What Will it Take for Poverty to Become an Important Media Issue?

"No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know no one cares or understands." So wrote author Arthur H. Stainback.

This truism resonates among us all from time to time, but it finds particular significance among the impoverished and poverty-stricken. While many live in relative comfort, millions on our globe are well under the poverty level. They live in shanties and crude homes constructed out of scrap, perhaps only a piece of cardboard or plastic separating them from the ground. Many eke out a living in whatever way they can, by scavenging, stealing out of necessity, or hauling recyclables in pushcarts.

The fact that these indigent individuals exist is unmistakable. Yet the motivating compassion to help them is sadly absent. The poor are pitied, but quickly abandoned. The pestilence of poverty is a subject quickly allocated to someone else. The unfortunate sentiment is- it's not my problem.

As a subject matter issue once prominent on the table, poverty has slipped to the floor. The few times it garners any attention is when census statistics are released. How many more millions on this globe are considered poor? What's the average income for families living in underprivileged lands? How many go to bed hungry? Too often we see the numbers swell, and too often they are simply briefly bemoaned before life goes on.

What can be done to draw the hub of society to this escalating crisis? More to the point, what is it going to take in order to make poverty an important news story?

To be sure, organizations and ruling governments have put together quite a list of tactics and suggestions to address the issue of poverty. Social insurance programs, an improvement to education, the canceling of indebtedness in developing nations, removing import barriers, economic investment, and programs for low income housing and financial aid are all policy devices that have been rolled out in an attempt to stem the rise of poverty.

The United Nations General Assembly even optimistically set a target date goal for the elimination of poverty. In the year 2000, they spearheaded poverty, hunger and gross inequality of income within countries as issues to be eliminated by the year 2015. We are now well past the halfway point of that proposal. However noble such a goal may be, doubt rightly remains as to achieving it in this disunited world.

Unhappily however, many people have little interest in helping the poor. Some simply express their sympathy inward, from afar, and do little to facilitate a solution. This despite the fact that in many countries, excess lives only a few hundred yards from dearth. Luxury and lack share the same block even.

Others categorize the fall into poverty as a result of social Darwinism. Society as a whole is competitive; those who are superior and strong justly excel, while the weak are forsaken. Those who embrace this thinking, admittedly or not, may feel that the poor and the homeless just need to "get a job." They may view the poor only as lazy spendthrifts and alcoholics, who drain and manipulate government programs designed to help those with a legitimate need.

Yet, the very opposite is often true. Rural laborers, migrant workers and those on minimal wage are among our hardest working members of society. But their cause, their plight, is one rarely shouldered by the majority. Their dilemma is deemed just not important enough, and certainly not one that any major media source would champion.

Media coverage as a whole has been debated as to its fairness and equality. News reporting and journalism by definition are to be unbiased, fair-minded, and present facts in a balanced and unprejudiced way. But very often, opinions, trends and partialities make their way into mainstream reporting. Without going down the convoluted road by using the term "conspiracy," it's safe to say that weighted coverage and collusion, as well as preconceived notions and forgone conclusions, all factor in.

As does the "stimulation" factor. Plainly said, poverty has been around a long time, and as far as a news topic, it's boring. The stirring stories, the electrifying events and the shocking incidents all take front row. Poverty is cast off like a hand-me-down, relegated to bring up the rear.

It's difficult to justify such poverty in today's world, or explain the lack of importance it receives as a global subject matter.

In December of 2004, British magazine The Economist reported, "In economic terms, the human race has never been richer, or better armed with medical knowledge, technological prowess and intellectual firepower needed to beat poverty." And yet poverty continues to spread.

Economist Adam Smith drew attention to this disparity in the 18^th century when he said that "no society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the greater part of the numbers are poor and miserable." This truth is even more obvious today, but despite the growing contrast between the haves and the have-nots, which should rouse those who are in a position to help to do so, pockets of poverty and outright destitution run unbridled.

Two areas of encouragement in the way poverty relates to the media is the increasing movement of civic journalism, as well as the role celebrities have played in drawing attention to these issues.

Civic or public journalism has strayed from your typical "6 o'clock news" format and has found a permanent dwelling online. Web sites, blogs and online video sharing have all brought news to the forefront, and have promoted the idea that journalists and audiences are not only spectators in political and social issues.

Civic journalism goes beyond just the dry reporting of detail. Too often, media sources simply unload the facts. Civic journalism provides a sounding board for those who are actively involved in shaping the issues for the better. Information and ideas freely flow, and a full range of life and culture is discussed. Public input and debate are encouraged, which highlight topics of concern to all of us; no doubt poverty certainly fits in here.

This type of journalism must continue to grow in order to underscore and emphasize the plight of poverty among the general public, and to be able to thrash it out and openly discuss it amid the populace and not just by the ruling powers that confront the issue, but seem powerless to generate a solution.

In addition, it's heartening to see that some celebrities have taken their fame and recognition and used it for the betterment of society. Stand Up Against Poverty is an initiative well supported by celebrities.

In 2007, over 43 million people took part in this, including well known names like Angelina Jolie, Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, and Lionel Richie. U2's Bono is dedicated to relieving poverty in nations like Africa. Bono leads a lively anti-poverty campaign and has arguably become one of the most active political lobbyists of our time, even having the ear of President George W. Bush once during an afternoon lunch at the White House.

Other celebrities have joined the cause too, including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, and New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady, who all did TV spots in support of the One Campaign. All such activities capture media interest, promote attention and can serve to kindle the cause to fight poverty. Sadly, not enough individuals who are fortunate enough to enjoy celebrity status make such efforts.

Is poverty here to stay? Are the poor without hope? These are questions critical to each one of us, and should not be disregarded because we feel we are not personally involved. Mainline media sources will continue to highlight poverty only when it benefits them to do so. The complete elimination of poverty in this world seems sadly out of our hands. It is the attitudes expressed above, coupled with government's mishandling and misallocation of funds, that contributes to our impoverished world.