...::Oscar Grant And Street Media

Oscar Grant poster in Oakland CA

Oscar Grant is the young unarmed father who was shot in the back and killed by a transit cop in Oakland CA on New Year's Day 2009. Most of you know about the case. Above is an Associated Press picture from Oakland. Here is the photo caption--

A beauty salon-- with a poster of Oscar Grant in the window-- is locked up in Oakland, California. Several shops put up photos of Grant in their windows in the hope that it would deter rioters [sic] from damaging the businesses.

Two lessons on media in the modern age here--

One, this poster is a good example of how street media can be used. Street media is where individuals or small groups go straight to the streets to influence public opinion. With street media, you don't send press releases to the Big Paper In Town. You don't buy an ad on a local radio station. You create strong images, words and/or sounds, and you take it to the streets.

Two, this is also an example of how street media can be mis-used-- The beauty salon owner is being very crafty-- "If I put this poster up, folks will not likely damage my business after the trial verdict." It is not being used for the purpose intended by the maker of the poster.