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“A Moment or a Movement” in News Coverage of Racial Issues

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Abstract

This chapter shows how the field of journalism about racial issues is broadening. It reaches beyond a print vs. online dichotomy to explore a taxonomy of journalism about race based on the values that underpin the three types. Traditional journalism, found in legacy newsrooms, is marked by its arms-length, “We publish, you read” relationship with audiences, and dedication to a conception of objectivity. Interactive Race Beat journalism is housed with Traditional outlets, but uses technology to widen and contextualize the discussion. The third paradigm, labeled Journalism 3.0, leverages social media to learn what the audience is talking about, cover those issues, and spotlight the voices of people living them. In this paradigm, the audience both helps set the news agenda and participates in storytelling.

Fredrick Harris, “Will Ferguson Be a Moment or a Movement?,” The Washington Post, August 22, 2014, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/will-ferguson-be-a-moment-or-a-movement/2014/08/22/071d4a94-28a8-11e4-8593-da634b334390_story.html?utm_term=.495e98a90121.

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  1. Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA

    Carolyn Nielsen

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Nielsen, C. (2020). “A Moment or a Movement” in News Coverage of Racial Issues. In: Reporting on Race in a Digital Era. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35221-9_1

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