“Words Matter: On-line Postings in the Iowa City Press-Citizen” is the first of three seminars in the “Media, Space and Race” Public Rhetoric Seminar series.

In this seminar, three panelists and the public will examine an article that appeared on the Press-Citizen on December 2 (“Curfew passes second reading by council 4-3”) and associated on-line commentary. Please note: Participants may but are not required to read the following background information on the December 2 article:

• A transcript of the December 1 City Council meeting. Link

• The text of the curfew ordinance. Link

• A copy of the Press-Citizen's Terms of Service. Link

• Video Archive of this event recorded by PATV. Link

Background

Although some members of the public have pointed to the “southeast side” as a problematic area for at least 15 years, the events during the summer of 2009 seemed to indicate that something new and more worrisome was happening, including:

• Reports of gunfire, rowdy neighbors, children roaming freely at night, and large groups of teenagers blocking streets and sidewalks.

• Killing of a landlord of one of the apartment buildings by an unknown assailant.

• Some residents blamed the city’s housing programs for having created a ghetto, whereas others claimed the problem was poverty not government-assisted housing.

• Blame was often directed toward “those people from Chicago.”

• Race and race-related perceptions and characterizations figured prominently in public statements concerning the emerging controversy.

Many residents of the area vigorously expressed their worries and concerns both in the public media and at meetings of the City Council. Acting on their concerns, they strongly urged the City Council to impose a curfew on juveniles throughout the city. Other residents of the area believed that people were overreacting to false perceptions about violence in the neighborhood and worried that the proposed curfew would be enforced disproportionately against youth of color.

In September the City Council approved the first reading of a curfew ordinance by a 4-3 vote, but it deferred a vote on a second reading. On December 1 the City Council approved the second reading of the ordinance, again by 4-3.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen has played an important role in reporting on these various events, and in publishing editorials and reader responses concerning them.

Much of this public commentary has itself become controversial, especially but not exclusively with regard to race.

Facilitator: Professor David Depew, Communication Studies
Panel: Jeff Charis Carlson, Press-Citizen; Associate Professor Frank Durham, School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Assistant Professor Andre Brock, School of Library and Information Science, POROI

Press-Citizen Blog:

Link

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, March 3rd 6:00-7:30 pm

Maps Matter: Iowa City Boundaries and "Neighborhood Imaginaries"

Wednesday, April 7th 6:30-8:00 pm

Stories Matter: Creating Community and Boundaries Through Stories About the "Southeast Side"