Media Inventory Assignment

This week, I examined my own media use. The practice of taking a media consumption inventory can by be a helpful strategy for teaching students about the importance of seeking multiple perspectives when learning about a new topic. Elia Pariser’s book, The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding From You critiques the biases whether due to personalized algorithms or peoples’ preference to only seek information that aligns with their existing beliefs.

I created the overall goal to learn more about Amazon workers’ vote on unionization in Bessemer, Alabama. My first entry point to this topic began with friends and Democratic congresspeople whom I follow, such as Stacey Abrams, post pro Amazon union arguments.

To acquire a wider perspective, I made 3 revisions to my media consumption this week:

1. Add non-United States specific news outlets: International periodicals such as BBC and France24 are farther removed from U.S. issues. My impression from these sources was mainly objective “explainers” about the topic.

2. Acquire information from local news stations closest to the topic: Unlike larger media outlets, local news stations have an intimate relationship and insider information that could be otherwise missed.

3. Read perspectives from Republican congresspeople: Because my social networks leans towards Democratic representatives, I reviewed perspectives from national and state Republican congresspeople on the topic. This practice presented me with the most substantial information on anti-unionization arguments when compared against my other strategies.

Overall, I it was difficult to present multiple sides on worker unionization. Across the political spectrum, unionization and fair treatment of workers is a widely-supported effort. Had I selected a more contentious topic, I may have observed starker differences. Regardless, the practice was helpful in learning to construct a full picture when learning about a new topic.

References

Abrams, Stacey. [@staceyabrams]. (2021, Feb. 20). I’m proud to support the historic efforts of

@BAmazonUnion seeking to unionize with @RWDSU. Working Americans deserve the dignity and well-being that a union can help provide, and I encourage those in Bessemer, Alabama to vote yes. #1u. [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/staceyabrams/status/1363282664384520193?lang=en

Associated Press (2021, March 30). Lighting a fuse: Amazon vote may spark more union pushes. 6 WRBC. https://www.wbrc.com/2021/03/30/lighting-fuse-amazon-vote-may-spark-more-union-pushes/

France 24. (2021, March 29). Vote to begin on amazon union drive. France 24. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210329-vote-count-to-begin-in-amazon-union-drive

Morris, Richard (2021, March 28). Union creates hotline for disgruntled amazon staff. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-56541213

Pariser, Elia (2011). The filter bubble: What the internet is hiding from you. Penguin Press

Weigel, David (2021, March 31). The trailer: Amazon workers in alabama just voted on a union. what’s next. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/30/trailer-amazon-workers-alabama-just-voted-union-whats-next/