The Image of Latinos through Mass Media The media often misrepresents a person, a people, a place, or an idea, and does so without hesitation. There are many methods and mediums the media uses to reach the great majority of the world. Whether it is by use of print, such as newspapers or magazines, or by broadcast, by means of television, radio and the internet, the media has a way of presenting information to suit its purpose, whatever that may be. The media has difficulty in its representation of diversity, as many times different ethnic backgrounds are grossly misrepresented or deliberately depicted. One such ethnic group that has suffered at the hands of the media is the Latino community. The media has become a numbers game, driven by ratings and demographics, seeking to provide information of a shock value-centered subject matter, which will draw more viewers.
Latinos have generally been negatively stereotyped in the media as poor, uneducated, lazy, and violent. Another popular representation of Latinos is that they have poor language skills, and that they are gang members, teen mothers, illegal immigrants, drug dealers and traffickers, and common criminals. When it comes to stereotyping Latinos, the media tends to translate everything negatively. Comfortable sexuality is labeled as prostitution; having a lot of kids is associated with being impoverished and acting assertive is viewed as ‘macho’. I would say, however, that without a doubt, the most overwhelming Latino representation in the media deals with immigration. With states such as Arizona and Georgia establishing immigration laws and Latino Profiling Laws (specifically in Arizona), there has been a dramatic increase in anti-Latino activity and hate crimes as well as a growth in white supremacist hate groups. The internet is bombarded with images of White males holding picket signs and banners that