Networked News, Racial Divides
How Power and Privilege Shape Public Discourse in Progressive Communities

Tracks power, privilege, and processes of community trust building in digitized media ecologies, focusing on public dialogues about racial inequality.

Sue Robinson (Author)

9781108419895, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 November 2017

264 pages, 6 b/w illus. 6 tables
23.5 x 15.8 x 2 cm, 0.52 kg

'Everyone may get to speak in the digital age, but who gets to be heard, and why? Sue Robinson's masterful account offers an essential answer. This book reveals not only the emerging nature of media ecologies in US local communities, as public conversation moves online via social media, but it also shows how power and privilege complicate opportunities for marginalized voices, particularly on key social issues of race and education. For scholars, she offers a grand theoretical view of media ecology, field theory, and journalism studies - a window onto information networks as well as structural impediments. For journalists, activists, and community members, she offers both a warning and a way forward - a compelling tale of how to rewire communication for the future of our communities.' Seth C. Lewis, Shirley Papé Chair in Emerging Media, University of Oregon

Against conventional wisdom, pervasive black-white disparities pair with vitriolic public conversation in politically progressive communities throughout America. Networked News, Racial Divides examines obstacles to public dialogues about racial inequality and opportunities for better discourse in mid-sized, liberal cities. The book narrates the challenges faced when talking about race through a series of stories about each community struggling with K-12 education achievement gaps. Media expert Sue Robinson applies Bourdieusian field theory to understand media ecologies and analyze whose voices get heard and whose get left out. She explores how privilege shapes discourse and how identity politics can interfere with deliberation. Drawing on network analysis of community dialogues, interviews with journalists, politicians, activists, and citizens and deep case study of five cities, this reflexive and occasionally narrative book chronicles the institutional, cultural and other problematic realities to amplifying voices of all people while also recommending strategies to move forward and build trust.

Part I: 1. Introduction: a plea for progressives to 'stay in the room'
2. Networked media ecologies
3. Power, trust and authority in a local information flow
Part II: 4. Obstacles to public discourse about race
5. Legitimation strategies in public discourse about race
6. Outcomes and opportunities in community-trust building.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], Education [JN], Sociology [JHB], Ethnic studies [JFSL], Media studies [JFD]