Poynter on Sherrod (and tea party).

Carolyn Nielsen
Assistant Professor
Western Washington University
Department of Journalism
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From: Poynter Institute [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 8:33 AM
To: Carolyn Nielsen
Subject: Diversity at Work - Use Authentic Experiences to Talk about Race, not Formulas and Stereotypes

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Latoya Peterson
Fresh ways to encourage & enhance journalistic storytelling from different perspectives.
Use Authentic Experiences to Talk about Race, not Formulas and Stereotypes
Posted by Latoya Peterson<http://www.poynter.org/profile/profile.asp?user=647202> 11:24 AM Jul. 23, 2010
Watching and reading news reports about race in America is a depressing endeavor. Just this week, race has dominated the headlines, from racism in the ranks of the tea party<http://www.naacp.org/news/entry/naacp-delegates-vote-to-repudiate-racist-elements-within-the-tea-pary/> to USDA's Shirley Sherrod being dragged through the mud<https://web.cms.wwu.edu/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx> based on an edited video being posted on a prominent conservative blog.

Why is the press corps so bad at covering racial issues? Regardless of the circumstance, the players, and the nature of the problem, most stories about race follow the same format, almost to the letter. A journalist describes the issue at hand and poses the question, "Is this racist?" The reporter then interviews the principals or talks to a pundit (rarely is an expert tapped), presents both arguments, and ends the piece.

This is indicative of a much larger problem. Since race is such a polarized issue in the United States, reporters and pundits often avoid the messier threads, preferring a tighter, "neutral" story flow over our messy reality.

And even if an outlet chooses to tackle race without hiding behind the he-said-she-said formula, the subject is often treated in the most sensationalist way possible.

For example, take a recent Time magazine piece by Joel Stein called "My Own Private India<http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1999416,00.html>." ...

Read on to see how the Fourth and Fifth Estates fall flat when writing about race.
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