The media we consume makes us who we are. As defined in the field of media research, the Cultivation Theory states that the media content we are exposed to influences our takes on the world. The influence it holds over us changes our attitudes, beliefs and behaviors about ourselves and how we perceive others. This is a vital reason as to why diversity in the media is important.

The Newhouse School of Public Communication produces well-established professionals in the media industry. Chuck Hayward, class of 2002, is among the famous alumni. His notable work on shows like “Ted Lasso,” “Wanda Vision” and “Dear White People” is impressive enough to leave viewers with their jaws dropped. In his recent visit to Syracuse University, he spoke to students on the importance of diversity in media.

Hayward’s intimate conversation told a chilling yet heartwarming story of a young boy questioning his identity in regard to race and sexuality, and how he came back to the media to find it. It was important for him, at a young age, to see people on screen that were like him.

“The first example I saw was the Real World of MTV. It was the first time I saw gay characters having loving freindships with straight people.” Hayward said in an interview. “I don’t know why but I didn’t think that was a thing that was possible before. I was eleven when that came out and it was really rensuring and really impactful.”

Watching diverse media content that Hayward related to made him feel accepted. That sense of normalcy prompted him to write characters with complex storylines to make viewers who are underrepresented feel seen and heard. There is comfort in knowing that people behind the script understand your identity and struggle and can relate to experiences you have gone through.

The exposure of cinematic diversity and its effects are also reached by professionals. Carlos Cortes, a historian cited in Vice, said in his book that different types of media, including news and entertainment, educate viewers about marginalized communities.

“This mass media curriculum has a particularly powerful educational impact on people who have little or no direct contact with members of the groups being treated,” he said.

Once the writers behind these characters develop a strong background into the storyline, they can be broadcasted in a positive way. When stories with people of underrepresented identities are being talked about in a positive way, it can have a monumental effect on viewers. Growing up a majority of the representation Hayward saw was daunting, he said.

“The representation I saw was scary. It was people getting discriminated against,” he said. “That kept me in the closet for much longer.”

Like many others, Hayward hid his true identity because of the negative depictions of which he was viewing. If viewers such as Hayward had positive examples to see, then it would have helped with self-acceptance.

It is important to understand that the media we consume can also help underrepresented people become humanized by someone who is not used to seeing or being close to a diverse array of people. Although this may seem overbearingly intense, it’s true.

About 40% of white Americans do not have a person of color in their circle of friends. This fact is astonishing, and production studios, with the help of their talented writers, need to create content to expose people to realities other than the ones they experience. The more diverse their staff, the more receptive the production companies as a whole will be to diverse creative content.

Growing up and watching shows that showed a multitude of identities and races made me become aware of differences that people can have, and the friendships that can be formed among people with differing identities. As of today, new shows such as Netflix’s “Sex Education” provides a diverse cast that shows an array of identies in a comedic way to help people relate while being entertained.

Media influences the narrative, which can affect our perceptions about the world in front of us. We need to have production studios that produce masses of positive representation so our society can be more cohesive about understanding and respecting one another.

Sophia Leone is a freshman broadcast, digital journalism major with a minor in political science. Her column appears biweekly. She can be reached at seleone@g.syr.edu.

Published on March 20, 2022 at 9:59 pm