Black, White, and a Whole Lot of Gray: How White Photojournalists Covered Race During the 2015 Protests at Mizzou. Issue 4 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomson, T.J.
• Is Part Of: Visual communication quarterly. Volume 23:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 223
• Page End: 233
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Visual communication -- Periodicals; 302.23
• DOI: 10.1080/15551393.2016.1230473
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1555-1393

Abstract

Abstract : Most research on how the news media cover race focuses either on perspectives of journalists or on their subjects. Few comparative studies concurrently integrate the perspectives of both these groups and virtually none has done this from a visual standpoint. Using the 2015 race-related Mizzou protests as a case study, this research employs in-depth interviews with photojournalists and their subjects to explore (1) how past experience with people of color impacts photojournalism, (2) how scripted journalistic behavior affects race-related visual coverage, and (3) how photojournalists can better cover race-related issues more accurately. The study's results advance social identity theory and inform the debate about documentary photography's role in civil rights movements and activist causes .