Occupied Media: Coverage of 'Occupy' in North America

In September of 2008, the global economy took a nosedive. In what seemed like many to be an instant, stock markets around the world fell off of a cliff, and many countries, particularly the United States, began warning that the world was entering an economic crisis not seen since the Great Depression. In the following months, the Dow Jones Industrial Average would lose over 50% of its value; millions of Americans would be foreclosed on and lose their homes; and the gap between rich and poor in the United States would reach record levels. By September of 2011, many Americans were no longer satisfied with their banking system, their corporate employers, or their way of life. Without an organized plan, some Americans descended upon Wall Street; and they had no intention of leaving. This triggered the start of the Occupy Movement, which at the time of this writing, has evolved into a global phenomenon. This essay seeks to examine the Canadian and American “Occupy Movements” by tracing how the conservative and liberal news sources in each country have covered these movements as they have progressed. Ultimately, this essay will demonstrate that, while these news sources initially covered these stories differently, they ultimately converged into a singular perspective as the occupations dragged on. I argue that this convergence was due to the political climates of Canada and the United States, thus demonstrating that the politics of a country can be just as influential in shaping the media, as the media can be in shaping the politics of a country.

Johnson, M. (2011, November 28). Occupied Media: Media Coverage of the Occupy Protests. (C. Winn, Ed.)

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Canadian Content and Broadcasters in Canada

In Canada, our broadcast companies have several rules by which they must abide. Some of these are clearly logical, and act in the interest of the general population, such as the posting of “audience ratings” which inform viewers of the age groups that can suitably view the current program. However, other rules are much more controversial. This essay will examine the rules and regulations of the CRTC with regards to the CanCon (Canadian Content) requirements of Canadian television broadcasters. This essay hopes to demonstrate, through both primary and secondary sources, two key arguments: that the Canadian Content requirements are not protecting Canadian popular culture or identity, but instead are simply serving to harm our nation’s broadcasters; and that the rise of the internet as it exists today has made the CRTC’s CanCon requirements almost entirely ineffectual. Ultimately, this paper calls for the removal (or at the very least, major reform) of the CRTC’s CanCon requirements regarding Canadian broadcasters, as it may help ensure the survival of Canada’s broadcast companies.

Johnson, M. (2011, November 30). More Harm Than Good: Canadian Content and Broadcasters. (P. Litt, Ed.)

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The North as Identity

In Canada, we have come to pride ourselves in being a multicultural and accepting society. Every year, thousands of immigrants from countries all around the world flock to Canada to be a part of our great nation. Since our transition from colony to country in 1867, the Canadian people have strived to achieve a universal, national narrative that all Canadians could subscribe to, in the hopes of uniting the country from sea to sea to sea. One such narrative that has been often utilized is the Myth of the North. This northern concept of national identity has been often panned by various writers since its inception, but has retained its significance and application in spite of these critiques. However, is this idea of the “North as Identity” at all valid in today’s multicultural society? This essay will examine two key works in order to attempt to answer this question. The first, Canada and the Idea of North by Sherrill Grace, will discuss the ways in which we as Canadians have used the North as a means of self-identification throughout our history. The second, Limited Identities Revisited: Regionalism and Nationalism in Canadian History by P.A. Buckner, will provide a modern examination of the Limited Identities critique, which will be used to counter the Myth of the North, and prove the thesis of this paper: that Canadian identity, in today’s multicultural society, can’t come from a singular concept that we all share in common; instead, it must come from an understanding and acceptance of all that makes us different.

Johnson, M. (2011, December 4). The North as Identity: Towards a More Inclusive Narrative. (A. Gibson, Ed.)

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