Influence of Media Bias on Public Opinions Towards Protests
Location
Loosemore Auditorium
Description
PURPOSE: This study hopes to better highlight the influence that the media can have on public perceptions on events that happen in the United States, and how this can further impact public reactions and attitudes towards protestors. SUBJECTS: This study consisted of a smaller sample of 20 different mainstream media news articles covering the BLM protests in Grand Rapids over the summer of 2020 (5 MLive, 3 Click on Detroit, 4 Wood TV, 4 Fox 17, 4 News Channel 3). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Content analysis of the 20 different articles was conducted by looking at words used: “protest” versus “riot”, mention of damage to infrastructure versus individual harm, and any mention of goals of the protests ANALYSIS: This content analysis was done through the study of news articles that covered the Black Lives Matter protests in the Summer of 2020 in Grand Rapids. RESULTS: The use of protest versus the word riot was used interchangeably for the different groups of people. The articles that were examined were much more likely to mention the destruction of property that was done rather any individual harm. Only two out of the five news outlets specified the goals of the protests, 3 out of 20 of the articles (15%) (MLive and WoodTV). CONCLUSION: Reflecting on the ideas of Conflict Framing and Critical Race Theory, the media focuses more on the event rather than the goals of the group because they want to drive up readership. Instead, they focus on creating a story and reporting on the violence and the relationship of disagreeing groups, like the police and the public. The lack of the articles not focusing on the goals takes away the ability of the protestors to legitimize their goals.
Influence of Media Bias on Public Opinions Towards Protests
Loosemore Auditorium
PURPOSE: This study hopes to better highlight the influence that the media can have on public perceptions on events that happen in the United States, and how this can further impact public reactions and attitudes towards protestors. SUBJECTS: This study consisted of a smaller sample of 20 different mainstream media news articles covering the BLM protests in Grand Rapids over the summer of 2020 (5 MLive, 3 Click on Detroit, 4 Wood TV, 4 Fox 17, 4 News Channel 3). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Content analysis of the 20 different articles was conducted by looking at words used: “protest” versus “riot”, mention of damage to infrastructure versus individual harm, and any mention of goals of the protests ANALYSIS: This content analysis was done through the study of news articles that covered the Black Lives Matter protests in the Summer of 2020 in Grand Rapids. RESULTS: The use of protest versus the word riot was used interchangeably for the different groups of people. The articles that were examined were much more likely to mention the destruction of property that was done rather any individual harm. Only two out of the five news outlets specified the goals of the protests, 3 out of 20 of the articles (15%) (MLive and WoodTV). CONCLUSION: Reflecting on the ideas of Conflict Framing and Critical Race Theory, the media focuses more on the event rather than the goals of the group because they want to drive up readership. Instead, they focus on creating a story and reporting on the violence and the relationship of disagreeing groups, like the police and the public. The lack of the articles not focusing on the goals takes away the ability of the protestors to legitimize their goals.