Some stories are our bread and butter. They tell us who we are. They set in stone decisions that will touch our lives. Counting who we are and where we live is that kind of story. It is the story of the work of the Census.
Why does this matter?
It matters because it makes sure that governments spend the money in the right places, that we know what problems we are facing, and that everyone gets the chance to have a voice. If you are not counted, you are a ghost. And ghosts usually get little attention. That is, in most cases.
For ethnic communities this is an important issue, an issue that the news media needs to report on. It needs to explain what is happening and stay on the story before and after the counting takes place.
Here is a story from NPR about this.
And here is a Washington Post story that explains why this is such an important issue for the ethnic news media.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/23/AR2009032302706.html
