Objective News and Other Myths: The Poisoning of Young Black Minds

Abstract

Drugs, crime, violence-all are clear threats to the intellectual development and emotional stability of the young African American. Yet when news stories emerge on these topics, rarely do we think that the news itself may lead youngsters down the same treacherous path. Long a bulwark against the abuses of government and corporate power, the American mass media are celebrated for their investigative prowess and integrity. Journalists whose work reaches a particularly high standard of excellence receive the sort of public adulation usually reserved for popular heads of state or the most elite sports heroes. For example, the universal respect shown newsman Walter Cronkite is partly a gesture of gratitude for what was generally perceived as years of accurate, fair, honest reporting to which the nation surrendered its trust. Careful examination of news coverage of the Black community, however, reveals disturbing biases and patterns of misinformation at the hands of the nation's largest and most respected print and broadcast media. Indeed, some analysts warn that the power that once toppled a president now works the equivalent on the Black community, thwarting Black social advancement by conveying the illusion of impartial reporting while applying vastly different standards to news coverage of Whites and Blacks. Young people, both Black and White, may be at particular risk of internalizing these misperceptions because their inexperience leaves them ill-equipped to challenge news reports. Educators and parents who wish to help youngsters become more critical news consumers can start by recognizing some key myths about race and the news.