The Barometer Online

Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Curtis Barnard Jennifer Pozner discussed reality television's impact on women in a presentation at the LaSells Stewart Center on Monday evening. Pozner founded Women in Media and News and is a freelance writer.

Reality TV is cheap to produce and generates a large, loyal audience. The criteria is simple: the men must be wealthy and the women must look good getting out of a hot tub. Although many are entertained, some feel these shows are disrespectful.

On Monday night, the Oregon State Women's Center, the Office of Women's Advancement and Gender Equity and the President's commission on the Status of Women hosted Jennifer Pozner, a widely published journalist and media critic, at the LaSells Stewart Center.

The event's topic was Project Brainwash: Why Reality TV is Bad for Women. However, the lecture focused on more than just women. It briefly covered the effects of reality TV on men, people of color, the economy, love and sex.

Pozner is the founder and executive director of Women In Media and News (WIMN), which was founded in 2001. According to the organizations website, their mission is to increase women's presence in public debate, with an emphasis on those who are not often heard.

WIMN's programs include media analysis, education, outreach, advocacy and reform.

Pozner said her lectures are usually presented at conferences, where media or social justice issues are the main focus. However, she also travels and speaks on a college circuit.

"Lectures in college halls are what I really enjoy. It's more rewarding," Pozner said. "To me, we don't teach media literacy, and that's the strongest way to fight propaganda."

Pozner also talked about the effect her lectures have on students who may not have thought of reality TV and women's equality painted in that light before.

"Many students who attend my lectures never see media the same way. It's a very fulfilling thing," Pozner said. "It's also very thrilling sometimes, when people tell me about the instant impact. That's exactly what I want my work to accomplish."

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