Crime in Black and White: A discourse analysis of two Chicago crimes reported in the print medium
This research examines how the print medium uses language to construct Blacks and Whites in two Chicago crimes. I look at language as discourse. I use social construction as my theoretical framework to approach the way I analyze the articles, and look at how the theory contributes to particular representations in the print medium. I historicize these representations in order to offer more insight to my analysis of the articles. I selected two Chicago-based crimes (an equal number of cases involving an equal number of Black and White offenders charged for their respective crimes) to use as case studies. In examining the articles, I look at: word selection, offender and crime description, tone, connotation, story elements, story angle, and the absence or presence of offenders' photos. I found there were negative and subtle remarks, and implications about the Black offenders. The reporters constructed a Black person as guilty through language. They also used a conciliatory tone when discussing the White offenders--as if they could regain goodwill by pleasant behavior or appearance. Reporters included responses from representatives of the White offenders, and used different kinds of photos (e.g., mug shots of the Blacks, professional photos of the Whites); this creates an unfair representation of the Black offenders. Social stratification contributes to particular representations in the print medium by separating groups according to many factors, and setting stereotypes to maintain those groups and frame minorities. With the historical concept of racialization, certain traits are assigned to groups, giving way to the stereotypes that confine the representation of Blacks in the print medium.
School:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Department:
News-Editorial Journalism
Research Advisor:
Teresa Savage
Department of Research Advisor:
Institute of Communications Research
Year of Publication:
2003