How does the media’s portrayal of immigrants affect recently immigrated citizens in Canada?

Probably one of the biggest roles of the media in regards to immigrants is the creation of stereotypes. Popular news sources aim to get as many views, and in turn, as much revenue, as possible. What better way is there than to be a source of fear? It sounds backwards, I know, but here’s the sad truth: people crave knowledge of negativity. If there’s something bad happening, the general public wants to know. As a result, the media decides to feed these cravings by blowing situations out of proportion, especially scenarios regarding issues that people are already uneasy about. Enter immigration.

Some of the descriptions used by the media to portray immigrants are things like: problem people, thefts of opportunity for “real” Canadians, abusers of the welfare system, common committers of illegal acts, and threats to the Canadian lifestyle. Not very pretty stuff, right? Not at all! Despite the words of choice just being plain insulting to use, they place terrible images and thoughts into the heads of those who receive them. They paint all immigrants as criminals, as people from foreign places who are trying to “dilute the Canadian way of life”. They say these things even though the majority of our population is comprised of immigrants! Indeed, the only true Canadians that were here first have been cast aside and kicked off their own land. The First Nations are probably the most “Canadian” people in our country, yet they’ve experienced terrible hardships by the hand that now points fingers at people trying to escape other countries.

So, we know what the media is doing, as well as why they’re doing it, but how does it affect our newly immigrated citizens? If you think about it, images may already start to appear in your mind, probably none of them pleasant. And sadly, those images depict the current state of affairs. Because media corporations crave money, because of human nature and our tendency to worry, and because of the unfortunate backgrounds many immigrants flee from, immigrants are suffering. Human beings who came to Canada in search of a better life, not a place to ruin, are suffering. Images planted in Canadian minds lead to stereotypes and bad associations. Derogatory name calling happens; not many people care. Something bad happens in a public area? “Oh no! It’s probably a terrorist attack by XYZ extremists!” These people are given lower incomes, they’re treated disrespectfully, and sometimes they’re even denied service. This is how things are, and they’re only getting worse. So…

How can we try and keep the Canadian politeness–that our country is renowned for–in our hearts, and refuse the twisted images being shoveled around our media? That is the question… Question number two… (It’s right here)