Does Race Still Matter?

by Cristina Azocar

Does race still matter? The Missouri School of Journalism took on this question in a comprehensive study of academic research on how the U.S. news media cover issues of ethnicity. The "Guide to Research on Race and News" provides evidence in the form of an extensive academic literature review and a survey of news media professionals for what many of us who are unavoidably enmeshed in issues of race and journalism already knew: progress has been made. In terms of numbers and content, however, we have barely emerged from the dark ages (no pun intended).

What is probably most surprising is that for the most part, even that old curmudgeon of an editor agrees that the presence of people of color in decision-making roles in newsrooms can help quell racial inaccuracies and allay bias. Yet the numbers are still insufficient and the content is still wanting. The twenty-year goal of the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) to add color parity to its newsrooms fell short. News content still reflects the concerns of white male news managers writing for a presumably all-white audience.

The Missouri guide suggests that the problem may exist in three different realms. First, journalists of different ethnic backgrounds still have difficulty talking amongst themselves about the very issues they are trying to report on. Second, the push by ASNE and others to reach racial parity has had the unexpected backlash of creating outright racial hostility in newsrooms. Third, "racist coverage has too often been replaced by no coverage of race."

Academics, journalists and journalism educators would benefit from keeping a copy of this guide on their desks (providing it won't get covered up). Academics will find the annotated bibliography indispensable for conducting research on race and news especially in writing literature reviews. The bibliography is divided into three sections: "Coverage of Minority and Race Issues", "Minority Use of Media," and "Minorities in the Newsroom." For editors and educators the bibliography also includes a section on "Books and Race in the Media" and the "Summary of Respondents' Thoughts on Race and News." For those in need of anecdotal material to persuade disbelievers of the exigency of moving newsrooms into the age of enlightenment, be sure to photocopy the "Summary of Thoughts" section.

To obtain your free copy of the Guide to Research on Race and News contact:

Ron Kelley, Ph.D. Director of Student, Alumni & External Relations The Missouri School of Journalism 120 Neff Hall Columbia, MO 65211-1200 573-882-4198 573-884-5400 fax