288 Pages
    by Routledge

    304 Pages
    by Routledge

    The history of American journalism is marked by disturbing representations of people and communities of color, from the disgraceful stereotypes of pre-civil rights America, to the more subtle myths that are reflected in routine coverage by journalists all over the country. Race and News: Critical Perspectives aims to examine these journalistic representations of race, and in doing so to question whether or not we are living in a post-racial world. By looking at national coverage of stories like the Don Imus controversy, Hurricane Katrina, Barak Obama's presidential candidacy, and even the Virginia Tech shootings, readers are given an opportunity to gain insight into both subtle and overt forms of racism in the newsroom and in national dialogue.

    The book itself is divided into two sections, with the first examining the journalistic routine and the decisions that go into covering a story with, or without, relation to race. The second section, comprised of case studies, explores the coverage of national stories and how they have impacted the dialogue on race and racism in the United States. As a whole, the collection of essays and studies also reflects a variety of research approaches. With a goal of contributing to the discussion about race and its place in American journalism, this broad examination makes Race and News an ideal text for courses on cultural diversity and the media, as well as making it valuable to professional journalists and journalism students who seek to improve their approach to coverage of diverse communities.

    Introduction. Part One: Race and the Journalistic Routine 1. Yes We Did?: Race, Myth and the News Revisited2. Newsroom Diversity and Representations of Race 3.Network News Coverage of Race in the Era of Obama 4.New News, Hegemony and Representations of Black Male Athletes 5.From the Water Cooler to the World Wide Web: Race and Audience Commentary on News Stories On-line 6.Ethnic News Media and Marginalization: African-American Newspaper Coverage of the AIDS Crisis. Part Two: Covering Race: Contemporary Case Studies7. Simple Incivility or Outright Racism? How Newspapers Covered Joe Wilson’s Outburst during Obama’s Congressional Health Care Address 8.The Real Price of Oppression: Fox News Coverage of the Virginia Tech Shooter 9.Nappy-Headed Hos: Media Framing, Blame Shifting and the Controversy over Don Imus’ Pejorative Language 10.Recoding New Orleans: Race, Representation and When the Levees Broke 11.Localizing Terror, Creating Fear in Post 9/11 Local TV News 12.Reinterpreting Objectivity: Toward a Critical Approach to News Consumption. Afterword: Rethinking the News: How American Journalism Can Improve Coverage of Race and Racism

    Biography

    Christopher P. Campbell is Professor and Director of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern Mississippi. He is the author of Race, Myth and the News (Sage, 1995).

    Kim M. LeDuff is Associate Professor and Assistant Director at the School of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern Mississippi.

    Cheryl D. Jenkins is Assistant Professor at the School of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern Mississippi.

    Rockell A. Brown is Assistant Professor at the School of Communication at Texas Southern University.

    "While those interested in ethnic, racial, and community journalism may find this book particularly compelling, Race and News would be useful for anyone interested in issues of race and American studies and for reporters who aim to construct more balanced stories that adequately reflect the racial and cultural diversity of American society." - Felicitas Baruch, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA