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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