Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 02160108
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED264339 AUTHOR: Eure, Dexter D., Sr.
TITLE: Desegregation/Integration and the Media: Fallout from
the Brown Decision.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1984
NOTE: 14 p.; In: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka: An
Assessment Thirty Years Later (Institute, West Virginia,
February 10-11 and April 11-13, 1984). For proceedings, see
UD 024 606.
ABSTRACT: The Supreme Court's 1954 Brown decision, which
addressed itself to the question of race, was as applicable
to the national media as to the nation's public schools. In
its watchdog role, the media has often preached to
government and businesses, without applying the same
standards to itself. The media, an industry governed and
ruled by white males who wield awesome amounts of power, has
great impact on people's lives, and has had a major
influence on institutional racism. Despite its power and
influence, the media refuses to be held accountable for its
own racism. The "liberal press" would have people believe
that racism is not reflected in the exclusion of non-whites
from its corporate boards, from ownership, and from the
ranks of editorial decision makers. Today, 60 percent of the
daily newspapers still do not employ a single minority
journalist. When minorities are not allowed in newsrooms,
news stories are often incomplete, poorly researched, and
largely inaccurate. The source of the media's power, which
allows it to continue its hyprocritical practices unchecked,
is the reader and viewer. The Black press has attempted to
reach the Black audience, but most of the established Black
publications are now experiencing declines. If the media is
to intelligently interpret our constantly changing society,
it must continue its "catch up" affirmative action programs
by active recruiting and training of minority journalists.
The media must improve its coverage of black concerns and
newsmakers, and not continue to ignore or control public
opinions toward the actions of major black leaders like
Andrew Young and Jesse Jackson. (KH)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Civil-Rights; Newspapers-; Racial-Bias
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Affirmative-Action; *Blacks-; *News-Media;
*News-Reporting; *Press-Opinion; *Racial-Attitudes
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