Abstract
Based on my career as a sociologist in TV news, I encourage more collaboration between sociologists and the news media. Sociologists can provide valuable insights to journalists and the news media can provide jobs and a platform for sociologists. The sociological imagination, which Mills said was part of the best journalism, sees the link between biography and history, personal troubles and social issues. If sociologists can get the attention of those in the news media, they can aid in defining the situations of our time. A frame is a definition that a journalist brings to a situation, and which provides the lead for his or her story. Both sociologists and journalists know that situations do not define themselves. Every news story is an act of social reality construction. The sociological imagination provides needed insight and depth when journalists frame news stories. This is where sociologists can have the greatest impact in journalism. The news media are our hammer. We can use it to hammer out justice by framing social issues, relating them to personal troubles (as Mills wanted), and laying the groundwork for action.
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