Race and News

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.

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.