Threatening Places or Diverse Spaces: Divergent Constructions of Florida Puerto Ricans across Twitter and Newspaper Articles. Issue 1 (4th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dhuman Giron, Stephanie A.; Vargas, Nicholas
• Is Part Of: Sociological inquiry. Volume 90:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 122
• Publication Date: 2019-06-04
• Subjects: Sociology -- Periodicals; 301
• DOI: 10.1111/soin.12295
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-0245

Abstract

Abstract : This study examines constructions of Puerto Ricans across two different media forms: newspaper articles and Twitter. We use Poinciana, Florida, a Central Florida Puerto Rican enclave, as a means to examine these constructions. Because of the high concentration of Puerto Rican residents and unprecedented migration to the area, Poinciana is an ideal community to examine media constructions of a migrant group. Utilizing constructivist grounded theory, we analyze all published newspaper articles (1995–2016) and public Twitter posts (2009–2016) about Puerto Ricans in the region ( N = 174). We find newspaper articles construct mostly benign views of Puerto Ricans, reflecting "Happy Talk" diversity discourse, while Twitter constructions present more negative portrayals, generally relating to population size, and often reflecting a racist ideology reminiscent of the Latino Threat Narrative. We conclude by detailing the significance of divergent constructions across media forms during a period of heightened migration, and how the type of media consumed by Puerto Ricans in this community known as "Little Puerto Rico" is likely to influence their perceived level of societal acceptance.