Page - 159 - in Media – Migration – Integration - European and North American Perspectives

Augie Fleras | Ethnic and Aboriginal Media in Canada 159 Reactive (defensive) Proactive (affirmative) Inward (insular) Reaction to media negativity/ invisibility by offering a mino- rity perspective including access to local and homeland informa- tion. “constructing buffers” Focus on celebrating both personal and community accomplishments to foster community cohesion and culture pride. “creating bonds” Outward (integrative) Counteract social injustice by advocating positive changes for leveling an unlevel playing field. “crossing borders” Utilize positive images of mino- rity success for bolstering mino- rity civic participation in inclu- sive society. “building bridges” Table 2: Dimensions of Ethnic Media Of course, not every agrees with ethnic and aboriginal media as integrative in intent or outcome. Critics argue that ethnic and aboriginal media may dampen integration, especially with the inception of satellite TV and the internet, both of which allow disaporic migrants to easily retain their homeland roots by tapping into the latest news, fashions, and trends. The concern is understandable: In their commitment to transcend the limitations of mainstream media, members of ethnic communities tend to be the most enthusiastic and technology aware consumers of communication services (Online 2007). And once engrossed in their own media world, critics contend, immigrants no longer need to communicate or interact with others, resulting in the fragmentation of society into self-contained enclaves (Husband 2005; Weber-Menges 2005). For example some third language broadcasters in Canada, including Cantonese, Mandarin, and Punjabi offer modest amounts of local and current affairs news but most ethnic broadcasts include little Canadian editorial content – in effect, depriving minority audience of Canadian news, views, and cultural content. Admittedly, migrants neither live in media ghettos nor rely exclusively on a diet of ethnic media (Lam 1996; Mahtani 2007), but rather selectively rely on a rich media menu for closing the multilocality gap (Weber-Menges/Geißler 2007). To summarize: In refusing to either canonize or demonize ethnic media, a rethinking is in order. Rather than typecasting ethnic media as divisive or integrative, a dialectical dynamic is in play. The interplay of the reactive- proactive with the inward-outward generates an insular and integrative process that pushes as it pulls – bonding and buffering as well as bridging and border crossing. A preoccupation with homeland and ethnic news may delay societal incorporation by virtue of reinforcing cultural identities and community networks (Lin and Song 2006). Neverthless, in a world where the global is the local, and vice versa, such a focus does not necessarily preclude integration. By creating a comfort zone in a strange new land, ethnic media insulate migrants and minorities from the harshness of readjustment, thereby providing a buffer