the face has no expression at all. The actor is playing death. The crowd gathered around seems to think this is very funny.

It is difficult for me to determine if the cake represents a man or a woman. The big chest could be a breast. The face and the genitalia seem to be those of a male however.


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http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=334979179898370&set=a.334979173231704.76495.332350303494591&type=1&theater