Media Criticism

I live in a “blue� state and a large city (Milwaukee, WI) that is racially diverse and filled with wonderful surprises around most corners. Outside of Milwaukee, there are cities like Green Bay and Madison that have cultural and entertainment offerings to keep people busy for days on end. I love living in a livable city where I can actually go home after a night downtown to an apartment or home with a yard surrounded by green spaces. The problem I encounter is when I see programs on Travel Channel, Food Network and others that focus on the stereotypical visions of Wisconsin: cheese, bratwurst and German heritage.

The Willamette Week has recently struck against condescending attention by national newspapers and television networks. This Oregon-based alternative newspaper has captured my attention with their rating of articles in newspapers like the New York Times ranging from a 1 (purely stereotypical language about Portland) to a 10 (accurate depiction) about Portland’s attractions. Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Austin (TX) and other cities are getting attention for supposed hot spots that are frequented by tourists instead of residents. The Willamette Week article features several examples of condescending, misleading or stereotypical travelogue-style articles from national media sources.

While I appreciate the trend of residents of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington D.C. discovering new places to spend their money, their approach to describing “smaller� cities leaves much to be desired. If I hear one more stupid joke about the Packers or cheese or bratwurst from a Chicago resident, I will just have to tell them that they should go back to their overpopulated city and spend their money on something besides our bed and breakfasts, new stadiums and museums. Too bad that Illinois has few attractions of note outside of Chicago.

This tirade is part concern over media portrayals of states inside the coasts and part concern that more Illinois residents (and a smattering of residents from California and New York) will infiltrate my beautiful city. I think the New York Times should focus on promoting beautification efforts in their own city and allow lowly fly-over state residents like myself to enjoy the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Grohmann Museum, Miller Park and other fantastic places.