But crews do not get to most of these islands daily, let alone even weekly, to report news. Even on Oahu itself, however, coverage is limited by a different kind of geo-journalism. One reporter who lives in Wainae, about a 45-minute drive from downtown Honolulu, says it gets little coverage except for reports on crime. The area is primarily populated by people of color, especially native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, and is widely believed to be poor and dangerous. Wainae is geographically close, but the station treats it as remote because of the negative perceptions of the community.
Attitudes affect coverage in New Mexico as well.
Reporters in Albuquerque were reluctant to visit or learn about activities taking place in Native American Pueblos. Some of those Pueblos are located within a 30 to 40 minute drive from the city. In other words, they were physically close to the station, but when it came to coverage, they seemed remote. It is a culturally-constructed remoteness, not one determined by actual distance. If stations don't cover large segments of their audience because they're hard to reach geographically or culturally, the newscasts they air won't reflect the community they're supposed to serve.