Various forms of media have contributed to and shaped negative perception of immigrants and refugees in the United States. These perceptions may contribute to dangerous stereotyping, which may impact policy and the daily life of immigrants in the United States. Various factors must be considered when analyzing media, such as the type of media, language used, consumption, and the reaction of viewers. This thesis focuses on AZcentral, an Arizona news source, and how it portrays immigrants versus the commentary from an immigrant here in Arizona. First it is important to look at time periodization of the portrayal of immigrants and how it has changed through technology mediums. The information obtained by looking at these periods provide specific terms and content to look for when collecting sources for the podcast. In the podcast, AZcentral and the interviewee stories are compared to show how different or similar they may be. Through this, the audience should be making their own conclusions to show accurate AZcentral is portraying the immigrant experience.

There is a serious lack of local news in Arizona, the American Southwest, and the United States at-large. Arizonans are craving quality, factual, no-holds-barred journalism that is easy-to-read, and upfront. Quality, local news that covers the ins and outs of politics, culture, and community has an opportunity to not only enhance civic life, promote community healing, and expand knowledge made available to the general public (thus serving the communities it calls home), but to also generate revenue. Further, independent and center-right leaning voters in the state of Arizona — be reminded that independents make up the second largest voting bloc among Arizonans — are often crowded out in a media environment that consists of far-left nonprofit-funded news sites like the Arizona Mirror, formerly reputable papers that have bled readership as they veer further left like the Arizona Republic, and far-right online blogs that reach a very limited audience. The Western Tribune is an Arizona-based journalistic publication. This institution is dedicated to providing high-quality, well-sourced news and commentary on statewide, regional, national, and international current affairs through the lens of good government and free enterprise — as well as Southwestern values. We are a free institution that believes in free institutions. We cover stories that go uncovered because of the corporate media’s blind spots (and they’ve got many — they’re a result of news deserts and out-of-touch coastal attitudes) with the stable support of a robust institution dedicated to Truth-seeking behind them. Our storytellers are not just good writers. We seek to recruit and form critical thinkers with skills that span trades, disciplines, and educational backgrounds. We are building an institution committed to excellence.