Michael Massing over at CJR writes about the media missing the midwest and talks about the disadvantage the Missouri J-school students face.
A graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Hudson says that the Ivy League network operating there gives students access to a much broader range of job opportunities than is available at the Missouri J-school, as respected as it is. “I’m sure that that bias has an effect on what we read,” he adds.
I’m sure that bias is also tried to keep as much a secret here at the j-school as possible, too. We are always told that we have access to the top jobs because we are one of the top schools of journalism. It’s a little disturbing to find out that papers and magazines are afraid of taking journalists from the midwest. Not bothering to cover the midwest.
I’m well acquainted with the ignore the midwest attitude that many people adopt. But after living in Missouri for nearly three years, I’ve come to see that there is something vital going on this part of the country. There is a rumbling among the masses. It was Missouri this summer that was making the New York Times, with Judge Gaitan’s decision on executions. It was Ohio that the 2004 election hinged on.
I don’t quite understand why the midwest is invisible from the coasts. It’s where our food comes from. It’s the center of the bible belt, an increasingly powerful group. Life may move more slowly here, but that doesn’t mean nothing happens here.
(From Bookslut)
“there is something vital going on this part of the country.” You are so right! I’m up in Minnesota and I am baffled by why the midwest is ignored too. I’m originially from California so you’d think I might have some insight, but I don’t. On the coasts it’s like the whole middle of the country is a vast wasteland.