Media sources publish articles and stories about current events on a daily basis. These sources of information reach millions of viewers and readers through a wide variety of mediums, as a result the media has powerful role in determining how subjects within these stories are portrayed to the masses. An article by The Huffington Post When The Media Treats White Suspects And Killers Better Than Black Victims, addresses a worrying trend of how skin colour often determines the portrayal of subjects within news coverage (Wing).
The recent shootings of young African Americans in the United States by police has resulted in a strong public outcry against the racial profiling and targeting of blacks. This can be seen not only through numerous violent incidences involving law enforcement, but also through the representation of the victims within the media. Wing discusses this disparity by drawing attention to the portrayals of white suspects as opposed to the black victims. Black victims are often made out to be criminals or misfits, said to have had previous drug charges, gang affiliations, or incidences with the law (Wing). Many white suspects however are made out to be previously outstanding citizens, they’re often regarded as being exemplary students or successful athletes (Wing).
Another example of this representation occurs when the photos for those involved are selected for the headlines. Wing presents an example of how a white shooting suspect is depicted in his graduation photo, meanwhile the chosen photo of the victim is one that shows him in tank top with two fingers up (Wing). This example is not uncommon and can be seen across multiple news stories this year alone. Often the victims are made out to be responsible for the outcome in some way, and that officials “appear unsympathetic or dismissive of black victims” (Wing).
This unbalanced and biased narrative often presented within media coverage shows a one sided representation that can lead to very real prejudices. It is important to understand what elements of representation are present in a story, as subtle choices made by the authors can unconsciously influence our perception of the subjects.
Citations
“When The Media Treats White Suspects And Killers Better Than Black Victims.” The Huffington Post. Ed. Nick Wing. N.p., 14 Aug. 2014. Web. 6 Nov. 2016.”
