Media Communication
From Seminar 2: The Peopling of New York City
Jean Metauten
Contents |
Radio
There are several radio stations in the Brooklyn area that cater to West Indians and other Caribbean people. One station is WICR Indo-Caribbean Radio on AM 1620, 1630 and 1700. It broadcasts live and commercial-free from Richmond Hill, Queens. It also streams on the internet and is available on cell phones (Indo-Caribbean Radio).
Irie Jam on 93.5 FM offers reggae and other Jamaican music, as well as a large concentration of Bob Marley's music. Some DJs include DJ Roy and Dubbmaster (Blackemperorent.com).
Newspapers
Caribbean Life
Caribbean Life is a free newspaper based in Brooklyn. It covers stories from the entire Caribbean, not just the West Indian nations. Brooklynites use the newspaper to learn about their home countries, as well as happenings in the United States that affect their nationalistic and political aims. The front-page stories on the issue I picked up were "Back to inter-island ferry," referring to a proposed ferry connecting the islands of Trinidad and Tobago; "REVOLT FEARS BREW: Attacks trouble Guyana," referring to an insurgency and gang violence and "Mixed views on Cuba," which explains the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate's views on the then-impending resignation of Fidel Castro.
There are advertisements for cell phones, salons, lawyers, citizenship application assistance, furniture and health care, among others (Caribbean Life). The advertisements reflect interest that I observed when visiting
Flatbush, Brooklyn. Salons were very prominent - 2 or 3 on each block - and cell phone stores were also in abundance. When I visited Flabush, Caribbean Life was available in front of grocery stores and other food stores.
When I visited Golden Krust Bakery near the intersection of Nostrand and Church Avenues, Caribbean Impact and Our Time Press were available. They are both free newspapers. I did not see any Flatbush residents retrieve the papers.
Caribbean Impact
Caribbean Impact, like Caribbean Life, also has stories from all of the Caribbean countries. The issue I picked up featured West Indian news on the front page: "Guyana's Private Sector calls for urgent inquiry," referring to the Guyanese move to name a new Police Chief; "BARBADIAN MPs GET DOWN TO BUSINESS," chronicling the beginning of the House of Assembly members' work in Barbados and "Bright future ahead for T & T Energy Industry," referring to a conference about British Gas in Trinidad and Tobago (Caribbean Impact).
Our Time Press
Our Time Press involves African American news. It explores Black history and issues like racism (Our Time Press). This newspaper was also found in Golden Krust Bakery.
Fieldwork
Interview with a West Indian College Student
I obtained qualitative ethnographic data by interviewing a 22-year-old female student from The City College of New York. The answers I received show me that she does not primarily utilize news media to communicate with fellow Trinidadians and Trinidadian-Americans. Her main modes of communication are the internet and the telephone. Thought she does not read newspapers or watch TV to learn about current events in Trinidad, she demonstrates an interest in her loved ones’ well-being. She also plans to return to Trinidad upon completion of her studies, which is a part of her transnational identity. Her awareness of an unspecific pan-Caribbean community is evident in her observations of her church.
Works Cited
- Blackemperorent.com. 2008. 4 Apr. 2008 <http://www.blackemperorent.com/>.
- Boodram, Annan, and Felicia Persaud. “Caribbean Radio in the Diaspora.” Caribbean Voice [Queens] 2007, Features sec. 3 May 2008 <http://www.caribvoice.org/Features/radio.html>.
- Caribbean Impact. 1 Mar. 2008, Vol. 6 No. 7.
- Caribbean Impact. 3 May 2008 <http://www.caribimpact.net/images/Carib-Impact_logo.gif>.
- Caribbean Life. 20 Feb. 2008, Brooklyn/Staten Island ed.
- Caribbean Life. 3 May 2008 <http://www.dayeandcompany.com/images/rate_logo.gif>.
- Dunn, Hopeton S., ed. Globalization, Communications and Caribbean Identity. New York: St. Martin's, 1995.
- Ilel, Neille. “Indo-Caribbean Radio Back in Richmond Hill, After Struggles.” Queens Chronicle 28 Oct. 2004, Eastern/SouthEastern ed. Mediaaccess.org. 18 Nov. 2004. PowerOne Media, Inc. 3 May 2008 <http://www.mediaaccess.org/programs/lpfm/CaribbeanNY.pdf>.
- Indo-Caribbean Radio. 3 May 2008 <http://www.icrradio.com/index.html>.
- Lent, John A. Mass Communications in the Caribbean. Ames: Iowa State UP, 1990.
- Olwig, Karen Fog. “New York as a Locality in a Global Family Network.” Islands in the City: West Indian Migration to New York. Ed. Nancy Foner. Berkeley: California UP, 2001. 142-60.
- Our Time Press. 28 Feb. 2008 - 5 Mar. 2008. Vol. 13 No. 8.
- Our Time Press. 3 May 2008 <http://www.ourtimepress.com/images/TopHeading.gif>.
