The author describes the gritty realities of such a life which are usually almost entirely ignored by the media. If the author had not actually gone through the experiment she would be unable to describe it so accurately and with my experience I would see it as dishonest. People who do not live the life can hardly imagine what it is really like, nor would they be likely to acknowledge. Secondly, my own experiences in similar jobs as those the author performed in her experiment gives me the perspective from which I can recognize that the author must have lived the life as she reported. The simple fact that the author does not take this route indicates to me that she is a “watch-dog” journalist. So, a “lap-dog” style “journalist”, for the sake of his or her career would slant a story in favor of the ruling class who would have the middle classes believe that the lower classes don’t “have it bad”. (2) I try to keep these factors in mind when consuming news media and “news media”.
The actual mechanism by which this works is ultimately by the advertisers who indirectly dictate what gets reported and how it is reported by purchasing more or less advertising within the news and these decisions are ultimately made by corporate “persons”.
It does not make sense for a journalist to paint an opposing picture unless they were more interested in truth than in a lucrative career as what some critics refer to as a “lap-dog” with a “short-leash” (1) There is more money to be made as a journalist who reinforces the perceptions in which the ruling classes have a vested interest as is evident by the well-paid Limbaughs, O’Reily’s and Hannity’s of media. But I think that Ehrenreich’s book is a credible work of journalism for two reasons įirstly, if there are two basic motives for a journalist one being to please the boss and the other (if it must be in opposition) being to tell the truth, this journalist chose the latter. Unfortunately, most of what is sold as journalism is more-or-less corporate-funded propaganda. As with all media, I consider the veracity and motives of the source. I am relieved to see someone credible “tell it like it is”.
#BARBARA MELLIX FROM OUTSIDE IN ANALYSIS FULL#
A Critical Analysis of Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimedįirst and foremost, I think this book’s primary relevance is that it shatters the myth that the poor are poor because they are unwilling to “get a job” and that anyone can “make it” in America as long as they are willing to work at least full time.
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