Media representations of poverty can often make misunderstandings worse. Here’s how:

• Stereotyping: They sometimes show people in poverty as lazy or not deserving help.
• Neglecting nuance: They often focus on the most extreme situations instead of looking at the bigger picture.
• Amplifying stigma: They create a division, making it seem like there’s an "us" versus "them" situation.

To fix this, we need to:

1. Tell balanced stories: Share a variety of experiences from people living in poverty.
2. Raise awareness: Teach the public about the deeper reasons why poverty exists.
3. Change policies: Push for fairer and more accurate representation in the media.