Rectifying Harm Through Care-Based Practices: How Journalists Might Tend to Disengaged Communities

Abstract

ABSTRACT Journalists struggle to engage with disengaged communities, especially conservative and BIPOC groups. In this research, we suggest that an ethic of care, born from developmental psychology, can be a strategy for trust building. Using a multi-phased, multi-method approach through interviews, surveys, and a focus group, we found that community members believe journalists must be more careful and intentional with cultural and political language relating to ideology, racial identity, and sexual orientation. This study shows that journalists must address harm by contending with negative news experiences, nuancing labels and language associated with their communities, and adopting a combination of five care-based values (drawn from political scientist Joan Tronto): attentiveness, responsibility, competence, responsiveness, and solidarity. The findings from this applied research will be used to create training that improves relationships between newsrooms and their communities, as well as help journalists to become more receptive, flexible, and empathetic to audiences.