Research Article

Black Lives Matter to media (finally): A content analysis of news coverage during summer 2020

Published: 2022-6

Journal: Newspaper Research Journal

DOI: 10.1177/07395329221092719

Abstract

This study examined 286 stories posted about the Black Lives Matter movement and protests following George Floyd’s death by the six most-viewed U.S. news outlets on Facebook during summer 2020. These organizations published a significant amount of content, though the frequency declined throughout the summer. Stories mostly framed protesters positively and police negatively. Organizations regularly used law/crime spot news to frame protests. The findings may signal a potential shift away from the media’s protest paradigm.

Faculty Members

  • Jennifer Brannock Cox - Cox is a professor at Salisbury University

Themes

  • decline in media coverage
  • social movements
  • protest paradigm
  • media representation
  • framing of protests
  • Black Lives Matter

Categories

Download Article